ACF aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and oppression in the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The foundation supports community-based initiatives striving for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice in Central Appalachia.
The ACF’s Technical Assistance Program provides small grants to help build stronger organizations. These grants are aimed at specific needs for technical assistance identified by the organization, enhancing the skills of staff, board, and members. The goal is to make the organization's work more effective through various strategies including leadership development, fundraising, board training, long range planning, financial management, addressing legal issues, community organizing, and media engagement. Grants, up to a maximum of $800, are used to cover costs related to trainers’ fees, materials, and travel. Supported organizations or projects should contribute to social change by leading actions for self-determination, educating on the root causes of oppression, eliminating barriers to participation in society, changing unjust systems and institutions, modeling democratic systems, connecting local issues to broader concerns, and networking with similar change agents.