Best Grants for Preschools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania high school seniors planning to pursue a civil engineering degree can receive a $1,000 scholarship plus a local internship opportunity through the Ted Gacomis Scholarship for Civil Engineering. Focused on higher education and mentoring, Chester County Community Foundation supports students with hands-on apprenticeship and internship experience at a local engineering firm.

The Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Program offers financial assistance to Pennsylvania's Certified Local Governments for projects that enhance local preservation efforts. Funding amounts range from $3,000 to $25,000, with a required cash match of 10%, 25%, or 50% of the total project cost, depending on the project type. Eligible projects include design guidelines, historic resource surveys, and revitalization plans, aimed at producing tangible benefits for communities.

Certified Local Government Grant Program

The CLG Grant Program provides financial support to participating communities to develop the tools, products, programs, and services they need to administer their local preservation programs effectively and in accordance with the CLG Guidelines and Procedures.

Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Program: Mini-Grants

The CLG Mini-Grant program is intended to provide Certified Local Governments with grant funds to solve problems and build capacity for the local preservation program in a timely and targeted fashion. Projects and issues often arise outside of established annual grant cycles, requiring communities to either defer action and wait for the next open grant round, spend money from the annual budget, or seek funding from other sources. Often, important projects languish and never get done because the resources aren't available or something more pressing takes precedence. Sometimes, there's a project or a property that requires a timely response and the community cannot wait for another grant round to open.

General Conditions

• CLG Mini-Grants will be made in the amounts of $100 - $7,500.
• All Mini-Grants require a minimum cash match equal to 25% of the grant award.
• All grantees will receive 10% of the grant award for administrative overhead, consistent with Federal guidelines.
• All Mini-Grants will be awarded under the CLG Master Grant Contract between the Commonwealth and the CLG.
• Mini-Grants are reimbursement grants.

Maximum Number of Awards

• Awards are made on a first-come-first-served basis until all available funds have been committed.
• A CLG may only receive one Mini-Grant at a time. When a Mini-Grant is closed, the CLG may apply for another Mini-Grant. A CLG may have an open Project Grant, Mini-Grant, and Scholarship at the same time, provided each grant is for a different project.

Matching Requirements

• CLG Mini-Grants require a minimum cash match equal to 25% of the grant award.
• The cash match may come from any non-Federal source (i.e. municipal funds, state funds, or private funds). The only eligible Federal source for matching funds are Community Development Block Grants.
• Applicants do not need to have the minimum match secured at the time of application. Upon notification that of a successful grant award, applicants will have 60 days to secure the required match and provide verification of its immediate availability to the PA SHPO. After 60 days, the PA SHPO cannot guarantee that the grant funds will still be available.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is offering funding to establish the Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center (SBTTAC) in Region 1. This initiative aims to provide crucial technical assistance and business development support to small businesses while ensuring compliance and reducing barriers. The program includes a 10-month base year with two potential option years, emphasizing the Department's commitment to accountability and support for small enterprises.

The Patterson Foundation offers Oral Health Grants to support programs that enhance access to dental care for underserved communities. Eligible 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations can apply for funding up to $35,000 for capacity expansion, $10,000 for personnel support, or $10,000 for program support. The foundation prioritizes projects led by volunteer dental professionals and requires follow-up reports for continued funding. Applications are accepted year-round through a two-step process.

The Vulcan Materials Company Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community quality of life through education, environmental stewardship, and employee involvement. Established in 1988, the Foundation supports public charities and government units, prioritizing proposals that improve public education and promote sustainable practices. Special consideration is given to initiatives that engage Vulcan employees and integrate multiple focus areas, ensuring a positive impact in the local communities where Vulcan operates.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

John J. and Martha A. Hucko Scholarship Fund

The John J. and Martha A. Hucko Scholarship fund was created to provide scholarships for graduating seniors in good standing from Allegheny, Washington or Westmoreland counties who will attend Duquesne University.

Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years). Recipient must maintain a GPA of 3.25.

The Pitcairn-Crabbe Foundation Grant focuses on supporting religious work, Christian education, community welfare, and the overall improvement of humanity's condition, particularly in Pennsylvania. The foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes, address significant challenges, and show potential for leveraging additional support. Applicants must submit an online Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to outline their organization and funding needs. Grants are typically limited to agencies within a 100-mile radius of Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Kevin P. Rimmell Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Kevin P. Rimmell Memorial Scholarship Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to honor the memory of Kevin Rimmell who died tragically at the age of 34. He loved his work in the field of electronics and always credited his education at Pittsburgh Technical College as having prepared him to achieve great things. This scholarship is intended to provide financial support for a student of high academic achievement who has financial need.

Award Type: Renewable Award (subject to committee recommendation). 

The Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program, established in 2005, supports innovative community-based environmental projects aimed at improving local watersheds and water supplies. Open to organizations within American Water service areas, it funds activities like watershed cleanup and biodiversity projects. Selection criteria emphasize project clarity, design innovation, community collaboration, sustainability, and engagement. This program reflects Illinois American Water's commitment to environmental stewardship and community support, ensuring clean and reliable water resources for all.

Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is offering up to $10 million in relief to Pennsylvania fruit growers whose crops were damaged by freezing temperatures between April 1 and April 21, 2026.

Governor Josh Shapiro secured funding for the program through the 2026-27 state budget to help growers recover from significant losses caused by the late-April freeze.

At the close of the application period, grants from the program will be awarded on a per-acre basis according to the total number of acres of eligible specialty crop trees, bushes, and vines in production on an applicant’s eligible acreage between April 1, 2026 and April 21, 2026.

The percentage (amount) of funding awarded to each applicant will be pro-rated based on the number of applications received and the amount of funding available (total qualified acres ÷ $10M).

 

Bucks County Foundation

Since our founding in 1979, the staff at BCF have been working closely with donors, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Bucks County. Our work with local charitable organizations helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families across the county.

Scholarships

The Bucks County Foundation is proud to support students throughout Bucks County in their pursuit of higher education and attainment of academic, trade and life skills that translate into economic self-sufficiency. Through the generosity of donors in our region, we manage over 100 scholarship distributions for a wide variety of students with diverse educational journeys.

Happ Grover Scholarship

Provides scholarships to Central Bucks School District area students who choose to attend Delaware Valley College or Bucks County Community College. This scholarship is not available for students to apply online and is awarded through the colleges.

The Ernest Morgan Memorial Scholarship, managed by CommunityGiving, supports central Minnesota student athletes and leaders to pursue higher education outside their home states. This scholarship aims to expand students' horizons and experiences, with a total award of $5,000 available. Open to high school seniors from specific schools, applicants are encouraged to apply online and demonstrate their leadership or athletic skills. This initiative enhances educational opportunities and fosters personal growth among local youth.

Company culture at Clark Associates emphasizes responsibility, sharing our success with others, and the importance of building strong communities. To help fulfill these goals, Clark Associates Charitable Foundation (CACF) was incorporated in 2001 and provides funding to organizations serving people in need and those delivering positive experiences for youth. CACF supports non-profits operating in and around its business locations and those where our employees volunteer and actively contribute. To date, CACF has distributed over $44 million in charitable contributions.

Organizations must be registered 501c3 charities serving three basic categories: people in need, innovative youth educational programs, and youth programs in music and the arts. People in need represents the largest giving category and includes homelessness, food insecurity, individuals with disabilities, victims of abuse, and people in recovery. Examples of other grant recipients include those assisting veterans, senior citizens, at-risk youth, academic enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and those focused on the performing and visual arts.CACF evaluates grant applications submitted by non-profit organizations every month of the year.

The David M. Dolan Scholarship, offered by the International Association for Great Lakes Research, supports master's and Ph.D. students engaged in applied environmental statistics and modeling related to the Great Lakes. The scholarship provides a $3,000 award, complimentary conference registration, and IAGLR membership. Recipients must present their research at the annual IAGLR conference. Eligibility is limited to those whose research aligns with Dr. Dolan's work, and previous awardees are not eligible.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Thomas M. Colella & Florence M. Colella Scholarship Fund

The Thomas M. Colella & Florence M. Colella Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide a full tuition, multi-year scholarship for a student from Western Pennsylvania, specifically for a student entering Grove City college for undergraduate studies. The award is a “last-dollar award,” which means the funding released each year will take into account any additional public funding, grants or scholarships for which the student is eligible in that given year.

Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years). Recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and degree enrollment at Grove City College.

HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP)

HOME-ARP provides funding to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or other vulnerable populations by providing rental housing, supportive services and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.

Funding

• The minimum funding request for Non-Congregate Shelter projects is $50,000.
• Up to 5% may be requested for administrative costs.

Uses

HOME-ARP funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct NCS units to serve individuals and families Qualifying Populations.

Restricted Use Period: HOME-ARP NCS projects must comply with HOME-ARP requirements during the restricted use period established in the HOME-ARP Notice.

• New Construction: 15 years
• Rehabilitation: 10 years
• Acquisition Only: 10 years

Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Registered Apprenticeship Ecosystem Through the Navigator Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $450,000 in funding for Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Registered Apprenticeship Ecosystem Through the Navigator Program to include one award of up to $450,000.

L&I has created this grant opportunity to continue support of a local and/or regional apprenticeship navigator program which enables the expansion of registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Additionally, the intent is to support technical assistance to regional consortiums of stakeholders, employers, intermediaries, training providers, and other partners by building a network of people trained on growing programming and apprenticeship ecosystems over the long term. 

HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program

The Pennsylvania HOME Program is a federally funded program that provides municipalities with grant and loan assistance to expand and preserve the supply of decent and affordable housing for low- and very low-income Pennsylvanians. HOME funds can be used in a variety of ways to address critical housing needs in the Commonwealth, including market-oriented approaches that offer opportunities such as homeownership or rental activities to revitalize communities with new investment. HOME Program funds are provided to DCED from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the annual entitlement appropriation process.

Uses

New construction and rehabilitation of housing units for affordable rental or homeownership opportunities; rehabilitation of owner-occupied dwelling units, assistance to first-time homebuyers, including acquisition and rehabilitation assistance; assistance to Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) engaged in eligible CHDO rental or homeownership projects. All eligible uses must benefit very low-, low- and/or moderate-income households.

Funding

• Maximum funding availability varies by HOME eligible activity.
• Applicants seeking Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation and Homebuyer activities funding will be limited to a maximum of $500,000 as a town, borough or township. Cities and county applicants are limited to $750,000.
• Applicants seeking rental housing and homebuyer – new construction activities will be limited to a maximum funding request of the per unit subsidy limits for the Metropolitan Statistical Area for the proposed activity.
• All applicants must demonstrate matching contributions equal to 25% or greater for ALL HOME rental housing projects. Eligible match contributions may include cash contributions from non-federal sources, value of donated property, forbearance of fees, cost of on-site infrastructure improvements directly required for the HOME-assisted project and other eligible sources more specifically detailed in 24 CFR 92.220.

The University Center at Harrisburg Scholarship Fund, managed by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, supports deserving students from Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Lebanon, or York counties. With a history of over 100 years, TFEC provides more than 190 scholarship opportunities, awarding over $1.7 million to local students. The fund encourages applications from non-traditional students and requires a minimum GPA of 2.0, making higher education accessible to the community.

The Caitlin Hornung Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, provides financial support for students pursuing degrees in social work, counseling, psychology, behavior science, or human services. This one-time award particularly favors students facing chronic or life-threatening conditions. The fund reflects over a century of community support, with TFEC being the largest scholarship provider in South Central Pennsylvania, awarding over $1.7 million to local students annually.

The Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grant, offered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, supports projects that enhance traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region. Non-profit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, with a required 1:1 match. Eligible activities include performances, workshops, and public art collaborations, particularly those engaging underrepresented communities. This initiative fosters artistic expression and cultural connection across diverse communities.

The Washington Biologists' Field Club (WBFC) Research Awards Competition offers grants to support field research focused on the Mid-Atlantic Region's natural history. This includes studies on biodiversity, ecology, and conservation, with a particular emphasis on organisms from Plummers Island and the Potomac River. The WBFC encourages proposals that enhance understanding of lesser-known taxa and has funded diverse research topics, such as fish behavior and conservation genetics.

Key Bank Philanthropic Support - Community Sponsorships aims to enhance community welfare by providing financial backing to nonprofit organizations. With grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, these sponsorships focus on fundraising events and operational support for initiatives that foster economic inclusion and community growth. Applications are accepted from January to October, with decisions typically made within 90 days, ensuring timely support for impactful local projects.

M&T Charitable Foundation 

Our purpose is to understand the individuals and the businesses in our neighborhood, so we can create the right opportunities for the people we serve. During our 165-year history, we evolved with the needs of our locations, and are guided by a leadership team that holds us accountable.

Adapting to the needs of our neighbors means finding new solutions and sharing the Research & Insights we learn along the way. We support local organizations by volunteering our time and reinvesting in our community.

M&T Charitable Foundation Community Sponsorship Program

At M&T Bank we are building a stronger community - together. Our purpose is to understand the individuals and the businesses in our neighborhood, so we can create the right opportunities for the people we serve.

Community Sponsorships enable us to partner with nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the regions we operate.

Our goal is to make meaningful community-based contributions and to work closely with the organizations we support beyond a financial commitment. At M&T Bank, we consider supporting sponsorship opportunities that result in a mutually beneficial partnership.

Bucks County Foundation

Since our founding in 1979, the staff at BCF have been working closely with donors, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Bucks County. Our work with local charitable organizations helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families across the county.

Scholarships

The Bucks County Foundation is proud to support students throughout Bucks County in their pursuit of higher education and attainment of academic, trade and life skills that translate into economic self-sufficiency. Through the generosity of donors in our region, we manage over 100 scholarship distributions for a wide variety of students with diverse educational journeys.

Dominic Garofalo Memorial Scholarship

Provides scholarships to students at Bensalem and Neshaminy High Schools who are planning to attend Bucks County Community College. This fund also provides scholarships to students at Girard College High School who plan to major in a science field.

KeyBank's Community Grants support tax-exempt organizations that align with the Foundation's funding priorities, focusing on improving community well-being. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, eligible organizations must have an operating budget of at least $100,000 and a minimum of three years in operation. The application process is invitation-only, requiring interested organizations to submit an Expression of Interest for review, typically receiving feedback within 90 days.