Grant from your fund.

Giving back has never been easier.

As a fundholder at Austin Community Foundation, you or your designated advisor(s) may recommend grants to qualified charitable organizations at any time through our donor portal. Fast, simple, and designed to streamline your giving, making a grant from your fund is a simple four-step process:

  • Choose a grantee.

    Initiate your grant recommendation by logging into the donor portal and navigating to the “Grant Request” tab. There, you may select one of your previous grantees, select a fund at ACF, search for grantees, or even enter the information manually. If you would like assistance selecting a grantee, please contact our team.
    Email us

  • Let ACF take care of due diligence.

    Once your request is submitted, ACF carefully reviews all recommendations to verify that the charitable organization meets our criteria to receive grants. To learn more about the types of organizations ACF considers eligible or ineligible, please explore our FAQ at the bottom of this page.

  • Allow time for the grant to be processed.

    Grants are processed weekly, with funds distributed directly to grantees through electronic bank transfer (ACH) every Friday for requests submitted by Wednesday, 5 p.m. CT. Certain factors may impact when your grant is distributed, such as amounts over $50,000 and holiday, bank, or office closures.

  • Know ACF has acknowledgments covered.

    Grantees receive a grant transmittal letter via email and mail, which includes your fund’s name, your name, and mailing address. You may choose to remain anonymous by indicating so in your grant recommendation. If you do not request anonymity, recipients may send thank-you letters directly to you but these are not required for tax purposes.
    See sample grant transmittal letter.
Get started in the donor portal

See the benefits of online grantmaking at ACF.

  • Easily search for nonprofits.

    Search ACF’s database, explore Guidestar’s charity listings, manually enter details for your chosen organization, or simply give to a past grantee. With plenty of options at your fingertips, giving has never been simpler.

  • Track the status of your request.

    Once approved, your most recent grants paid will be visible in your donor portal. If there are any questions or changes to your request, a member of our dedicated staff will reach out to you.

  • Safe and secure login.

    Austin Community Foundation partners with trusted third-party platforms to manage donor data. You can request to review or update your personal information anytime by emailing us.

    Email us

  • Faster grant processing.

    Submitting your grant request online allows you to input notes, instructions or attachments for staff to reference while processing your request. Providing detailed information helps us expedite your request efficiently.

You love Austin. So do we.

Giving to Austin Community Foundation means investing in Austin. Your gift to the Austin Leadership Fund empowers ACF to address pressing needs, respond to challenges, and seize opportunities to improve the quality of life in Central Texas. Together, we can create a stronger, more resilient community for today and generations to come.

Give today

Frequently asked questions

Ask something else

  • Your username is the primary email address on file with the Foundation. If you’re uncertain what email address to use, or if you need to reset your password, please contact us at heretohelp@austincf.org. For security reasons, Foundation staff does not have access to user passwords, but can reset them as needed.

  • Eligible recipient charities include, but are not limited to:

    • Museums and arts organizations
    • Schools and educational institutions
    • Environmental organizations
    • Hospitals and health care organizations
    • Scientific and medical research institutes
    • Religious organizations and places of worship
    • Other organizations or institutions established for charitable purposes.

  • Grants cannot be used to provide any private benefit to donors, advisors, or their family members. ACF cannot approve grants to:

    • Individuals
    • Private non-operating foundations
    • Non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations
    • Political campaigns, candidates or organizations supporting lobbying activity
    • Pay for services provided by the donor to the charity
    • Pay for dues, membership fees, tuition, goods from charitable auctions or other goods or services
    • Pay any portion of the cost of a table or tickets to a gala or event, or other admission to a charity event, in which the full ticket price is not tax deductible (i.e., split gifts)

  • Your fund may not be used for donations or sponsorships that include a benefit to the donor. Grants distributed from your fund must be fully tax-deductible contributions.

  • Your most recent grants paid will be listed on the “Home” tab. You can also opt to receive email notifications by emailing heretohelp@austincf.org.

  • Please contact our team at heretohelp@austincf.org, or call us at 512.472.4483.

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