Appalachian Community Fund is bold, forward-thinking, and inclusive.

We champion the people of Appalachia.

To everyone at ACF, “y’all means all” is much more than a fun catchphrase.

By lifting up the voices of our community, supporting our community’s vision for change, and advancing local leadership, Appalachian Community Fund (ACF) embodies the power of collective action and bottom-up transformation.  Inclusivity is paramount to our definition of community, and this value is lived out in our efforts to give many different voices a platform.

ACF’s commitment to effective, people-driven progress is bolstered by our firm Appalachian roots. Beyond honoring Appalachian culture and heritage, our approach to change-making fundamentally reflects the spirit of Appalachia: gritty and resourceful with a well-developed instinct for problem-solving.  At the heart of the fund is a staunch belief in sharing resources, energy, time, and ideas to achieve a common vision for change and shift the narrative about Appalachia.

An Ironweed and Community Bulletin quilt pattern with the Appalachian Community Fund logo in the center. The logo features a stylized ironweed flower.
An oval house in Kentucky with a stone facade, that has a domed roof with the neck and head of a goose sticking out the front, a small arched window with a cross design, and a wooden fence in front, surrounded by trees and power lines.

Our Mission

The Appalachian Community Fund (ACF) invests in and encourages grassroots social change in Central Appalachia.  

We work to build a sustainable base of resources to support community-led organizations seeking to overcome and address issues of race, economic status, gender, sexual identity, disability, and the environment.  As a community-controlled fund, ACF aims to expand and strengthen movements for social change — to change systems and institutions — by leveraging our collective power.

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Our Vision

Our vision is an Appalachia where people are connected, resourced, and leading change in their own communities. We believe lasting progress grows from relationships, shared stories, and collective action. By supporting grassroots leaders and community-driven solutions, we imagine a region rooted in dignity, justice, and opportunity for all.

Journey Toward Justice

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  • We believe in the inherent equality of all people and strive for equity in practice, ensuring that resources, opportunities, and power are shared in ways that honor every community’s dignity and potential.

  • We recognize the critical importance of grounding every decision, partnership, and investment in the commitment to dismantle systemic inequities and build a more just Appalachian region.

  • We honor the vast collective of voices and experiences across Appalachia, knowing that meaningful social change emerges when all (hi)stories are honored.

  • We practice shared leadership and decision-making, trusting that collective wisdom strengthens our work and ensures that choices reflect the needs and insights of the communities we serve.

  • We uphold accountability, integrity, and transparency in all we do, ensuring our actions, decisions, and communications earn the trust of the communities and partners we serve.

  • We prioritize sharing stories, resources, and experiences, believing that openness and collaboration strengthen communities and inspire collective action across Appalachia.

  • We foster networks where every voice is welcomed, valued, and empowered, building a stronger, more united community.

  • We draw on the knowledge and insights of local communities, honoring the deep roots and lived wisdom that guide meaningful and lasting change.

  • We honor and uplift the rich traditions, stories, and creativity of Appalachian communities, recognizing culture as a vital source of strength and identity.

  • We recognize and steward the region’s abundant natural and human resources, supporting their sustainable use to benefit communities now and for generations to come.

What guides our way?

At the Appalachian Community Fund, our values are more than words; they are the compass that guides every choice we make. When the path forward is unclear, our commitment to equity, justice, community wisdom, and collaboration shapes our decisions and actions. These principles ground us, inspire us, and ensure that every step we take reflects the priorities, strengths, and voices of the communities we serve.

OUR VALUES

Our Team

  • A young man with glasses smiling outdoors in front of large blooming hydrangea bushes, wearing a white button-up shirt and black pants.

    Garrett

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    A young organizer from the mountains of Virginia, Garrett was raised on a farm in Tazewell County and baptized in the Clinch River. Garrett is passionate about building infrastructure for inclusive, open, and compassionate communities in Appalachia and the South. Their organization has focused on environmental justice, rural life, youth empowerment, and care work. In conjunction with their work with ACF, Garrett serves on the staff of the Central Appalachian Arts Assembly, where he works to facilitate the Assembly’s grant-making process.

    In their spare time, Garrett enjoys studying history, reading (especially science fiction, fantasy, and interactive fiction), making up stories of their own in a variety of media, learning new trades, and spending time with their siblings and grandmother.

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with reddish-brown hair, in front of a lush green forest and rocky mountains.

    Sav

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Raised in Coeburn, Virginia, Sav holds a degree in Theatre from UVA Wise. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree and studying puppetry to integrate the arts into community healing. A member of UT’s Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness, Class of 2025, she is skilled in nonprofit management and believes in the transformative power of storytelling.

    In addition to her academic and artistic endeavors, Sav is dedicated to animal welfare. She volunteers with an East Tennessee-based kitten rescue as an adoption coordinator, helping match animals with loving homes, and plays an active role in the organization’s fundraising efforts.

  • A man with short curly blonde hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a light blue denim button-up shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred wooden fence background.

    Charlie

    DONOR ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

    Rooted in his Kentucky heritage, Charlie brings a deep commitment to regional growth to his role as Development Director. With a background in history and nonprofit management, he specializes in building sustainable donor relationships and managing the critical infrastructure that supports community-led initiatives. After earning his degree from the University of Kentucky, Charlie sharpened his expertise in donor engagement and database management as a Development Coordinator.

    When he isn't connecting resources to the region, you can find him training for Tang Soo Do, tending his flower gardens, or enjoying life at home with his rescue pups and a Tyler Childers record.

History

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Appalachian Community Fund (ACF) was founded in 1987 to provide new resources to groups working for progressive social change in Central Appalachia (East Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and West Virginia) — and to be a sustainable resource base for community organizing and social change work in this region.

Since our inception, we have awarded close to $7 Million to more than 300 organizations working for justice.  We pool resources from many sources, including individuals, businesses, and foundations, in order to provide critical financial support to help people organize themselves to address systemic problems of poverty, racism, and social inequity in their own communities and neighborhoods.

We do this through:

  • Strategic grantmaking and technical assistance for community organizing efforts

  • Working with donors who are committed to social justice

  • Strengthening our region’s capacity and leadership for social change

ACF’s office is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.  We are governed by a regional board of directors made up of community leaders and residents of the four-state area in which we fund.  Grantees, donors, allies, and board members make up the ACF network and community which helps guide our work and our community-controlled grantmaking.

Got questions or a vision to share?

We’d love to hear how you’re building a stronger Appalachia.

Let's Connect!