About National Association of Counties
Strengthen America’s counties.
Focus Areas
Federal policy advocacyCounty government best practicesHealth and human servicesBehavioral health and justiceEconomic and workforce developmentEnvironment and land useProfessional development and trainingEvents and conferencesProgrammatic initiatives and cohortsAchievement Awards
Who They Fund
county governmentscounty agencies and local government stafflocal communities served by counties
About National Association of Counties
National Association of Counties’ recent giving is defined by large operating support to its own research foundation: $2.91 million in 2025, $2.89 million in 2023, and $2.5 million in 2024 all went to Naco Research Foundation in Washington, DC. That pattern shows a funder that uses grantmaking to support county-focused infrastructure, not a broad open grant portfolio. The organization’s stated purpose is to strengthen America’s counties, and its program areas reflect that mandate across federal policy advocacy, county government best practices, health and human services, behavioral health and justice, economic and workforce development, environment and land use, and training. The foundation also works through structured initiatives rather than only one-off awards. Its active programs include a Public Health Leadership Academy that helps county teams build action plans and training capacity, along with a Rural Energy Academy and Energy Counties Exchange for rural counties working on energy topics. A separate Achievement Awards program recognizes county innovation across 18 categories, connecting grantmaking with peer learning, recognition, and technical assistance for local government staff and county agencies.
What National Association of Counties Funds
Public health is a clear focus. Through the Public Health Leadership Initiative, county teams take part in a cohort-based academy to identify strategies, develop an action plan, and join virtual and in-person training. The program is aimed at strengthening county leadership in advancing public health and includes partnerships with grantmaking organizations so counties may participate. Energy and rural development are another strand. The Rural Energy Academy and Energy Counties Exchange provide technical assistance and peer exchange for rural counties on energy topics, with future applications opening about two months before events. County innovation also appears in the NACo Achievement Awards, a non-competitive program that recognizes innovative county government programs across 18 categories. Counties with fewer than 50,000 residents can apply at no cost in 2026.
How National Association of Counties Gives
The grant size profile is very concentrated: the 25th percentile is $2,597,500, the median is $2,695,000, and the 75th percentile is $2,792,500. Recent awards also show repeat support over multiple years, including three operating grants to the same recipient in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is not a family foundation or donor-advised fund in the data provided; it operates as a national county association with grantmaking tied to its own programs and technical assistance work. Unsolicited applications are accepted for at least some active programs, including the Rural Energy Academy, the Public Health Leadership Initiative, and the Achievement Awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.9M
Total Assets
$121.1M
Total Revenue
$28.9M
Total Expenses
$24.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $2.6M and $2.8M, with a median of $2.7M.
25th Percentile
$2.6M
Median
$2.7M
75th Percentile
$2.8M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JANET FERNANDES
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