Grant applications available through Franklin Park company

The Altria Companies Employee Community Fund (ACECF) is now accepting grant applications from nonprofits in Illinois. The grant application process is open until Sunday, February 28, 2015.

ACECF is an employee-giving program where Illinois grant recipients are selected by employees of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company in Franklin Park. Employees choose the fund’s focus areas, and an employee committee selects the grant recipients from submitted proposals. In 2015, ACECF will continue focusing in the following giving areas:

• Domestic Violence
• Emergency Services
• Homelessness
• Hunger Relief
• Senior Services (including Adults with Disabilities)
• Youth Services (including Youth with Disabilities)

In order for an organization to have its grant reviewed by the committee of employees, your program must be focused on one of the above areas.

ACECF grantees must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that operate within the state of Illinois. Tax-exempt status must be active at the time of application.

Please note, organizations may not submit a grant application to ACECF for a specific program currently being funded by a corporate grant from the Altria family of companies. If an organization has another program within the ACECF focus areas, then it can receive funding for that program. This does not include grants accompanying volunteer events.

More information and the grant application is available at www.altria.com/acecf

All applications need to be submitted through the online process on or before Sunday, February 28, 2015.