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The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky

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Leadership Development

Leadership Development

We connect communities with
the people and funding they need.

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky strengthens leadership by eliminating barriers to growth. Our supported communities are called affiliates. We decide on these affiliates through the process outlined below.

Benefits of Affiliation


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky serves community endowed affiliated funds in Appalachia Kentucky. Foundation affiliation offers a number of benefits that balance local control with professional management services.

Nonprofit Status


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, which enables its affiliated funds to receive tax-deductible contributions. The Foundation issues charitable receipts conforming to IRS standards.

Local Control


Locally selected Fund Advisory Board members make the decisions about how affiliated fund charitable dollars are spent. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky has a legal responsibility for all funds entrusted with it to ensure that funds are used consistent with provisions of IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) and in compliance with donor intent. A local foundation would have the same legal responsibilities.


Financial and Administrative Services


Affiliated funds have access to the Foundation’s financial and administrative services. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky has the sole responsibility for all day-to-day financial activities, including recording contributions; making disbursements; cash management; preparing and filing IRS Form 990; obtaining an audit of its financial statements by an independent CPA firm; and issuing the fund’s financial reports. Affiliated funds with endowed assets are invested in a pooled investment portfolio. 

National Standards


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky has received recognition for having organizational and financial practices that are in compliance with National Standards established by the Council on Foundations. This demonstrates The Foundation’s integrity and accountability to donors.

Peer Learning Network


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky uses peer learning to help build community capacity and leadership. The Foundation facilitates peer-learning opportunities on many relevant topics to help our network of affiliated fund leaders become more skillful and confident in raising charitable funds and reinvesting in their communities.


Contributions to Multiple Funds


The Foundation is helping to evolve giving habits to support causes and programs that will have a greater impact upon the long-term sustainability of Appalachia Kentucky communities. The educational efforts of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky are helping many donors to consider the multiple causes that they can choose to support with their current and planned gifts.

Marketing, Communications and Website


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky marketing team helps affiliated fund volunteers produce customized media releases, promotional materials, donor letters, and communications tools for financial advisors. The Foundation maintains an extensive website as an educational and promotional tool for affiliated funds, which also provides donors the opportunity to make online contributions.

Training and Technical Assistance


The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky staff has expertise in community development, strategic planning, planned giving, and the development of public-private partnerships. The Foundation staff and board members are available to help funds get organized and advise on effective fundraising techniques. The Foundation hosts workshops on topics ranging from leadership development to donor visitation for affiliate board members and partnering nonprofits. 

How to Start an Affiliate Community

1. Assessment

Usually the initial assessment is kicked off because a group of community members has a great idea and they come to us. So, we have a meeting to figure out if or how we can help. Our staff asks and answers questions. If we, as a team, think that this idea could be successful and isn’t already happening, we move on.


2. Feasibility

Two study groups are in charge of community mapping and fostering support. Community mapping examines the local climate of community and economic development. Fostering support determines where the initial funding is coming from.


3. Formation

Once feasibility is determined, the affiliate is formed. A name and area of service is selected, members are recruited, the fund is named and roles are beginning to be figured out.


4. Creation

Creation and formation sound awfully close, don’t they? To us, a fund is formed when it is named and created when there is some leadership and guidelines determined. So, the creation step means that a Board of Advisors is established. The steering group also signs the Foundation’s affiliate agreement.


5. Visioning

This is when the affiliate’s long range planning begins. During this phase, the Board as well as Foundation staff starts planning items like benchmarks, work plans, goals and strategies. It looks like meetings, presentations and notifications.


6. Fundraising and Development

You’re almost there! Now that this new affiliate’s vision has taken form, the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky works with you to connect your vision to the funding plan that will make it happen. We work through a donor development plan and customized education that considers your unique community and Board.


Does this sound like something you’re ready to launch?
Contact
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We are proud to already serve several communities.

Discover the existing work in your area.

Explore our Affiliates
Stories of Impact
The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky invests in people rooted in communities working toward lasting, positive change.

June 1, 2022

Celebrating Kentuckian and LGBTQ+ Activist, Lige Clarke

Elijah “Lige” Clarke (1942-1975) was a native of Hindman, Kentucky and a formative figure of the Queer Liberation Movement in the mid-20th Century. In the mid-1960’s, while he was in the US Army (with top security clearances, assigned to the Army’s Chief-of-Staff at the Pentagon), Lige would pass out gay rights pamphlets in the evenings…. KEEP READING

February 16, 2023

Letcher County Community Foundation Presents the Mountain Strong Award

To honor the tireless ongoing work happening in Letcher County, the Letcher County Community Foundation created the Mountain Strong Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization whose involvement in the community has made a significant impact to the Letcher County community. On February 9th, the Letcher County Community Foundation board members presented the inaugural… KEEP READING

February 5, 2023

Foundation Awards Pike County Long-Term Recovery Group $50,000 Grant 

Recently, the Pikeville Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, partnered with LKLP Community Action Council to support the Pike County Long-Term Recovery Group effort.    SBP, a national disaster recovery and resilience non-profit organization working to shrink the time between disaster and recovery, provided group training and certification for over 60 people… KEEP READING

February 5, 2023

Foundation Awards Floyd County Long-Term Recovery Group $50,000 Grant

Recently, the Floyd County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, partnered with LKLP Community Action Council to support the Floyd County Long-Term Recovery Group effort.    SBP, a national disaster recovery and resilience non-profit organization working to shrink the time between disaster and recovery, provided group training and certification for over 60… KEEP READING
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T. (606) 439-1357 | 420 Main Street, Hazard, KY 41701 | info@appalachianky.org

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