American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation 2022 grant application cycle opens today through April 15

Community nonprofit organizations that align with American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation giving priorities are encouraged to apply for a 2022 grant, beginning March 15 through April 15 by 5 p.m. central time.

Grant giving priorities address a variety of needs

The Foundation’s giving priorities have evolved to create opportunities and meaningful impact for communities, families and individuals. The 2022 priorities include: 

Academic Achievement and Education: Programs and services that advance educational equity in learning and academic achievement through access to high-quality education. 

Healthy Youth Development: Programs and services that support the ongoing needs of young people from birth through 25, including social-emotional learning and mental health.

Economic Opportunity: Programs and services that increase employment access and opportunity, such as job training and workforce readiness.

Community Resiliency (formerly Basic Needs): Programs and services that remove barriers to short and/or long-term needs of individuals and families such as food, housing, transportation and daycare needs.  

Partnerships based on trust

The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation continues to center learning and leading with trust-based approaches in its philanthropic efforts, based on feedback from community partners.

“Our goal is to create authentic partnerships with the organizations we support to promote meaningful change,” said Maggie Pascaly, American Family community and social impact manager. “That means collaboration – continually listening to and learning from our community partners – as well as understanding the organizations’ priorities and incorporating what we learn into the process.”

This has included making the grant process simpler, eliminating traditional reporting requirements and providing unrestricted, general operating support rather than earmarking funds for specific programs. 

“Part of trust-based practices is promoting equity between the grant provider and its partners, and believing in the organizations’ commitment to achieving measurable results based on their objectives,” said Pascaly. “We acknowledge they are in the best position to determine how to use these funds to meet their specific needs.”

Since 2016, American Family Insurance and the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation have committed $14.5 million to more than 1,200 grants across the country.

Investments part of larger American Family initiative

Community investments through the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation are part of the Free to Dream initiative announced in 2021. American Family has pledged $105 million over five years to further its already deep commitment to closing racial equity gaps and affecting social impact and positive change in communities across the country.

In line with this initiative, the Foundation places an emphasis on organizations that work with communities that identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), those that are economically disadvantaged, and youth and young families. It also supports funding for organizations/programs providing educational or workforce opportunities for individuals currently incarcerated, justice involved or experiencing re-entry into the community.

More information

Grant recipients for 2022 will be announced in early June. To read more about giving priority details, and for other information on the Dreams Foundation and applying for a grant, visit this section found on www.amfam.com.

See the list of 2021 grant recipients.
 

# # #

About American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation
The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation , Inc. builds on our long-standing commitment and support of communities we serve by offering unrestricted, general operating grants to non-profit partners. We’re committed to using trust-based values to create meaningful, impactful relationships and reduce the inherent power imbalances of the traditional funding model. Like many of our community partners, we’re also committed to learning, listening, and changing through collaboration and trust. The Dreams Foundation grant funding priorities are Academic Achievement and Education, Healthy Youth Development, Economic Opportunity, and Community Resiliency. These priorities align with our organizational efforts to invest in and improve the communities where we live and serve. Read more.