Grantmaking
In 2005, FFC funded and developed a fishing event for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities called Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) in Columbus, Ohio which became its own 501 (c)(3) in 2007 from a grant made by FFC.
In 2006, FFC incubated another innovative program it called the Community Living Fund using $50,000 of operating revenue to provide grants of up to $1,000 to individuals with developmental disabilities to assist with community lifestyle needs. By 2009, the program had given over $134,000 of grants to individuals.
After measuring the impact the Community Living Fund was making, Foundation For the Challenged developed a way to expand the program’s reach state by state through collaboration with mission compatible partners. In 2009, FFC recruited eight Arc Chapters in Ohio and Washington to participate in a challenge match grant program to raise additional dollars to ensure that some of the 400,000 people with developmental disabilities in the states of Ohio and Washington have access to basic living necessities. The nonprofit collaboration created a “mini stimulus fund” for individuals in need of basic living necessities not available from other sources. Each Arc Chapter was challenged to match a $5,000 donation made by FFC dollar for dollar with donors from within their respected communities. This was the first of the kind program to challenge and train Arc chapters on how to raise funds.