The Homer Area Community Foundation (HACF), an affiliate of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, seeks to foster the educational, recreational, environmental, and cultural development of the Homer area through innovative and creative grant proposals. The foundation's mission is to serve as a catalyst for developing and administering permanent resources to address community needs. This aligns directly with their grant program, which aims to support organizations and programs that serve people in areas such as Health, Education, Human Services, Arts and Culture, Youth, and Community Development within the Homer area.
The target beneficiaries of these grants are broad, encompassing Homer area residents, with a particular focus on helping a broad segment of the population or traditionally underserved portions. The impact goals are to improve various aspects of community life, including education, recreation, environment, and culture. The foundation prioritizes proposals that demonstrate the promise of widespread benefit or support for vulnerable groups.
The grant program focuses on two main types: general grants for requests over $500, and mini-grants for requests of $500 or less. General grants typically take two months for a decision, while mini-grants can be submitted at any time and usually receive a decision within one month. This strategic approach allows the foundation to address both larger-scale projects and more immediate, smaller needs within the community.
Expected outcomes include enhanced educational opportunities, improved recreational facilities, environmental stewardship, and vibrant cultural programs. While specific measurable results are not detailed, the review committee, comprising the Foundation Grant Review Committee and the Homer Youth Advisory Committee, favors grants that show promise in helping a broad segment of Homer area residents or traditionally underserved populations, suggesting an emphasis on demonstrable community benefit and reach. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in these key areas, they can build stronger, more resilient communities in the Homer area.
