Best Erie County Grants for Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Kiwanis Club Scholarship in Memory of John Hawk

Criteria evaluated:

• Academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and altruistic service

Scholarship amount:

• $5,500 | 1 scholarship

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Madison Kiwanis - Connor K. Salm Scholarship

Criteria evaluated:

• Academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and altruistic service

Scholarship amount:

• $1,800 | 1 scholarship

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Jefferson County 4-H Scholarship

Criteria evaluated:

• 4-H participation, academic achievement, community activities, and financial need

Required materials:

• FAFSA SAI PDF upload

Scholarship amount:

• $12,000 | Multiple scholarships are awarded from this total amount

The Rare Impact Fund, founded by Selena Gomez, is dedicated to transforming mental health support for young people. With a commitment to mobilizing $100 million, the fund aims to enhance access to mental health services and promote a stigma-free community. Through public Requests for Proposals, the initiative seeks to strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce, ensuring effective support systems that reflect the diverse backgrounds of youth. This innovative approach fosters lasting change in mental health care.

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Madison Chautauqua Scholarship for the Arts in Memory of Bob Fourhman

Criteria evaluated:

• Letter of recommendation and artwork samples

Required materials:

• Letter of recommendation from a person knowledgeable about your talent and accomplishments in your art form; and
• An uploaded sample of your work (maximum 3 photos or 1 short video/audio clip)

Scholarship amount:

• $1,200 | 1 scholarship

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Carolyn Bruce Spicer & Gene E. Spicer Nursing Scholarship (Adult Learner)

Criteria evaluated:

• Academic performance, work history, and financial need

Required materials:

• FAFSA SAI PDF upload

Scholarship amount:

• $1,100 | 1 scholarship

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Recent Retirees

Retirees of Regions and its affiliated companies are eligible for the Matching Gift Program for up to 5 years after retirement (the gift date must be within the first 5 years of retirement). Regions will match donations of $25 or more, up to a total of $1,000 per year per retiree.

The Regions Community Affairs team will contact the organization on your behalf to verify the gift and review eligibility.

South Dakota Community Foundation

As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day.

Scholarships

At South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), we proudly manage more than 350 scholarship funds in partnership with generous donors who are committed to supporting students. These scholarships offer countless opportunities to help ease the financial burden of continuing their education.

Stanley Nase Family Scholarship

To provide financial support to graduates of Hot Springs High School or a current resident of Fall River County pursuing a business degree.

Applicants must be graduates of Hot Springs High School or residents of Fall River County with an interest in pursuing a business-related degree, such as accounting, business management, business education, or economics who demonstrate a financial need. The selection committee wants to understand why you are interested in pursuing a business degree as part of the application process.

South Dakota Community Foundation

As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day.

Scholarships

At South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), we proudly manage more than 350 scholarship funds in partnership with generous donors who are committed to supporting students. These scholarships offer countless opportunities to help ease the financial burden of continuing their education.

Wilmer & Esther Werner Family Scholarship

To provide financial support to graduates who plan to attend a college or technical school.

IBEW/Charles Sandberg Scholarship

To provide financial support to family members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 426.

Jeff & Marcia Sveen Scholarship

To provide financial support to South Dakota graduates with preference given to Dakota Provisions, LLC personnel in Huron, SD.

Gropper Clement Legacy Scholarship

To provide financial support to graduates of Huron, James Valley Christian, Kadoka and Miller High Schools.

Harlan & Mae Niedermyer Scholarship

To provide financial support to graduates residing in Fall River County.

Elaine Lonneman Scholarship

To provide financial support to family members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 426.

Eldon & Mary Jean Jensen Family Scholarship

The Jensen Family Scholarship was established by Eldon and Mary Jean Jensen to inspire graduating seniors to return and contribute to their hometown communities. Throughout their lives, Eldon and Mary Jean have dedicated themselves to serving and supporting the communities of Faith, Lemmon, Bison, Hettinger, and beyond— with a spirit of generosity and community commitment. 

Awarded fall semester of sophomore year.

To provide financial support to graduates of high schools in the Lemmon, SD area.

David Webb Memorial Scholarship

To provide financial support for graduates of Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, Faith, Dupree, Timber Lake, Mc Laughlin and McIntosh High School.

CRST Wicozani Wiwokiaye Oyate Scholarship for Nursing

To provide financial support to Native American students pursuing a registered nursing degree.

For a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) member aiming to earn a nursing degree, if there are no eligible CRST candidates, the scholarship will be accessible to another tribal member. Proof of tribal enrollment is required for both applicants. This scholarship is available to students in their second through fifth years who have sustained a GPA of 2.0 or above. When applying for this scholarship, articulate how your nursing education will contribute to enhancing the health outcomes of Native American communities.

(Pronunciation is: Wee-Cho-Zan-Ee, Wee-Woke-Ee-Eye-Aye, Oh-Yah-Tay. Which is Lakota for "Health Helpers Society")

Community Lutheran Church - Hill City Scholarship

The scholarship is available to graduating seniors and home-schooled, non-traditional, and currently enrolled students from Community Lutheran Church in Hill City, SD. Additionally, please reflect on what the mission statement of Community Lutheran Church means to you.

To provide financial support to students from Community Lutheran Church in Hill City, SD.

Allied Arts Fund

These awards help talented young students further their training in their artistic field. Students must live within the boundaries of the Greater Renton Area or have a Renton address and are between the ages of 12-19. The categories under which a student may apply are all areas of visual or performing arts. Awards may be used for tuition, school fees or academic expenses such as music, lessons, books, painting supplies, etc.

Awards

• $500 - $1000

Osborn scholarship

The Osborn scholarship is for BIPOC students with demonstrated financial need, who are enrolled in or planning to pursue an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree program in landscape architecture or civil engineering. Priority will be given to students with a demonstrated a commitment to developing public infrastructure and/or public places in the State of Washington. The intention of the scholarship is to create opportunities for those who have faced historic barriers to access to these professions in the United States. The scholarship founders believe that the design challenges of the 21st century require diverse voices to solve. They look forward to the stronger design solutions to which future scholarship recipients will contribute. Scholarship applicants must demonstrate the grit, resiliency and aptitude that is necessary for success in these professions. This may be demonstrated by any combination of at least two of the following characteristics: overcame a significant personal challenge to maintain at least a B average at school, honor roll grade point average, demonstrated ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, demonstrated service contributions to their community.

Awards

• $5,000 - $10,000

Wayne Hawkins Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship benefits students who are children of employed or independent, exclusive sales representatives or insurance agents of Alfa Mutual Insurance Company or its insurance affiliates or subsidiaries. Awarding is based on academic achievement.

Application Requirements:

• High School Transcript

Wyndall Ivey Scholarship

The scholarship has been established in memory of Attorney Wyndall Ivey, a 1992 graduate of Sidney Lanier High School (Lanier Academic Motivational Program), the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Washington and Lee University School of Law. Eligible applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale and plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Two $500 scholarships will be awarded.

Application Requirements:

• High School Transcript, Essay and References

The Tom Woodward Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship

The Tom Woodward Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship benefits students pursuing postgraduate studies at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or trade school. Art is not a required major for eligible applicants. This scholarship is renewable.

Application Requirements:

• High School Transcript, Essay, 3 Pieces of Artwork and References.

Ted Gacomis Scholarship for Civil Engineering

Mission Statement

Ted Gacomis worked with several civil engineering firms in Chester County. For thirty plus years, he was part of Edward B. Walsh (EBW) & Associates, based in Exton, PA, where he became a Partner and Vice President. The EBW family and the many County township officials with whom he worked were a very important part of his life.

Ted offered his engineering skills to many organizations as a volunteer, including Habitat for Humanity and Operation Honduras, the latter holding a very special place in his heart as he volunteered there for more than twelve years.

Ted was more than a Civil Engineer; it was very important to him to mentor and support future generations of young men and women in his profession. He offered his time and knowledge freely and was never too busy to answer a question. Along with this “teaching” came, of course, the jokes and sense of humor he loved to share.

He was born in Kingston, PA and graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School. He then attended the Pennsylvania State University to study Civil Engineering, which was followed by receiving his engineering license. Prior to joining EBW, Ted’s first professional employment was with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, where he continued his learning, including that of adding to his repertoire of practical jokes. Ted loved to have fun with his co-workers and friends.

A gentleman, scholar, true friend, and a humble man, Ted would be so pleased to be honored with a scholarship bearing his name that would help a young person know what it means to be a person of integrity, compassion and hard work pursuing a degree in civil engineering.

Because Ted was a dear mentor to many, Howell Engineering, a full service civil engineering/land surveying/environmental firm, located in West Chester, PA, will provide, in addition to the scholarship, a summer internship complete with a mentoring opportunity. Engineering interns would be exposed to all facets of civil engineering design and the latest AutoCAD design software as well as drone technology. Howell performs civil site design engineering and land surveying for a wide variety of clients including residential, commercial and industrial real estate developers.

Guidelines

The Ted Gacomis Scholarship for Civil Engineering awards a scholarship of $1,000 to one high school senior, who will pursue a degree in civil engineering and to offer an internship at a local engineering firm.

North Central Zone Covering Jefferson and Lewis Counties "Retired Educators Helping Future Educators" In Partnership with The Northern New York Community Foundation

Scholarship Awards for 2026

Three $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded by the North Central Zone of the Retired Educators of New York (RENY) and the Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) for students residing in Jefferson and/or Lewis Counties - These are a onetime award to help students get started with their college education

Any high school senior pursuing a career in the teaching profession is eligible

• You must be a 2025-2026 high school senior
• You must be accepted into a college program starting in the Fall of 2026

NCCF awards more than $530,000 in scholarships a year. Scholarships and awards are made possible by NCCF Funds, established by generous individuals and families. 

Valerie Rose Pinnette Memorial Scholarship Fund

Award Average:

• $1350

Established by Ed and Rosalie Pinnette in memory of their daughter, Valerie. This scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school student who resides in and attends school in NCCF's 20-town service area. Preference is given to students pursuing a degree in environmental sciences.

South Dakota Community Foundation

As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day.

Scholarships

At South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), we proudly manage more than 350 scholarship funds in partnership with generous donors who are committed to supporting students. These scholarships offer countless opportunities to help ease the financial burden of continuing their education.

Major General Duane L. 'Duke' Corning Scholarship

To provide financial support to scholarships established by the National Guard Association of South Dakota and the South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association.

The funding for this scholarship endowment is made possible by donations from the South Dakota National Guard Officer and Enlisted Associations, honoring the memory of Major General Duane L. “Duke” Corning. It reflects his love and dedication to these associations, as well as his loyalty, dedication, and service to his state, nation, and fellow individuals.