Search Through Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in Pennsylvania in the U.S.

Mission

To encourage human development in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania through strategically placed charitable resources.

Guiding Principles

The following principles guide the Foundation’s grants programs in those regions: 

• We honor Michael and Sarah Benedum’s belief in “helping people help themselves,” and we seek opportunities to cultivate the creativity of people and communities. 
• We nurture leadership within the communities we serve, and we participate in leadership when it adds value.
• We encourage planning, projects and programs that cross geographical and political boundaries so that access to services and economic growth is maximized.
• We expect collaboration among the public, private and nonprofit sectors in order to leverage the resources that each can bring to common concerns.
• We strive to advance innovative practices that demonstrate measurable and sustainable benefit.
• We seek projects that contribute to advancement in public policy.

What We Fund

In keeping with the wishes of Michael and Sarah Benedum, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is a regional philanthropy focusing on West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Foundation generally invests two-thirds of its grant dollars in West Virginia and one-third in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Foundation serves the entire state of West Virginia. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the service area includes Allegheny, Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties. This four-county area is a natural connector between Pittsburgh and West Virginia and contains rural communities that may benefit from the Benedum Foundation’s experiences in West Virginia. However, the Foundation recognizes that economic regions do not follow political boundaries, and therefore, the Foundation both encourages projects that cross state lines, and supports economic initiatives that benefit the multi-state economy centered on Pittsburgh.

Program Areas

The Foundation makes grants in two program areas that span both states:

Education

The Benedum Foundation seeks to foster learning environments, across formal and informal educational systems, that position young learners to thrive in career and life. Academic achievement, social and emotional wellbeing, and real-world workforce preparation are the ultimate objectives of this program.

The Foundation places a high priority on teacher quality and the most advanced instructional tools. Because schools do not function in isolation, the Foundation also looks to the resources of community organizations, business, and higher education to reinforce the learning objectives of the classroom. In preparation for the rising demands of the workplace, the Foundation recognizes the need for all students to enter some form of post-secondary education.

Although the Foundation is interested in any significant opportunity to improve the education system, current specific areas of interest include:

• Programs that improve teacher quality through professional development and innovative instructional strategies.
• Early childhood educational practices that bolster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development, including early intervention services that support school-success.
• Expanded and extended learning opportunities that complement and enhance the learning that occurs during the traditional school day.
• Career education and future readiness skill development, aligning secondary and post-secondary programs to high-demand, high-wage occupations.

Economic Development

Innovation will be the cornerstone of the future success of the economy in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Foundation supports economic development activities based upon the region’s strengths in research, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

The Foundation’s agenda seeks to promote regional planning and cooperation, recognizing that with respect to any endeavor, “region” should mean whatever area is most appropriate to optimize the available opportunity, without reference to historic, geographic, or political boundaries. The expected outcomes of the Foundation’s Economic Development grants are the creation and growth of innovative, wealth-producing businesses and high-quality jobs.

In addition, many of the communities in the region served by the Foundation are rural, and enjoy abundant natural assets that provide economic opportunities that complement centers of technology-based growth. The Foundation currently supports efforts to advance agriculture, outdoor recreation, artisanship, and cultural tourism. Current specific areas of Foundation interest include:

• Promotion of entrepreneurship.
• Projects that promote technology-based economic development.
• Programs to promote the growth and accessibility of new capital for businesses in distressed communities and areas of high unemployment.

Nonprofit Growth Grants

Awarded throughout the year, Nonprofit Growth Grants range in value up to $10,000 to support the organizational and professional development needs of non-profit organizations.

Background

Through effective partnerships and collaborations, including The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University, Catalyst Center for Nonprofit Management and Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), FCP invests in the organizational and professional development needs of nonprofits serving Bucks County.

Opportunities 

Organizational Development Opportunities:

Funding

Grant funding may cover up to 90% of the proposed project.

Professional Development Opportunities:

Funding

An approved master’s degree candidate will be reimbursed equal to one-third (1/3) of the total tuition cost upon submission of final course grade (B or higher). The organization and the candidate are responsible for the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of the tuition.

An approved Certificate in Nonprofit Management candidate will be reimbursed equal to half (1/2) of the total tuition cost. The remaining cost will be funded by the organization and/or candidate. FCP will reimburse nonprofits that sponsor a certificate track student after five successfully completed courses and again after completion of the program.

An approved DEI certificate candidate through University of Florida and Catalyst will be fully funded, while an approved candidate through Cornell University will be reimbursed equal to half (1/2) of the total tuition cost. The remaining cost will be funded by the organization and/or candidate. FCP will reimburse nonprofits that sponsor a DEI certificate track student after completion of the program.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

Background

The Highmark Foundation is a private, charitable, organization of Highmark Inc. that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health. The Highmark Foundation's mission is to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who reside in communities served by Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. We fulfill our mission by awarding high impact grants.

Ideally, the Foundation seeks evidence-based programs that impact multiple counties, that achieve replicable long-term models, and that attract collaborative funding by community partners.

Foundation grants have been awarded to hospitals, community health centers, health service organizations, local community groups and government agencies committed to improving community health.

Our focus is health. The Foundation awards health-related programmatic grants to charitable organizations to implement evidence-based programs aimed at improving community health within Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Grant funding is used to support projects that:

• Are consistent with the Foundation’s goals, strategies and focus
• Demonstrate new and sustainable ways to solve health problems
• Illustrate the effectiveness of early intervention and preventive health

Funding Priority Areas

The Foundation awards grants in the area of health, defining health broadly to include social, behavioral and other dimensions beyond illness or disease. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on four areas:

Chronic Disease

For more than a decade, the Foundation has funded chronic disease intervention and prevention programs for the most vulnerable populations in the region. By analyzing data from global, national, and statewide resources, the Foundation determines where it can make significant impact among populations by reducing the burden on both patients and health care providers.

One major example of the Foundation's leadership is its funding of community-based programs and services that have been created to reduce the effects of diabetes among minority populations. Through comprehensive, multilevel strategies, the Foundation has provided millions of dollars which grant these individuals easier access to diabetes prevention programs.

The Foundation has also supported national efforts—locally. For example, the Foundation was one of the first in the nation to fund an initiative known as Mission Lifeline. This is an initiative of the American Heart Association which advances the systems of care for patients who have experienced the most severe form of heart attack.

Data analysis of other chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, certain types of cancer, asthma, and many others, are constantly being reviewed by the Foundation staff to determine significant impact opportunities with outcomes that are both measurable and achievable.

Funding Programs and Interventions that Address:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Obesity

Family Health

Family health initiatives have been at the heart of many programs funded by the Highmark Foundation.

For five years, the Foundation's Highmark Healthy High 5 initiative focused on five areas that ultimately impacted family health: physical activity, nutrition, bullying, self-esteem and grieving. Many of the programs funded were not just aimed at children, but incorporated the entire family unit.

Childhood obesity and bullying remain major public health concerns for the nation and the region, and will remain critical issues for the Foundation. To that end, the Foundation is continuing to fund school and community-based programs that directly impact these issues and bring about positive change for children's physical and mental well-being.

The Foundation also funds programs in the area of maternal health, such as the doula pregnancy programs, walk-in clinics for uninsured and underinsured women, and parenting education classes. For the region's senior population, the Foundation funds programs that provide senior access to home health or palliative care, as well as routine health screenings and interventions.

Funding Programs and Interventions that Address:

• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Adolescent Health
• Maternal Health
• Senior Care
• Mental Health

Service Delivery Systems

Serving a diverse geographic area that encompasses urban and rural populations presents a unique set of challenges. However, despite the differences in these settings, gaining access to quality health care is a challenge for many individuals in both. In urban settings, there is a lack of health care providers, but the underinsured or uninsured often lack the resources to gain access. In rural settings, the situation is even worse. There are very few health care providers available, and those that are available may not have the capacity to serve the underinsured or uninsured populations.

During the past decade, the Foundation has funded many programs across the region to help underserved and uninsured populations gain access to quality and, in some cases, free health care. This is most evident in the area of dental care and oral health, in which the Foundation, through a series of grants, allowed more patients to gain access to quality dental care.

The Foundation has also provided grants to help organizations hire and recruit health care professionals. It has funded millions of dollars in grants to address the nursing shortage in Pennsylvania. In fact, approximately 5,000 nursing students, nurses, medical students, residents, first responders and nursing faculty have benefited from Foundation funding.

Finally, the Foundation has provided grants to organizations planning to invest in new capital and technologies that will better serve their local population. By providing funding for capital expenditures at locations such as Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC), nonprofit organizations, and community hospitals, the Foundation allows these facilities the ability to serve more patients.

Funding Programs that Address:

• Access to Care
• Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals
• Community Health Clinics
• Screenings

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

At Moses Taylor Foundation, we approach our grantmaking process with humility, transparency, and open-mindedness. We welcome the opportunity to meet with individuals who are dedicated to improving the health of our community. We believe grantmaking should be a collaborative process, where each potential project begins as an idea and gains strength through active listening and meaningful conversation.

Given this approach, we request that all prospective grantees schedule a brief pre-submission meeting prior to applying for funding. This informal conversation helps us learn more about your organization’s needs and interests, determine if your request aligns with the Foundation’s Focus Areas, and guide you through our application process.

Rolling Grants

Rolling Grants are available for projects less than $40,000 and can be accessed at any time throughout the year.

OUR FOCUS AREAS

Health Care Access and Quality: At Moses Taylor Foundation, we are dedicated to achieving our goal of ensuring that all individuals in Northeastern Pennsylvania have equitable access to high-quality health care services. We use a whole-person approach to improve the health of individuals, with our support extending to primary care, oral health, and mental health services. We invest in organizations that share our commitment to enhancing service delivery, strengthening the care continuum, removing barriers to care, and integrating services, among other approaches. We acknowledge the urgent need for creative and innovative solutions, particularly in the area of mental health services, which has reached a crisis level in the region.

Older Adult Health: Recognizing the high proportion of older adults in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Moses Taylor Foundation seeks to ensure that as we all age, we have access to high-quality, age-friendly care, as well as other necessary health supports.To accomplish this goal, the Foundation is interested in innovative programming that improves the access and quality of health care for older adults, particularly efforts to implement initiatives—such as Age-Friendly Health Systems—that seek to better tailor care to the unique needs of older adults.In addition to a focus on direct health care, the Foundation also supports complementary services that address aging issues. Of particular interest is social connection, which can have a major impact on health outcomes and is a common challenge for older adults.

School-Based Health: In addition to education, schools play a key role in the health of children. Sick children can’t focus on learning, so by necessity, schools address the many health challenges that students face—ranging from minor illnesses to chronic conditions. Schools are also uniquely positioned to increase access to health care and provide vital education and environments that help children develop healthy habits and reach their full potential. Moses Taylor Foundation seeks to provide support to assist schools in maximizing these opportunities to improve children's health.

Within this focus area, the Foundation pursues two strategies—support for school nurses and broader physical and mental health improvement for students.

• School Nurses: Community partners helped the Foundation identify school nurses as a key lever in expanding school-based health. School nurses are on the front lines of meeting the health needs of students. Their work goes far beyond bandaging playground scrapes; it includes helping students manage chronic health conditions, learn healthy habits, and connect to community resources. However, nurses also face many challenges stemming from a misunderstanding of their role. In 2019, the Foundation commissioned a needs assessment of school nurses in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This assessment was conducted by the National Association of School Nurses and completed in early 2020. The results were used to guide the development of the Foundation’s School Nurse Strategy.
• Physical and Mental Health: The Foundation also invests in broader efforts to improve the physical and mental health of children through school-based programming. Specifically, the Foundation prioritizes efforts that serve multiple districts and/or involve systemic and sustainable work.

Nonprofit Effectiveness: At Moses Taylor Foundation, we recognize that our mission of improving health can be achieved only through the partnership of effective, resilient, and well-resourced nonprofit organizations. The Foundation is committed to investing in both organization-specific and community-wide capacity building efforts.

• Organization-Specific Support: The Foundation funds one-time investments in health-related nonprofit organizations for projects that enhance long-term sustainability and service provision. Examples include evaluation of program effectiveness, board or staff development, succession planning, strategic planning, or any other well-defined project that strengthens an organization's ability to fulfill its mission.
• Community-Wide Support: The Foundation also partners with organizations that provide community-wide learning opportunities and resources to engage groups of nonprofits interested in professional development and organizational change. Local partnerships include Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence and The Institute, which compiles and shares locally focused data to aid in decision-making. The Foundation also partners with national organizations, including pro bono skills-based volunteering through Catchafire.

Our Mission

Quest for the Best® strives for a better tomorrow by providing funds and/or services to those who are committed to strengthening the common good of mankind.

The legal professionals of Quest for the Best® provide legal services to Pennsylvania organizations recognized as tax exempt or seeking tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with priority offered to nonprofit organizations located in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

We do not undertake litigation, criminal or intellectual property matters. Each request is reviewed individually, and Quest for the Best® reserves the right to determine if we will accept a matter after review of all facts provided.

Legal Services Grants

With over a century of combined experience, the attorneys and paralegal at Quest for the Best® are prepared to serve your nonprofit with all its legal needs.

Incorporation Assistance.

• Name Search
• Incorporation
• Obtain Tax ID Number
• Draft By-Laws

Tax Exempt Assistance

• Assist with 501(c)(3) Application
• Sales Tax Exemption Application

Employment

• Personnel Manuals and Policies
• Employment Contracts
• Laws on Hiring

General Legal Consultation

• Charitable Registration Guidance
• Contract Review
• Board of Directors’ Roles and Responsibilities
• Develop Policies and Procedures

Stoneleigh Fellowship

The Stoneleigh Fellowship provides accomplished leaders with multiyear funding to transform systems that serve youth.

Addressing the challenges facing our community’s young people requires visionary leadership. It means bringing different systems together and advancing new ways of thinking about what is possible. That’s why we provide exceptional individuals with the time and space to undertake groundbreaking research, improve policies and practices, change the narrative, and fundamentally transform how youth are served.

Stoneleigh Fellows come from many disciplines and professional backgrounds and work to advance change in youth-serving systems, such as youth justice, child welfare, education, and health. Our Fellows have included:

• Philadelphia’s Police Commissioner who expanded the city’s nationally recognized Police School Diversion Program to reduce youth arrest rates and prevent the collateral consequences of justice system involvement
• An attorney who worked within the School District of Philadelphia to create a comprehensive school safety strategy
• A researcher leading a five-year study on the health of young, child welfare-involved mothers and their children to identify strategies to break intergenerational cycles of abuse and neglect
• An emergency room doctor who replicated his hospital-based violence intervention model locally and nationally

What distinguishes the Stoneleigh Fellowship?

• Freedom to Pursue a Transformative Idea: Our founders believed that individuals need dedicated time and space to develop the kinds of ideas that can generate lasting systems change. We provide salary support that allows Fellows to step back from their day-to-day job duties and use the majority of their time to pursue this work.
• Ability to Design and Execute New Solutions: Because we invest in people with a strong track record of working within or alongside systems, we give our Fellows the latitude to develop the best solution to the problem they’ve identified. Stoneleigh’s staff also work closely with Fellows to ensure their success by providing expert advice and connections to key influencers and funders. We recognize that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. We support Fellows to explore ideas that haven’t been tried before or to perfect the implementation of evidence-informed solutions. We also meet Fellows where they are professionally through flexible Fellowship terms and levels of support.
• In It for the Long Haul: We understand that advancing change in large, complex systems doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why we provide Fellows multiple years of support to delve into these entrenched problems. In addition, Fellows become lifelong members of Stoneleigh’s alumni network—a committed group of social change leaders working to improve youth-serving systems.

What does an ideal Fellowship project look like?

Feerating new knowledge through applied raches:

• Research: Generating new knowledge through applied research
• Policy: Changing how systems work to better meet the needs of young people
• Practice: Developing new approaches to program design and delivery, and expanding promising programs

Because we believe that youth are best served when systems work together to holistically address their needs, Stoneleigh prioritizes projects designed to create or strengthen partnerships between or among agencies.

Funding

The award primarily covers a Fellow’s salary; in some cases, it also supports travel or other expenses related to advancing project work. While the amount depends on the personal circumstances of each Fellow and project, awards typically range from $100,000 to $150,000 annually. In addition to the financial award, Stoneleigh’s staff work closely with Fellows to amplify the impact of their projects and provide ongoing opportunities for networking and professional development.

Fellowships are generally awarded for two to three years with the possibility of extension.

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

EQT Foundation

EQT is proud to be a part of the many communities where we operate, live and work. We believe strongly that giving back is a responsibility, and we’ve stayed true to that belief since the EQT Foundation was established in 2003 as a dedicated resource for financial, in-kind and volunteer support to communities touched by our business.

Since its inception, the EQT Foundation has awarded more than $74 million to nonprofits throughout the operational footprint of EQT Corporation. We are committed to supporting the education and training of children and adults; the development of diverse, livable communities; and preserving our natural environments.

The EQT Foundation believes in meaningful engagement with the communities it calls home and takes great pride in being a responsible and responsive corporate citizen. The EQT Foundation focuses its resources on areas that have a direct effect on the stability of communities and, in turn, contribute to the success of its business operations in those areas.

Funding Priorities

The EQT Foundation’s funding strategy endorses organizations and programs that directly impact the community and its residents. The Foundation supports nonprofits that demonstrate positive, needed, and trusted impacts throughout their community with special attention given to proposals grounded in analysis that demonstrate creative approaches to addressing critical issues.

The EQT Foundation also seeks evidence of:

• Geographic setting that aligns with EQT Corporation’s business locations;
• Ability to manage available resources effectively; and
• Outreach that gains solid public recognition and support for the nonprofit, its programs and sponsors.

The Foundation’s funding priorities are:

Community Enrichment

Encourage the development of diverse, safe, healthy, and sustainable communities, which can help to retain residential, commercial and economic growth.

Examples: Food banks, libraries, farmers markets, arts & music programs, community festivals & initiatives

Education & Workforce

Promote proficiency in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) topics for youth, as well as training programs to create a future skilled workforce.

Examples: In-school STEM-based curricula, computer and science camps, project-based learning, teacher professional development, career planning and preparation

Environment

Support the preservation of natural resources, and educate children, residents, and businesses to employ conservation techniques to minimize adverse impacts on the environment.

Examples: community gardens, watershed conservation, environmental education, preservation and restoration of green spaces

About ECGRA

The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority was incorporated in February 2008 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the purpose of creating and administering a grantmaking process for gaming funds that come from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. An impact investor, ECGRA’s mission is to elevate Erie County by galvanizing nonprofits and small business toward economic and community development. Since February 2008, ECGRA has invested more than $65 million in Erie County.

Mission Main Street Grant Program

Purpose

The purpose of the Mission Main Street Grant Program is to create a targeted impact on Erie County’s municipalities through commercial corridors that are known as “main streets.” Following the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s four-point main street approach, this grant recognizes that each municipality in Erie County is distinct geographically with main streets that host small business, special events, historic structures, and central parks. Many have fallen into disrepair because of the diaspora of retail from central business districts to malls and auto-oriented strip shopping centers. In communities in which main streets and historic structures are maintained, there is a sense of vibrancy and civic pride. Revitalizing Erie County main streets is an economic and community development strategy that creates jobs, promotes tourism, and impacts the region’s economy.

Goals

Mission Main Street Grant goals:

• Redevelop streetscapes and buildings
• Remove blight and reverse deterioration
• Promote a positive small business environment
• Incentivize and spur private investment
• Make communities more walkable, safe, and attractive
• Experiment with creative programming & civic engagement
• Improve the municipal tax base

Funding Paths

• MMS Planning Grant
  • In the course of re-making or improving Main Streets, ECGRA understands there is a need to perform studies and analyses before public investment is made in areas such as streetscapes, bicycle and pedestrian safety, transportation, parking management, new construction, housing, retail, parks, and façade renovations.
  • Additionally, pre-construction costs such as engineering and design are essential to completing construction projects ranging from streetscapes to park and accessibility improvements.
  • ECGRA Mission Main Street Planning Grant funds can be used for relevant studies, planning, design, and/or engineering services up to $10,000.
  • Planning Grant funds must have a 1:1 cash match.
  • Any ECGRA-funded planning, studies, or analyses must incorporate public involvement throughout and ensure adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Plans shall also adhere to the basic goals of the Mission Main Street Program which are to enhance economic and business vitality while maintaining local historic integrity, quality of life, and sense of place.
  • Planning grants are available once per entity within the three-year program period.
  • Mission Main Street funding cannot exceed a total of $200,000 per entity over a two-year period.
• MMS Implementation Grant
  • The Mission Main Street program encourages municipal and main street organizations to adopt and follow the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street goals which are:
    • Organization,
    • Promotion,
    • Design, and
    • Economic Restructuring.
  • ECGRA's Mission Main Street Grant Program provides valuable funding for improvements to urban and rural main streets to support local businesses and economies.
  • Projects relating to each of the four goals are eligible for Mission Main Street funding.
  • Examples of past funded Mission Main Street projects include:
    • marketing and promotions,
    • Buy Local campaigns,
    • website and social media development,
    • storefront improvement programs,
    • façade improvements,
    • streetscaping,
    • tree planting,
    • park improvements along main streets,
    • gateway treatments,
    • farmers markets,
    • history tours,
    • banners,
    • bicycle parking,
    • development of design guidelines,
    • special events, and
    • program staff time.

Funding Details

• Planning Grant
  • Max award of $10,000 per application
  • Duration of grant: 1 year
• Implementation Grant
  • Max award of $200,000 per application
  • Duration of grant: up to 2 years

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

Vision and Focus Areas

We commit to creating a vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region that supports everyone – regardless of race, identity or circumstance – to thrive and fulfill their potential.

Under our strategic plan, we strive to strengthen our focus on community and the positive impact that can be achieved through our grantmaking. Our current areas of focus are: Basic Needs, Equity and Social Justice, Arts and Culture, Economic Mobility and Environmental Action. From time to time, we have special grant-making opportunities related to specific regions or to issues such as juvenile justice or senior care. 

The Pittsburgh Foundation is committed to helping the communities we serve become equitable and vibrant places where everyone can thrive. We align our grantmaking with resident’s dreams for themselves, their families and their communities and prioritize support in the five focus areas listed below.

Basic Needs

We seek to improve the stability of low-income people by supporting direct assistance to obtain food, housing, health care, mental health supports, child care, education and employment.

Across our basic needs grantmaking, we are committed to expanding knowledge of, improving access to, and improving coordination among local resources and human services.

• Food Access: We seek to support programs and services that assist low-income individuals and families to obtain enough food.
• Child Care: We seek to ensure equitable access to quality child care.
• Education: We strive to ensure access to high-quality in-class education as well as culturally-responsive,  out-of-school time programs.
• Mental and Physical Health: We aim to support the mental and physical health needs of residents by ensuring access to quality, affordable and culturally responsive services.
• Housing: We seek to support or fill gaps in a county-wide eviction prevention system, and help support those living in transitional housing and/or facing unexpected loss of housing.
• Employment: We seek to support youth and adults who experience significant barriers to employment.

Equity and Social Justice

We seek to support civic participation and community organizing to achieve policy changes.

Our equity and social justice grantmaking places strong emphasis on leadership by individuals who have been directly impacted by systemic injustice, as we believe that they are best positioned to propose solutions that remove barriers that impeded their ability to thrive.

• Civic Participation
  • Voter Engagement: We seek to support the ability of the nonprofit sector to engage historically underrepresented populations and communities that have documented low voter turnout.
  • Access to Information: We seek to support public media  outlets and other platforms that produce professional, regionally focused, fact-based news coverage and information.
• Community-Driven Solutions
  • Protect Basic Needs:  We seek to support grassroots organizations and resident-informed initiatives that address barriers that prevent families from being able to meet their basic needs and thrive.
  • End Mass Incarceration:  We seek to uplift and provide resources for community-led efforts to change policies and practices that result in over-policing and over-incarceration.
  • Youth Justice:  We are interested in supporting intervention and prevention activities that support youth who have any involvement with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Environmental Action

We seek to protect the health of our communities and the preservation of our environment.

Our environmental action grantmaking prioritizes support for projects, initiatives and collaborations that center communities in environmental decision-making and amplify the intersectional nature of working to protect the health of our communities and the preservation of our environment. We recognize that environmental issues span beyond geographic borders. While we will continue to prioritize projects serving residents of Allegheny County, we will also consider on a case-by-case basis projects that work across the southwest Pennsylvania 12-county region.

• Equitable Access to Land, Water, and Air: To promote equitable access to land, air and water, we seek to support community-centered conservation and stewardship of natural resources.
• Learning and Action: We seek to address the harms of chronic pollution and mitigate future impacts, translate research into action to protect the health of communities and their environments and support resident voice in environmental decision-making in their communities.

Arts and Culture

We seek to strengthen small-to-mid-sized arts organizations and support individual artists by fostering a diverse, healthy and just arts ecosystem. 

• Small-to-Mid-Sized Arts Organizations: Small and Mid-Size Arts Organizations face disparities in their ability to access resources.
• Support for Careers and Lives of Individual Artists: Through this funding to individual artists, the Foundation hopes that the Pittsburgh region will be exposed to the breadth of human experience and the unparalleled talent the region has to offer.

Economic Mobility

We seek to reduce the wealth gap in Allegheny County.

• Access to Post-Secondary Education: We seek to support programs that enable students to earn college credit while in high school; admissions navigation support and academic and financial counseling; re-engagement strategies for students who have stopped attending school; and supports for non-traditional students.
• Career Advancement: We are interested in supporting organizations that offer technology training with career potential. 
• Entrepreneurship: We are interested in efforts to increase entrepreneurship.
• Homeownership: In 2025, applications for the Homeownership focus area will be by invitation only.

Types of Grants

Recognizing that nonprofits need flexible support that allows them to adapt to changing community needs, we offer applicants the opportunity to apply for two types of grant support:

• Project/Program Support:  Funds are used to develop and/or implement a specific set of programmatic activities. These grants are usually time-bound and aimed at achieving specific goals and milestones.
• General Operating Support: Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its mission. This means that the grant award can be used to cover day-to-day activities or ongoing expenses such as administrative salaries, rent and office supplies, etc., as well as for program costs, software and hardware purchases, and professional development

Our Priorities

We will prioritize funding for organizations that reflect one or more of the following:

• Primarily serve communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to addressing the historical and present-day impact of social injustices on the specific communities it serves.
• Have an established history in the communities in which it works.
• Are representative of the communities it serves, including but not limited to, leadership and staff who have lived experience in the community issues that it addresses.
• Meaningfully integrate the experience and perspectives of the communities that it serves in the design, implementation, evaluation and/or decision-making process for its strategies and/or programs.

Funding

Generally, grants will be awarded for no more than two years due to limited availability of funds. One-year grants generally range from $10,000 to $75,000. Two-year grants will generally not exceed $150,000.

In limited situations, proposals that align with one or more of our grantmaking focus areas and with grantmaking priorities, and that clearly demonstrate the need and potential impact, may be considered for a larger grant. Organization leaders should have a conversation with a program officer before submitting a request for more than $150,000.

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. There are two types of RBDG projects, Opportunity grants and Enterprise grants.

• Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.
• Enterprise type grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application.

How may Enterprise type funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

How may Opportunity type funds be used?

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

About

The Preservation Leadership Forum of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a network of preservation leaders — professionals, students, volunteers, activists, experts — who share the latest ideas, information, and advice, and have access to in-depth preservation resources and training.

Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund - Mid-Atlantic States

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund provides funding to deserving organizations demonstrating commitment to the protection of natural and cultural resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Jordan Preservation Excellence Fund was established in November 1996 in recognition of Dr. Jordan’s distinguished service to the National Trust and his visionary leadership of the national preservation movement. Applicants can apply for up to $5,000.

The fund awards programs and activities that:

• Facilitate positive dialogues between the diverse interests of historic preservation, land conservation, business development, transportation, and government in a search for common ground in protecting the environment
• Stimulate the development of local and state policies that protect the cultural landscape and its resources
• Heighten public awareness of or increase involvement in issues relating to the livability and sustainability of communities
• Encourage innovative partnerships and approaches to open space conservation and historic preservation

Art Works

Founded in 2021 by Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation, Art Works is a joint $3 million grant program designed to support Philadelphia arts and cultural organizations and artists working in partnership with BIPOC and other underserved communities.

Art Works accepts applications from local cultural nonprofit (or fiscally sponsored) organizations with annual operating budgets between $250,000 and $5 million as well as individual artists with a commitment to incorporating community perspectives into their work.

• Four Philadelphia-based artists will be selected annually to receive two-year grants of $25,000 per year. Grants can be used freely by artists. Some artists may wish to use the grant to support the development of new work while others may use it to pay for living or studio expenses. Artists will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works’ programmatic goals.
• Four community-based organizations will be selected annually to receive two-year, unrestricted grants ranging from $75,000-$150,000.  Organizations will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works‘ programmatic goals.

In addition to the awarded funds, all grantees will have access to experiential professional development workshops and pro bono professional consulting services designed to provide strategic and tactical support on a range of topics including legal, marketing, communications, budgeting and finance, among others.

Art Works also provides grantees the opportunity to host co-operative education students from Drexel University to support programs and operations.

These placements, administered by Drexel’s Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships, are designed to provide students with meaningful work experience in the arts and culture sector. 

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Nonprofit Growth Grants

Awarded throughout the year, Nonprofit Growth Grants range in value up to $10,000 to support the organizational and professional development needs of non-profit organizations.

Background

Through effective partnerships and collaborations, including The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University, Catalyst Center for Nonprofit Management and Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), FCP invests in the organizational and professional development needs of Bucks County nonprofits.

Opportunities 

Professional Development Opportunities:

Funding

An approved master’s degree candidate will be reimbursed equal to one-third (1/3) of the total tuition cost. The organization and the candidate are responsible for the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of the tuition.

Cultural and Historical Support Grants

Overview

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Cultural and Historical Support Grants program provides general operating support funding to eligible Pennsylvania museums and official county historical societies. The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000. All awards are submitted to the Commission for approval and depend upon the availability of funds in the Commonwealth budget.

Goals

• Strengthen the Pennsylvania museum community
• Provide general operating support to museum and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs
• Provide financial support as unrestricted operating support to address primary needs of museums
• Allow applicants to determine and describe how they will use funds
• Achieve geographical balance in the distribution of grants

Grant Awards

Welcoming both those organizations with little to no experience presenting jazz and seasoned jazz presenters seeking to strengthen programming, application occurs annually through an open, competitive process. Once selected, membership is ongoing upon meeting annual requirements.

JTN expands the presentation of jazz throughout the mid-Atlantic region while ensuring regional programming reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the current field of jazz. Members take part in professional development activities and work together to block-book a series of jazz tours each year.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Program Purpose

Federal WIOA Title II

The purpose of this funding is to create a partnership among the federal government, states, and localities to provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education and literacy activities, in order to:

• Assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency;
• Assist adults who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills that
  • are necessary to becoming full partners in the educational development of their children; and
  • lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family;
• Assist adults in attaining a secondary school diploma and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways; and
• Assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners in
  • improving their
    • reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills in English; and
    • mathematics skills; and
  • acquiring an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom, and the responsibilities of citizenship.

State Act 143

Act 143 aims to provide coordination and broaden the scope of educational activities to uneducated and undereducated adults in the commonwealth and their families, including those who speak other languages, and to provide programs to those individuals who have previously been unserved.

The goals of the Act include:

• Increased and improved services to adult learners and their families through the coordination of funding streams and programs across state agencies; and
• Increased and expanded adult and family literacy education programs so that adults and their families will function more effectively in their personal lives and as citizens and be better prepared for workforce training and employment that they may become more responsible and productive members of society.

Adult Basic Education Direct Service Grant

PDE requires successful applicants for Adult Basic Education Direct Service 064 grant funds to provide a full range of services throughout the course of a program year. PDE requires programs to provide the following to be considered full service:

• Adult education and literacy activities as defined in WIOA, including instruction for adult basic education students at all educational functioning levels Adult Basic Education (ABE) levels 1-6, including high school equivalency test preparation as needed.
• English language acquisition activities as defined in WIOA, including instruction for English- as-a-Second Language (ESL) students based on area needs. Such instruction must include supporting ESL students to transition successfully to ABE instruction within the programing funded by the grant and to earn a high school equivalency credential, if needed. PDE has identified 19 counties in which successful applicants must provide these services. See Appendix C.
• Year-round, real-time instruction (in person, remote, or a combination of in person and remote), including during the summer. Programs may have a reduced schedule over the summer but must provide real-time instruction that meets community needs.
• Supplemental distance learning opportunities to students participating in real-time instruction.
• Year-round student support services to help students address barriers to participation.
• Year-round student support services to help students identify education and career goals, develop employability skills, and successfully transition to postsecondary education/training and/or employment, as appropriate.
• Integration of workforce preparation activities and activities to promote digital literacy and digital resiliency into instruction and support services.
• A cadre of volunteer classroom aides to provide additional instructional support to students participating in classroom instruction. (All grant recipients must use at least 10 percent of the state grant funds to recruit, train, and support volunteer classroom aides, except those that are not eligible providers under state law.)
• A program administrator who is a full-time employee of the grantee agency. If the program administrator is not working 100 percent on division-funded activities, the agency must provide evidence that this individual has sufficient time allocated to these activities to meet all of the requirements of the program administrator position. (Note: The program administrator does not have to be paid from grant funds; however, the person must have sufficient time allocated to activities supported by the grant.)

PDE also requires all successful applicants under this RGA to be partners in the local PA CareerLink© site and delegates all the roles and responsibilities of a one-stop partner to the grantees.

Additional Allowable Activities

In addition to the required services listed above, applicants may propose to provide one or more of the following activities:

• Corrections education (to ensure that Pennsylvania does not exceed the federal and state ceilings for corrections education, applicants may not budget or expend more than 20 percent of the grant amounts for corrections education).
• Integrated English literacy and civics education activities (not the Section 243 program).
• Integrated education and training activities (federal funds only).
• Workplace literacy activities.

Applicants should refer to the Adult Education and Family Literacy Guidelines for more information on these activities to ensure that proposed activities are compliant.

Multi-Year Contracts

Successful grant applications will be approved for a five-year grant cycle. Grant funds will be awarded through annual one-year notifications of funding contingent on the availability of funds.

Program Funding Requests

Applicants may apply for up to the maximum allocated for the areas in which they propose to provide services. Applicants should apply for those funds necessary to meet the grant requirements, provide the proposed services to the number of students they can serve based on need and interest in the service area, and meet the state imposed performance targets. PDE requires programs to provide a 25 percent match on the federal portion of the funds, and applicants should consider that requirement when determining funding requests. PDE reserves the right to adjust the actual grant award amount and contracted enrollment of successful applicants during the grant contract approval process.

Applicants may apply for funding up to a maximum of $2,250.00 per contracted student, with the total requested not to exceed the amount allocated to the proposed service area. PDE strongly encourages applicants requesting the maximum allowable cost per student to prioritize the use of funds for full-time direct service staff positions with benefits.