2021 Program Overview

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Matching Funds Program

What is Matching Funds? The Matching Funds Program allows

Ace branded retailers within a defined region to work collaboratively and strategically to have one voice in the market. The goal is to stand for something bigger, create a marketing bridge from national to local and entrench the group’s presence as one Ace voice to the consumer. The Local Marketing Team will help the Matching Funds group with: • Collaboration to define a goal • Strategic planning and campaign development • Integrating a multimedia approach to achieve bigger campaigns • Turnkey recommendations at planning meetings to align with current year’s Consumer Marketing strategy • Diversification using differentiated brands, niches, services, local sponsorships, community outreach and other regional opportunities Eligibility Ace Hardware Corporation (“Ace”) offers the Matching Funds Program (the “Program”) to retailer groups. Eligibility is determined by Ace’s designated Associate Marketing Managers. There is one Matching Funds group per region, and individual retailers or retailer chains are not eligible for Matching Funds on their own. Any new store onboarding will be required to participate with the existing retailer group within the market. Please note: All Matching Funds participants must actively support the Ace National Events via bulletin order, in-store signage, promotion support (traditional print and distribution, digital preprint or in-store copies), and Ace Rewards direct mail and email.

Program Period The Program and campaigns run for one calendar year. Commitment to the Program is for the entire year. It is automatically renewed each year unless your Associate Marketing Managers are notified by December 1 of the current year that the Matching Funds group will not participate in the Program the following year. Leaders for existing Matching Funds groups will receive a rollover form from their Associate Marketing Managers to sign and make any changes to the store participation or group assessment amount. Store Participation Retailers sign an agreement form to initially join the Program, and retailer commitment is for the entire year. Retailers must complete a termination form and submit to their Associate Marketing Managers before December 1 of the current year to drop from the Program for the following year.

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