Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for this grant:

• Age:  12 or older
• Location: Must live in the United States.
• Diagnosis: Must have an Autism Spectrum Disorder or related diagnosis (e.g. Asperger Syndrome).
• Financial Need: This grant is specifically for adults and families with low to moderate income. Income must not exceed 200% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL):
  • $30,120 for an individual
  • $40,880 for a family of 2
  • $51,640 for a family of 3
  • $62,400 for a family of 4
  • $73,160 for a family of 5
  • $83,920 for a family of 6
  • $94,680 for a family of 7
  • $105,440 for a family of 8

Grant Purpose and Amount

Funds must be used for group recreational and/or social programs. Programs must either specifically serve Autistic individuals and/or individuals with developmental disabilities or similar needs, OR serve a general audience with a commitment to being inclusive.

Examples of recreational and/or social programs include:

• Group Day Trips
• Group Travel Programs
• Group Social Events
• Group Fitness Programs
• Creative Arts Programs
• Sleepaway and Day Camps

Grants will range from $50.00 to $500.00.

Application Process

To be considered for funds, please supply all of the paperwork listed below in Steps 1 and 2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete. AANE will only process an application when it has received all the necessary documentation.

• Step 1: Complete the online application.
• Step 2: Email the AANE Grants Administrator with documentation of income and diagnosis: [email protected].

For income eligibility:

• If you are required to file a tax return, please supply the first page of your most current completed tax return. Please black out your social security number and date of birth.
• If you are not required to file a tax return, please supply alternative documentation of income dependent benefits, such as unemployment income, SSI, or state benefits such as Transitional Assistance.

For diagnosis eligibility (documentation must be within the last 5 years):

• Summary page from a report of neuropsychological testing (or, if unavailable, substitute psycho-educational testing by a school psychologist) and/or
• Individualized Education Plan that lists a current autism spectrum diagnosis and/or
• A 504 Plan that lists a current autism spectrum diagnosis and/or
• A signed letter stating that the applicant has an autism spectrum diagnosis. The letter will need to be provided by a therapist, psychiatrist, and/or doctor (i.e., LICSW/MSW, LMHC, PhD, PsyD, MD, DO) and include the provider’s name, license, and license number.

Application Review Process

When all the paperwork is received, it will be reviewed by the AANE Grants Administrator.

If an application is approved, the AANE Grants Administrator will notify the applicant. AANE will disburse the funds directly to the family or to the service provider indicated on the application.

If an application is rejected, the applicant will receive notification of the reason for the rejection. Applicants may reapply if their circumstances change such that they meet the eligibility requirements listed above.

Proof of Service or Purchase of Goods

Grant recipients MUST send receipts or other proof of purchase for the agreed upon activity to AANE. This grant will be audited by a CPA and we must have proper documentation! You will be considered for a future grant only if we have received your receipts.

We request that grant recipients share a short letter of gratitude or some photos from the experience, so that the Braun family may know how the scholarship fund positively impacted grant recipients.

Questions?

Please feel free to email the AANE Grants Administrator at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the application process. We look forward to hearing from you.