The 2025/2026 AACME application window is divided into three separate steps.
Step 1: Intake Form
The Intake Form is used to gather basic information about who you are as an applicant or the entity you are applying on behalf of. This will be used to build your applicant profile for this year, and future funding cycles.
There can only be one Intake Form per entity, however each entity can apply for multiple grant programs.
In addition to collecting basic information about your applicant type, you may select the different grant programs you are interested in applying to. If you are not sure what program you would like to apply to, or what program is the best fit for you, you may select “Not Sure, I would like guidance on eligible programs” in which staff will review your submission and determine what program(s) you are the best fit for. You must submit the Intake Form before December 4, 2025, 6:59 p.m. if you would like to apply to any of the AACME 2026 Funding Grants.
Step 2: Eligibility Verification Form
Once you have submitted an Intake Form, you will be sent the Eligibility forms for the programs you selected interest in, along with an email notification. If you have selected “Not Sure, I would like guidance on eligible programs”, you will be sent Eligibility forms based on the answers you selected in the Intake Form.
The Eligibility form is used to confirm that you meet all of the eligibility criteria for the grants you selected interest in. Based on your responses, you will be either eligible or not eligible. If you are eligible, you will be given access to the full application starting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Staff will verify your eligibility based on the materials requested in this eligibility form. This eligibility form must be submitted by December 4th, 2025, 6:59 p.m.
If you are not eligible you will not move on to the full application, and you will be sent an email with possible reasons for this determination.
If staff have questions regarding your eligibility, they may request clarification or additional documentation. Please respond within 48 hours if contacted, or you may be deemed not eligible.
If you receive an email in Submittable that indicates you are not eligible, and you believe you filled out the Eligibility Form incorrectly, you can request to edit your Eligibility form and resubmit. Please follow the instructions on this Editing a Submission guide. Please indicate the form you would like to edit so that our team can open the appropriate form accordingly.
Step 3: Application Form
If you are eligible for a grant program, you will be sent the Application along with an email notification. The Application is a scored form that will, based on your responses, determine if you are awarded.
It is important to submit this form if you would like to be considered for the grant you apply to. Without the submission of this form, you will not be in the running to receive an award. The form must be submitted by December 11th, 2025, 6:59 p.m.
How to Access Your Forms
With every form you are sent, you are sent an email notification. This email notification pertains important information and details relevant to the form you receive. Additionally, you can access each form you are sent directly through the ‘View Form’ button in the email:
You can also access your forms through your Submittable profile. Please view this helpful guide on how to access your forms through your Submittable profile.
Questions
For help with Eligibility Form or the Submittable Application, contact Create Austin at The Long Center at ApplicationHelp@thelongcenter.org or call (512) 457-5161, Monday–Friday, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. CST