Professional Improvement Foundation

The ACN Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) is now accepting proposals for grant funds. The submission deadline is October 9.  

PIF’s mission is to provide professional improvement programs to members—and nonmembers— both career veterans and students—in the field of agricultural communications. PIF Trustees support and promote the ag comm community through scholarships, internships, and training sessions across a variety of fields, from writers and photographers to editors and freelancers.
Proposals will be evaluated by the Trustees in November on the merits of:

1. Audience scope to ACN members – the number of members who benefit from the grant
2. Impact – does it fill a need?
3. Contribution to helping ACN’s position as the go-to resource for professional development for agricultural communicators.

The deadline to submit a proposal is October 9. The submissions will be reviewed and selected by PIF Trustees by the end of 2024.

You can also make a contribution by contacting the ACN office at (706) 407-2550, or sending a payment by mail. Make checks payable to the ACN Professional Improvement Foundation and mail to:

ACN Professional Improvement Foundation
P.O. Box 1444
LaGrange, GA 30241

PIF is exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. If your employer matches tax-deductible contributions, please submit your contribution through your employer. The Foundation’s tax identification number is 36-3540-723.

Need a Reason to Donate? We’ll Give You Three!

The Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) is a member-directed non-profit organization that provides funding, direction, and input for a wide variety of programs and activities that benefit ACN members, and helps advance the agricultural communications profession.

Here are three reasons to give to the ACN Professional Improvement Foundation:

Pay it Forward: Have you received a stipend for Ag Media Summit, or attended the IFAJ Congress in part because of funds from PIF? This is your chance to pay it forward so your peers in the industry can have the same exciting opportunities for growth and advancement.

Pave the Way: Each year, PIF provides scholarships and internships for students in agriculture communications. These students go on to work in the media industry, join the organization, and make an impact on the profession as a whole. Giving to PIF means opening the path for these students to become excellent journalists, PR professionals, photographers, designers, publishers, and more.

Practice Excellence: PIF makes programs like our Communications Awards contests in writing, photography, design, digital media and marketing possible. PIF provides grants for regional workshops, webinars, and the Ag Media Summit. Through participation in these programs, you’ll refine your craft, practice excellence, and make strides in your profession. Giving to PIF is an investment in the future of the organization and your professional development.

 Thanks to Our Individual Donors

• Joy Crosby
• Kenna Rathai
• Lyle E. Orwig
• Michael Wilson
• Monthe Sesker
• Samantha Kilgore
• Steve Fairchild
• Thomas Curl

 Thanks to Our Corporate Donors

• Agricultural Communicators Network
• Lyle E. Orwig
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Chicago Writers Association