Best Chester County Grants for Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

The SWE Philadelphia Scholarships support full-time undergraduate and graduate students in engineering or related fields at local universities, offering financial aid between $1000 and $2000. Eligibility includes students from the Philadelphia and greater Harrisburg areas, with preference for those holding paid SWE memberships and active collegiate section involvement. Selection criteria emphasize academic achievements in STEM, leadership skills, and personal motivations expressed in an essay.

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation's System Reform Award promotes community impact through collaborative efforts addressing systemic inequities. This grant supports initiatives that drive policy change and foster sustainable outcomes in education, health, and economic opportunities across Western Montgomery County and surrounding areas. Nonprofits and public entities are eligible, focusing on innovative solutions to eliminate barriers and enhance community advocacy. Applications vary based on funding needs, ensuring tailored support for impactful projects.

The KeyBank Foundation offers Community Sponsorships to support local organizations in their fundraising efforts. These sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000 and can fund events or provide general operating support. Applications are accepted from January to October, with a decision made within 90 days. Eligible nonprofits must serve areas where KeyBank operates and adhere to strict ineligibility criteria, including no support for individuals or organizations that discriminate based on various identities.

The Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund: Catalyst Grants, initiated in 2014 by the Open Space Institute, aims to enhance water resource management and land protection. These grants support organizations addressing climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-led groups. Funded projects should integrate science into conservation plans, focusing on water quality and stewardship. The initiative collaborates with the William Penn Foundation to ensure sustainable water practices across the Delaware River watershed.

The Visionary Leadership Fund Grant, managed by the Valentine Foundation since 2005, aims to support leadership development for women and aspiring leaders in the Greater Philadelphia area. By funding organizations that primarily serve women and girls, the grant fosters community, effectiveness, and innovation among under-represented groups, including Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This initiative is committed to closing equity gaps in non-profit leadership, ensuring diverse voices lead the way towards transformative social change.

The Phoenixville Health Care Foundation offers Mini-Grants for Information Technology, providing up to $5,000 for eligible health and human services nonprofits in the greater Phoenixville region. Grants support computer hardware, software upgrades, and training associated with equipment. Interested applicants should consult with staff before applying, as grants are reviewed monthly and funds are available until exhausted. This initiative aims to enhance technological capabilities for local nonprofits serving the community.

The Home Health Care Foundation Fund Grant, managed by Berks County Community Foundation, supports organizations that provide essential home health care in Berks County and neighboring areas. The grant prioritizes programs that assist residents in recovering from illness at home and those that enhance preventative healthcare. Additionally, it favors initiatives that train family caregivers, ensuring individuals can remain at home and receive compassionate care within their communities.

The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust provides funding for basic medical research focusing on heart disease, cancer, and AIDS. Grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in the Greater Philadelphia area and Camden, NJ. Each grant typically ranges from $100,000 to $125,000 for a one-year term. The Trust aims to support unique and promising research projects that can lead to larger awards, ensuring a direct impact on health outcomes.

The Future Fund Grant, offered by the Bread & Roses Community Fund, provides $5,000 to emerging groups in Philadelphia focused on social justice and community organizing. It aims to support those challenging power imbalances and fostering sustainable change. Eligible applicants must meet specific criteria, including being a designated 501(c)(3) organization. While the fund champions innovative activism, it does not support direct service work or traditional educational programs. Applications are not currently accepted for 2025.

The Racial & Economic Justice Fund Grant offers $10,000 to organizations dedicated to advancing racial and economic justice through community organizing. The fund seeks groups that prioritize justice in their mission, employ strategies for social change, and are led by those most impacted by injustice. Eligible organizations must be based in specified counties and meet IRS criteria. Grants are not provided for direct services, research, or individual scholarships, emphasizing a commitment to challenging power dynamics.

The Claneil Foundation, established in 1968 in Philadelphia, aims to enhance community health through support for non-profit organizations. The Community Fund Grant offers $90,000 over three years to eligible groups with budgets under $1 million, focusing on deep-rooted community engagement. Applications are encouraged from organizations addressing critical issues like hunger and nutrition, with a deadline of December 2, 2025. This initiative fosters sustainable solutions for local communities.

Pincus Family Foundation

PFF is driven by the values that our founders David and Gerry Pincus lived by: “to get involved, not just think about your own life, you are supposed to do things for other people.” Today, the second and third generation of Pincus Family members have added their ethos, while keeping the founders’ legacy alive.

Pincus Family Foundation Grant

Mission Alignment: We support our non-profit partners to develop and enhance programs that improve the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

PFF Funds Projects, Programs, & General Operating Support in Four Priority Areas

Creative & Performing Arts

The Pincus Family Foundation’s Creative and Performing Arts portfolio supports programs where young people use art as a tool to address the structural inequities they face. Five strategic priorities:

• Arts for Social Change Focus – Integrating artistic practice with community organizing, policy advocacy, and/or systemic change efforts
• Hyperlocal Community Integration – Deep community embedment with extensive local partnerships
• Teaching Artist Investment – Commitment to the professional development and well-being of teaching artists
• Cultural Responsiveness – Programming that incorporates community cultural wealth with community input
• Environmental Justice Integration – Authentic integration of environmental themes from community-identified priorities

Target Constituency: Organizations serving preK-12 youth from marginalized communities with arts for social change programming that connects them to the power of art to question and transform systems.

Education

High school readiness for many low-income students, largely is a result of poor preparation in middle school. PFF is funding programs/projects that support middle school engagement and focus on achievement filling a funding gap. 

Target Constituency: We support non-profit organizations serving middle school students who face gaps in comprehensive high school readiness. These organizations implement innovative programming that creates challenging yet nurturing environments—preparing students for achievement while inspiring them to become engaged, confident citizens ready to contribute to their communities.

Health & Wellness

Goal: Advance children’s health and well-being by supporting nonprofits that strengthen social conditions, empower youth, and build healthier environments in marginalized communities.

Target Constituency: Nonprofits whose work strengthens social determinants of health for children in marginalized communities.

Play & Recreation

Goal: Advance children’s social-emotional development and physical well-being by supporting nonprofits that create inclusive play-based programming, competitive sports opportunities, and outdoor recreational experiences in under-resourced communities.

Target Constituency: Non-profits whose work promotes access to quality recreational programming for children ages 6-18 in under-resourced communities.

For all grants, the organization’s mission and scope must align with the Foundation’s mission. For the latter, these grants can be either unrestricted or restricted to a particular program or project. The type of grant and what it is used for will dictate the goals and objectives to be met.

The Philadelphia Student Mediamaker Fund, supported by the People's Media Fund, empowers students in the Philadelphia area to create digital media projects. Focused on inclusivity, the fund awards grants to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young media makers aged 16-30, covering costs from pre-production to post-production. This initiative fosters creative expression while amplifying diverse voices and narratives, aiming to reshape the media landscape and enhance community storytelling.

The William Penn Foundation aims to enhance arts education for young people aged 5-18 in the Greater Philadelphia area through the Out-of-School Community-Based Arts Education Programs. This initiative encourages hands-on learning led by skilled artists, fostering youth leadership and creativity. Organizations are invited to submit proposals for projects lasting up to three years, with a focus on cultural relevance and community engagement. With a budget of $3 million, the foundation seeks to empower over 75,000 youth by 2035.

The William Penn Foundation's Arts and Culture Capital Support initiative aims to enhance access to high-quality arts and culture experiences across Philadelphia. This funding opportunity prioritizes projects that improve existing cultural spaces, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all community members, particularly individuals facing economic and social barriers. With a total of $6 million available, the Foundation seeks proposals that foster equity and accessibility in the arts, benefiting diverse audiences through innovative design and community engagement.

The Univest Local Philanthropic Giving Program has a rich history of supporting local communities for over 150 years. With a focus on youth education, health services, economic development, and arts, Univest empowers registered nonprofits in Greater Philadelphia and beyond. Their commitment is evident through employee volunteerism and financial contributions, ensuring stronger community ties. This program primarily supports Univest customers, reinforcing the belief that a strong business is rooted in a thriving community.

The William Penn Foundation's Arts and Culture Programming aims to enhance access to diverse high-quality arts experiences for all Philadelphians. With a focus on inclusivity and equity, this initiative invites proposals for projects that address historic inequities in arts access and engage communities through performances and exhibitions. Organizations with less than $750,000 in annual expenses are encouraged to apply for funding to support innovative and welcoming arts initiatives that enrich the cultural landscape through 2035.

The Essential Utilities Protect Your Drinking Water Grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, offers funding between $2,500 and $10,000 for projects aimed at protecting public drinking water sources. Eligible applicants include non-profits, municipalities, and educational institutions targeting priority water protection areas in Pennsylvania. Projects may involve green infrastructure, educational programs, and agricultural best practices. A 20% matching contribution is required, with initial funding of 90% provided upfront.

Chester County Estate Planning Council Scholarship Fund

The Chester County Estate Planning Council includes attorneys, trust officers, accountants, financial planners, wealth managers, investment planners, stockbrokers, insurance agents, appraisers, realtors, and nonprofit planned giving officers, as well as other specialists in related professions serving Chester County, PA.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate Planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the protection, orderly administration, and disposition of a client’s wealth in accordance with their wishes, upon the occurrence of major events such as birth, marriage, divorce, incapacity, and death. Significant attention is paid to minimizing taxes and administration expenses. Estate planning requires knowledge of state property, probate, and trust laws; and federal and state income, gift, inheritance, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax laws. Some estate planning areas include:

• Creating a will
• Setting up durable power of attorney
• Naming an estate executor to oversee the terms of the will
• Establishing a guardian for living dependents
• Creating/updating beneficiaries on plans such as life insurance, IRAs and 401(k)s
• Setting up trust accounts in the name of beneficiaries
• Philanthropy planning to arrange for estate gifts to charities

Guidelines

The purpose of the Chester County Estate Planning Council Scholarship Fund is to award $500 or $1,000 academic scholarships to West Chester University students entering junior or senior year, pursuing studies and considering a career in estate planning.

Additionally, the CCEPC Scholarship includes a complimentary membership to the Chester County Estate Planning Council during the student’s college years, and for two (2) years post-graduation. CCEPC’s goal is to offer students invaluable networking and learning opportunities as they pursue careers in the estate planning field.

The Secular Distribution Grant supports charitable activities aimed at enhancing community well-being, particularly within 100 miles of Coatesville, PA. Focused on health and human services, the grant encourages projects that address community needs, foster self-reliance, and promote civic engagement. With a commitment to philanthropic impact, funding is reserved for organizations demonstrating 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and a proven need, while maintaining strict eligibility criteria to ensure effective resource allocation.

Nestlé Purina is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and the communities they serve. Through their event sponsorship program, they support 501(c)(3) tax-exempt pet welfare organizations in the U.S. that focus on the welfare of cats and dogs. Eligible events must be located within 50 miles of their St. Louis headquarters, ensuring that their contributions directly benefit local communities. Purina's commitment to pets and people strengthens the bond between them.

The Connelly Foundation Grant, established in 1955, aims to create access and opportunities for those in need, particularly in the Philadelphia area. Focused on education, human services, and cultural initiatives, it supports nonprofits that enhance Catholic education, address essential needs, and promote civic engagement. The Foundation seeks to partner with organizations demonstrating effective leadership and sustainable practices, while avoiding direct grants to individuals or funding for advocacy and charter schools.

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage offers Creative Project Grants to support distinctive and impactful projects by cultural organizations in the Philadelphia region. These grants target performances, exhibitions, and public interpretations that engage diverse audiences. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with a minimum annual budget of $150,000, located in the five-county area of Philadelphia. Individual artists are not eligible, and projects should demonstrate artistic excellence and community engagement.

The Lawrence Saunders Fund Grant, established in memory of Lawrence Saunders, supports charitable endeavors with a focus on environmental projects, education for underprivileged children and adults, and social services for those in need. Created by his wife, Dorothy Love Saunders, the fund aims to enhance community welfare through strategic grants derived from its investment portfolio. This philanthropic initiative continues to impact various sectors, promoting sustainability and education.

The TD Bank Community Sponsorships Program, supported by the TD Charitable Foundation, provides funding for events and activities that positively impact communities from Maine to Florida. This initiative aims to enhance community awareness and foster partnerships among diverse groups, promoting economic development, cultural enrichment, and social responsibility. Organizations can apply for funding to support community-oriented programs, with applications reviewed quarterly. It's essential to submit applications at least 90 days before the event deadlines.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

The Nelson Foundation's Core Grant Program offers multi-year, general operating support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Region, focusing on racial equity and social justice. Grants amount to $60,000 over three years, aimed at eradicating racial inequity and social injustice. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to equity, serve young people and their families, and have total annual expenses under $2.5 million. Applications are accepted from nonprofits with 501(c)3 status.