ACKER TRUST GRANT GUIDELINES & APPLICATION FY26

ACKER TRUST GRANT GUIDELINES & APPLICATION
1. Application materials are now available for Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). Applications may be obtained through the city website at www.prescott-az.gov. Please contact the City Clerk's office at 928-777-1437 with questions.

2. Deadline for all application materials for Fiscal Year 2026 will be 5:00 P.M. on Friday, March 14, 2025. Incomplete applications, including missing attachments, will not be considered. Completed applications may be filed online, via email at city.clerk@prescott-az.gov or returned to this address:

CITY OF PRESCOTT- CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
RE: ACKER TRUST GRANT APPLICATIONS
201 N MONTEZUMA STREET, SUITE 302
PRESCOTT, AZ 86301

3. It is considered desirable that applying agencies identify where non-Acker funds are available or are being sought. Acker Trust may fund a project in part, or in its entirety, at the discretion of the Board. Those organizations which have established a history of successful activities will be given a higher priority.

4. To be eligible, ALL agencies wishing to apply must be incorporated in the State of Arizona and recognized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) by the IRS prior to application deadline of March 14, 2025. The 501(c)(3) cannot be pending. Include a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter of nonprofit status determination.
5. To be considered for a grant, the application must include the following items:

Funding requests for less than $5,000:
- A completed City of Prescott Acker Trust Fund Application
- A copy of IRS 501(c)3 letter of nonprofit status
- A project budget for the funds being requested (use attached form).
- A one-page balance sheet. Additional documents may be requested.
Funding requests for more than $5,000:
- A completed City of Prescott Acker Trust Fund Application
- A copy of IRS 501(c)3 letter of nonprofit status
- A project budget for the funds being requested (use attached form)
- A one-page balance sheet. Additional documents may be requested
- Most recent Corporate Tax Return (IRS Form 990)- first two pages. If your organization is exempt from this requirement, please provide an IRS 990-N E-filing receipt or proper documentation
6. The City of Prescott’s Civic Enhancement Committee requires an evaluation and financial report within 60 days after the completion of each funded project. Organizations not in compliance with this requirement may not be considered for future funding.

7. Only funding requests meeting the criteria set by the August 7, 1959, Court Decree which settled Mr. Acker's estate will be considered. (See attached).

8. It is mandatory that the applicants appear at a Civic Enhancement Committee meeting when applications are being considered, for a five-minute oral presentation to the Committee. Organizations not represented at this meeting will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant organization to confirm the presentation date by contacting the City Clerk's Office at 777-1437 or the address listed in Item 2 (an approximate timetable is attached).

9. All materials (posters, flyers, programs, etc.) pertaining to funded projects must list the City of Prescott's Acker Trust as a funding source. The acknowledgement of the City of Prescott's Acker Trust should be obvious to all who read the materials. Recipient organizations should also endeavor to ensure that news accounts contain acknowledgement of City of Prescott's Acker Trust support.

10. Should funds, for any reason, not be utilized as requested and stated in the application for the Acker Trust Grant, those funds must be returned to the City of Prescott's Civic Enhancement Committee within 60 days.

Criteria for Application and use of

CITY OF PRESCOTT'S ACKER TRUST ASSETS

J.S. Acker Will

The Superior Court Decree of Distribution dated August 7, 1959, which settled the Estate of J.S. Acker and established what is now known as the Acker Trust, is the controlling legal document for conduct of the Trust. It states the Trust is for "purposes of improving and perpetually maintaining parks and for the purpose of promoting music, all for the use and benefit of the public."

Some further guidance as to Mr. Acker's intent can be found in his Will of March 25, 1949. After describing two tracts of land, he left specifically for parks, Mr. Acker states, "I give to the City of Prescott... for the use of our people, the children in particular."

Paragraph six of his Will states: "All the residue of my estate, after payments as above set forth, together with expenses incident thereto and administrators fees, / give to the City of Prescott, to be used for parks and for promotion of music particularly for children."

His instructions to his Administrators further state, "As funds are realized from the Estate, you can apportion and spend such moneys for the improvement of said parks and for the promotion of music in the City Schools or otherwise in advancement of musical culture in the community."

Opinions of three past City Attorneys indicate that funds are restricted to use by residents of the City of Prescott. Funds for parks are limited to capital expenditures and maintenance of those items purchased with Acker Trust funds, while funds for promotion of music are not limited to capital expenditures.

TIMELINE FOR APPLICANTS

Acker Grant Fiscal Year 2026

DATE:	ACTION:
February 1, 2025 – March 14, 2025	Applications Available and can be completed through the City of Prescott Website: www.prescott-az.gov or downloaded from the above link and forwarded to the City Clerk’s Office as listed in Item 2 of these instructions. Or call the City Clerk's office at 777-1437 for additional information.
March 14, 2025	Application Deadline
May 29, 2025	Presentation & Distribution Determination Meeting - Applicants must present their proposal to the Civic Enhancement Committee; Committee will review and determine distribution recommendations for Council’s approval.
No later than June 5, 2025	Committee Recommendation letters will be sent to applicants through the City Clerk’s Office.
June 24, 2025	City Council reviews Civic Enhancement Committee recommendations and vote.
June 27, 2025	Council approval letters will be sent to applicants from the City Clerk’s Office.
Funding:	Funds will be dispersed upon completion of grantee’s program. A request letter must be submitted.
Note:	Dates are approximate and it is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm deadlines and presentation dates, which are applicable to them.

Name of Organization*
Mailing Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Person to Contact*

First NameLast Name
Daytime Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
1. Provide a one sentence description of the project for which Acker funds are being sought:*
2. Funding Request Amount: $*
3. Brief History and Background of your Organization (300 words or less):*
4. Primary goals and objectives:*
5. How many Prescott schoolchildren do you anticipate your program will serve?*
6. Organization Profile Describe your organization and how it serves the community:*
7. Previous Funding (If your organization received previous funding from the Acker Fund, please describe the project. What project goals were achieved? Who were the participants? What was the total in attendance? (Summarize how the funds received assisted the organization.)*
8. Describe the project to take place with the assistance of Acker Trust Funds. *
9. What activities will take place? What age groups will be targeted?*
10. How will you ensure that Prescott will benefit from Acker funding?*
11. What steps did you follow in determining a need for this program?*
12. Evaluation: What methods will you use to evaluate the success of this project?*

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Note: The following material is to be submitted with all grant applications. No material will be accepted after the grant deadlines and incomplete applications and material will not be considered.
Is the funding request for less than or more than $5,000?*

Less than $5,000More than $5,000
File Upload: 501(c)(3) or statement on letterhead stating the organization is either a municipality, public school, or Indian Tribe*

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File Upload: A one-page balance sheet *

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File Upload: The first two pages of the most recent Corporate Tax Return (IRS Form 990), or in the event that organization is exempt, please provide an IRS 990-N E-filing receipt or proper documentation

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Organization Information
Project Director Name:*

First NameLast Name
Email Address:*
example@example.com
Mailing Address:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Daytime Phone:*
Signature of Project Director

Clear
Authorizing Official Name:*

First NameLast Name
Authorizing Official Title:*
Email Address:*
example@example.com
Address:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Daytime Phone:*
Signature of Authorizing Official

Clear

Project Budget:

Funding from Earned Income and Support (Contributed Income):*

	Amount $
1. Admissions
2. Contracted Services
3. Other Revenue
4. Corporate Sponsors
5. Foundations Grants
6. Private Contributions
7. Governmental Support (Identify source)
a) Federal-
b) State-
c) City of County-
8. Applicant Cash

Total Existing Funding: (lines 1 through 8 above)
Grant Amount Requested:*
Total Funding:

Expenses:*

	Amount $
9. Personnel / Staff (include salary and benefits)
a) Administration
b) Artistic
c) Technical / Production
10. Outside Fees and Services (provide details)
a) Artistic
b) Development
11. Product Expenses
12. Rental Expenses
13. Promotion
14. Other Operating Expenses

Total Project Cost: (lines 9 thru 14)
Note: "Total Funding" should equal "Total Project Cost"
Upload any additional documentation needed here:

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CITY OF PRESCOTT ACKER TRUST FUND

FY 2026 GRANT APPLICATION (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026)
Should be Empty:

ACKER TRUST GRANT GUIDELINES & APPLICATION

TIMELINE FOR APPLICANTS

Acker Grant Fiscal Year 2026

Organization Information

Project Budget:

CITY OF PRESCOTT ACKER TRUST FUND