The Belonging Fund is rooted in a simple conviction: the resources to do this work already exist. The challenge is connecting them with the trusted community leaders who can put them into practice—and expanding what's possible, community by community.
The Belonging Fund expands access to ACL™ training and certification for trusted community and social impact leaders facing financial barriers—investing in people whose work already strengthens the lives of others.
Is the Belonging Fund right for you?
Belonging grows through relationships. Some people are uniquely positioned to extend its reach: the teacher who sees dozens of students each year, the clinician or coach embedded in a community, the faith leader, organizer, or facilitator whose presence shapes the lives of many. When ACL™ trains one of these trusted leaders, we are not investing in a single transformation. We are strengthening the relationships that sustain families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
The Belonging Fund exists to place this training within reach of leaders who face financial barriers but are already serving others. It is a shared investment in people who are committed to carrying Awareness, Courage, and Love into the communities they know best. Every scholarship expands the capacity for connection, belonging, and relational health far beyond the individual who receives it.
"We already know how to strengthen connection and reduce isolation. The challenge isn't a lack of science—it's placing these practices in the hands of people who can extend their reach through the communities they love and serve. The Belonging Fund helps make that possible."
The Belonging Fund is designed to support leaders whose impact extends beyond themselves. Priority is given to applicants who demonstrate both meaningful community reach and financial need.
People already serving a group, team, organization, or community — in education, healthcare, social services, faith communities, caregiving, military settings, grassroots organizing, and beyond — who are positioned to bring relational practices directly into the lives of others.
Belonging Fund participants identify a specific community they already serve and commit to offering at least six ACL™ experiential workshops within the year following certification, extending the impact of their training through relationships that already exist.
We look for leaders who can articulate what this training would make possible in their unique context, and how they hope to strengthen connection, courage, and belonging within their communities.
The Accessibility Rate is still out of reach for many of the people best positioned to spread this work. The Belonging Fund helps remove that barrier so that cost does not determine who has access to this training.
Think you might be one of these leaders? We hope you'll apply. We review every application with care. Rather than asking you to prove hardship through extensive documentation, we want to understand your community, your commitment, and the difference ACL™ practices could make in the lives of the people you serve. We're looking for people who are ready to learn deeply, participate fully, and carry this work forward.
You may be a good fit if:
If this training could strengthen your community and would otherwise be out of reach, we hope you'll let us consider your story.
Start your applicationThank you for considering this. Before you begin, please know: we review every application with care, and there is no version of this form you can get wrong.
We review applications with care, dignity, and trust. We are not asking you to prove hardship — we are asking you to help us understand your community, your commitment, and the difference this training could make. Because the Belonging Fund exists to extend ACL's impact, priority is given to applicants who already have trusted relationships within the communities they hope to serve. Your community does not need to be part of a formal organization. We welcome applications from people who already convene others through informal networks, neighborhood initiatives, mutual aid efforts, faith communities, online spaces, and grassroots groups. If you are wondering whether to apply, please apply. Many people who receive support almost talked themselves out of it, assuming someone else was more deserving. If this training could strengthen your community and would otherwise be out of reach, we hope you will let us consider your story.
About this form: Five short sections, shown one at a time — about 15–20 minutes total. Every written answer has a suggested length — we'd rather have your real answer than a polished one.
We'll confirm by email right away, and our scholarship committee will get back to you with a decision within 14 business days.
Complete the Belonging Fund application in about 20 minutes.
Our scholarship committee reviews your application with care.
We may invite you to a brief conversation if more context would help.
You’ll receive a decision within 14 business days.
If selected, you’ll receive your scholarship offer and next steps.
Join the Founding Cohort with full access to materials, faculty, and certification.
The Belonging Fund offers a limited number of partial scholarships to each cohort, reducing the Accessibility Rate of $850 to as low as $550. All participants contribute toward their tuition as an investment in their own growth and the communities they serve. Belonging Fund recipients receive the same training, materials, faculty access, community membership, and certification as every other participant. Payment plans of up to 10 months are available.
If you're wondering whether to apply, we encourage you to do so. If this training could strengthen the community you serve and financial barriers stand in the way, we'd be honored to consider your application.
Every gift helps place ACL™ training and certification within reach of leaders already strengthening their communities.
Close the gap for one Belonging Fund recipient.
Support three leaders expanding connection and belonging in their communities.
Help equip six leaders to bring Awareness, Courage, and Love into the communities they serve.
2026 goal: close the gap between what's possible and what's affordable for the leaders already strengthening their communities. A gift of $300 helps make ACL™ training accessible to one more trusted leader.
Generosity has always been part of ACL™. From members who sponsor another person's participation to those making transformational gifts, our community helps ensure that financial barriers don't determine who has access to this work.
Make it possible for someone else to be part of the community.
Expand access to ACL™ programs and training.
Invest in leaders strengthening relational health in their communities.
Help ensure this work continues to grow and reach future generations.
The Belonging Fund helps trusted community and social impact leaders access ACL™ training when financial barriers stand in the way. Every gift expands the reach of Awareness, Courage, and Love through the communities they serve.
Interested in funding more leaders? For major gifts or multi-year commitments, contact connect@livewithacl.org.
