Best Grants for Preschools in Pennsylvania

The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program supports Pennsylvania's public school districts and area career and technical schools by funding facility improvement projects. Grants range from $500,000 to $5 million, covering essential upgrades such as roof repairs, HVAC systems, plumbing, and energy-saving initiatives. This program aims to create safer, more accessible learning environments, enhancing educational opportunities for all students in the Commonwealth.

The Gridiron Veterans Scholarship, provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, offers essential financial support for military veterans and first responders. This initiative focuses on wellness, rehabilitation, and recovery programs, ensuring participants can access mental health services, physical therapy, and holistic resources. The foundation prioritizes those facing emotional and physical challenges, empowering them to overcome barriers and improve their quality of life through customized, evidence-based support.

The Local Government Emergency Housing Support Program (LGEHS) provides essential assistance to local governments and nonprofits in response to housing crises caused by disasters. This program ensures that communities affected by emergencies can access safe, temporary housing and stabilization services, fostering recovery and resilience. Applications for funding are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly, emphasizing the importance of timely submissions for consideration.

The Local Share Account (LSA) funding program in Washington County, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, aims to enhance community and economic well-being. Established by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, this program allocates portions of local share assessments from licensed gaming facilities to support various local initiatives. Interested applicants should contact the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County for further details on the application process.

The Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) aims to provide grants and loans for developing competitive sites, enabling businesses to relocate or expand within the Commonwealth. With a focus on planning and construction grants, the program helps cover development risks and supports strategic investments that enhance site viability. Applications are accepted year-round and are reviewed quarterly, ensuring timely funding for eligible projects that promote economic growth across Pennsylvania.

The Strategic Management Planning Program (STMP) assists local governments in Pennsylvania by providing grants for hiring financial consultants to develop comprehensive financial and economic strategies. This proactive approach aims to avert fiscal crises and ensure long-term fiscal stability. By facilitating the creation of three to five-year financial plans, STMP empowers municipalities to enhance their managerial and economic development capabilities, ultimately strengthening their financial health and service delivery.

Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation supports non-profit organizations with resources rather than individual sponsorships. They require requests to be submitted on the letterhead of a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. This ensures that assistance reaches those in need through established channels. Interested parties should provide specific details regarding their requests to facilitate the application process. With a commitment to fairness, Bob's Cares aims to effectively support community initiatives across the country.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant for schools to implement the PLTW Biomedical Science program for the 2026-2029 academic years. Eligible schools can receive up to $14,000 to cover participation fees and training costs. This grant encourages public, private, and charter schools across the U.S. to enhance their science curriculum, supporting students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Schools must commit to offering specific courses during the grant period to qualify for funding.

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.

Leonard and Annette Silverman PITT Pharmacy School Fund

The Leonard and Annette Silverman University of Pittsburgh Pharmacy School Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to students who are currently enrolled in the Doctoral program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. The Fund is in memory of Leonard Silverman, a graduate of the School of Pharmacy in 1951.

Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years.

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.

Miklos Family Trust Fund #1

The Miklos Family Trust Fund #1 was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to fulfill a long-time wish of, and create a perpetual memorial to, Michael V. Miklos, M.D. He was a dedicated Neurosurgeon who established a one-man Department of Neurosurgery at McKeesport Hospital because he felt that his little home town was in need of a Neurosurgeon. Because he was a "one-man department" he was always available to his patients, whatever hour of the day or night. Scholarships are for persons in need of financial help to continue their education for their third or fourth year at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Award Type: Single Year Award. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive 

The Sabina Hilger Walsh and Harold Rex Walsh Scholarship Fund, established by The Pittsburgh Foundation, offers scholarships to students in Pennsylvania who are completing their sophomore or junior year at a two- or four-year college. Eligible applicants must reside in Beaver or Allegheny County, pursue studies in education, demonstrate financial need, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. This fund supports educational aspirations, aiming to enhance the quality of life in the community.

The Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship, provided by the UNICO Foundation, offers two $1,000 awards to college students of Italian descent. Candidates must submit an original essay or short story celebrating their heritage while being enrolled in a full-time, accredited U.S. college for the 2026-2027 academic year. This initiative highlights UNICO's commitment to supporting educational endeavors and preserving Italian culture within America.

The Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships, funded by the UNICO Foundation, offer $2,500 scholarships to students pursuing accredited nursing programs in the United States. These scholarships support nursing students of all ethnicities who demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens and enrolled in a campus-based program, with a focus on continuing their studies within the academic year 2025-2026.

Italian American students pursuing medical degrees in Pennsylvania and other eligible states can receive US $5,000 to support their medical education. Grants from UNICO Foundation help U.S. citizens of Italian descent attending campus-based colleges or accredited medical schools, which may include future physicians connected to preschool or early childhood health initiatives.

The Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship, offered by the UNICO Foundation, provides two awards of $3,000 each for graduate students of Italian descent. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time in accredited programs, and reside in specified states. The scholarship supports students pursuing graduate studies in the academic year 2026-2027. UNICO promotes Italian American heritage and community service, making this scholarship a valuable opportunity for deserving students.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

About PA IOLTA

The core mission of the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Board is to support the provision of civil legal services to the Commonwealth’s poor and disadvantaged. The IOLTA Board is a not-for-profit organization operating under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

How Does the IOLTA Program Work?

The IOLTA program is simple. Clients and others frequently transfer moneys to attorneys to hold. When the amount is large or if the funds will be held for an extended period of time, attorneys invest them for the benefit of the client. But when the funds are small or expected to be held for a short time, they cannot practically be invested to benefit the client. Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 requires attorneys to deposit nominal and short-term fiduciary funds in interest-bearing IOLTA accounts. The attorneys’ banks transfer the interest earned on IOLTA accounts to the Pennsylvania IOLTA Board.

How is the Money Used?

Upon approval of the Supreme Court of PA, the Board makes grants annually to non-profit organizations, law school clinical programs, and administration of justice projects that provide civil legal services free of charge to the poor and disadvantaged.

Grants

The Pennsylvania IOLTA Board carries out its mission to financially support the delivery of civil legal aid to low-income and disadvantaged Pennsylvanians through the careful administration of various revenue sources, both court-directed and legislatively-directed. Upon approval of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the IOLTA Board makes grants annually to qualified legal aid organizations across the state, Pennsylvania’s nine law school clinical and externship programs, and administration of justice projects, all of which provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families facing a civil legal crisis where basic human needs, such as shelter, food, medicine and safety, are at stake.

Law School Clinical and Internship Programs

The grants are conditioned on five requirements:

• first, that the grants be used to address the unmet civil legal needs of the poor and disadvantaged;
• second, that the program be designed to develop the professional identity and responsibility of law students, including the professional responsibility to render public interest legal service;
• third, that the grant proposal must demonstrate that the law school consulted with local pro bono or legal aid programs or other entities providing free or low-fee legal aid to the poor or near poor in the development of its proposal;
• fourth, that the programming involves live-client experience;
• and fifth, funding participation by the law school or parent university.

The Eastern Branch John Henry Comstock Award recognizes outstanding graduate students in entomology. Sponsored by the Entomological Society of America, it offers a fully funded trip to the ESA Annual Meeting, a $100 cash prize, and a certificate. Eligible nominees must be student members of ESA, pursuing or recently completing a graduate degree in entomology. Nominations are limited to two per university, ensuring the selection of the most deserving candidates.

The UPMC Hand Surgery Fellowship Program offers a comprehensive one-year training experience in hand surgery, combining academic and private practice settings. This ACGME-accredited fellowship allows residents from Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, and General Surgery backgrounds to collaborate and gain diverse clinical experience. Trainees will engage in joint conferences and surgical procedures, progressively increasing their responsibility. By the end of the fellowship, participants will be proficient in microsurgical techniques and upper extremity reconstruction, guided by experienced faculty.

The H. G. Barsumian, M.D. Memorial Fund Grant supports organizations engaged in medical research, primarily benefiting the Lancaster, Pennsylvania community. Established in 1998, this fund reflects the commitment of Jane Barsumian and Mary Lyons to enhance medical advancements. Grants average $25,000, with around five grants awarded annually. Eligibility requires organizations to be 501(c)(3) exempt. Although there are no geographic limitations, preference is given to local entities to foster community development.

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) works every day to ensure Pennsylvania is a premier state to do business, where we adopt and innovate the next generation of breakthroughs in a diverse mix of industry clusters, where we cultivate a resilient economy, and where we invest in our people and our communities to build a stronger Pennsylvania that works for all the residents, workers, businesses, and entrepreneurs that call our Commonwealth home.

Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program: Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations

Introduction and Purpose

Tax credits may be awarded to business firms that make contributions to Scholarship Organizations and/or Educational Improvement Organizations and/or PreKindergarten Scholarship Organizations contained on a list published by the Department. The current list of qualified organizations can be found at dced.pa.gov/pre-kindergarten-scholarship-organizations. 

A business firm may receive a tax credit equal to 100% of the first $10,000 contributed to a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization during the taxable year, and may receive a tax credit equal to 90% of any additional amount contributed during the taxable year, up to a maximum of $200,000 per taxable year. Agreeing to a two-year commitment will have no impact on the tax credit calculations outlined in this section.

The purpose of these guidelines is to establish the process whereby a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization may be included on the list of organizations published by the Department. 

Initial Application

For Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations completed applications will be reviewed by the Department and the applicant will be notified within 60 days from date of receipt whether or not the application has met the requirements of the Article and guidelines. If the Department determines that the application meets the requirements, the applicant's name will be included on the Department's list of Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations for the fiscal year in which the application was received. 

Renewal Applications

For each state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) following the fiscal year in which a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization has been initially included on the Department’s list of approved Opportunity Scholarship Organizations, the organization may submit a renewal application to the Department to ensure that the organization continues to be included on the Department’s approved list. A renewal application may be submitted to the Department anytime on or after November 1.

The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) SMART Grant aims to enhance early care and education systems in the U.S. by supporting targeted investments in technology and data analytics. This initiative, led by the Administration for Children and Families, encourages states to improve program quality, family choice, and data-driven decision-making for children from birth to five years old. The funding is designed to create measurable outcomes and strengthen coordination within the mixed-delivery system.

Nature's Path's Gardens for Good program empowers communities by funding organic gardens that address food insecurity. Since 2010, it has donated $930,000 CAD to support 120 gardens. In 2023, grants of $6,500 each will be awarded to 20 gardens across the U.S. and Canada. Eligible applicants must be registered non-profits with urban organic agriculture projects that serve low-income communities, promoting sustainable practices and inclusivity.

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Established by law in 1978, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By bringing together a wide range of experts in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, victim services, and related professions, PCCD coordinates the collective examination of problems, proposes solutions, and evaluates the impact of those solutions.

Targeted School Safety for Nonpublic Schools

The goal of this solicitation is to make school entities and nonpublic schools within this Commonwealth safer places. To support that goal, priority considerations under this competitive funding announcement include:

• Supporting nonpublic schools seeking to meet Level 1 Baseline Criteria (revised and adopted by the SSSC, May 2023), which are standards that assist school entities in guiding their decisions about their physical security and behavioral health needs.2
• Supporting expenses related to gaps identified within a professionally completed assessment (e.g. physical security assessment conducted by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Team (RVAT) or an individual on the SSSC’s school safety and security assessor registry). 

The NRA Foundation's Pennsylvania Grants support charitable initiatives that promote firearms safety, education, and marksmanship. Eligible organizations include IRS-recognized entities, government bodies, and state-recognized nonprofits. Grants aim to foster public benefit through community engagement in shooting sports and related activities. Ineligible organizations include private businesses and individuals. Applicants must adhere to non-discrimination policies and fulfill reporting requirements for previous grants to receive funding. This initiative underscores the Foundation's commitment to community enrichment and education.

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) works every day to ensure Pennsylvania is a premier state to do business, where we adopt and innovate the next generation of breakthroughs in a diverse mix of industry clusters, where we cultivate a resilient economy, and where we invest in our people and our communities to build a stronger Pennsylvania that works for all the residents, workers, businesses, and entrepreneurs that call our Commonwealth home.

Enterprise Zone Program Designations

Offers communities the opportunity to designate areas of a municipality or region for targeted investment and development for a period of five years. Designation includes the identification of specific needs for investment and/or development and the design and/or implementation of a strategy to address those needs. Applicants may request designation for an Enterprise Zone (EZ). An EZ focuses on the deteriorated, distressed, and blighted industrial or manufacturing areas of a community.

This program does not provide funding but does offer eligibility consideration for the Neighborhood Assistance Program and a variety of other DCED programs.