Best Grants for Religious Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania running educational, social welfare, or disability-focused programs can apply for the Caroline J S Sanders Trust’s grants, awarding US $2,000 - US $15,000 for program support. Religious organizations offering educational programs, as well as libraries and agencies serving youth, seniors, homeless, or handicapped individuals, may be eligible.

Religious and other 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania can seek funding for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational programs. Grants from Winter Clarence W Charitable Trust help Pennsylvania faith-based and community nonprofits with awards of US $3,000 - US $5,000, with a preference for groups located in Bucks County.

Religious 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania seeking funding for tangible items can apply for up to US $10,000 to support faith-based programs and facilities. Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation supports religion and spirituality along with other community-focused areas, with preference for projects serving Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and nearby regions.

Pennsylvania religious and faith-based 501(c)(3) organizations can access funding through the Harry John Erbe Charitable Trust, with awards of US $5,000 - US $10,000 for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. The trust especially supports organizations located in Harrisburg and also considers projects in areas like health, human services, arts, and education.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania can seek funding for education, health services, social welfare, environmental conservation, arts, culture, humanities, and religious activities. With a mission to back diverse charitable causes, Walter J. Miller Trust provides US $2,000 - US $15,000, and churches of all denominations may apply for education and capital improvements.

Religious and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Pennsylvania can seek project-based funding for charitable, educational, scientific, literary, and faith-related initiatives. John Crain Kunkel Foundation supports time-limited projects with eligible costs like consulting, technology, furnishings, temporary staff, training, and evaluation, primarily benefiting communities in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, and Juniata Counties.

501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania can receive US $2,500 - US $5,000 to support education, arts and culture, health, human services, religion, and other charitable programs. The Charles A. and Leona K. Gruber Foundation primarily favors Lehigh Valley schools and organizations meeting essential community needs, so religious nonprofits in this region may be especially competitive.

Grants from Chester County Community Foundation help Pennsylvania religious and spiritual nonprofits fund general operations or programs with awards of US $500 - US $7,500. Eligible organizations must be charitable nonprofits located in and serving Chester County with budgets of $500,000 or less, working in areas such as religion, community improvement, health, or human services.

Religious nonprofits and community organizations in Pennsylvania and nearby areas can seek support for church work, Christian education, community improvement, and relief of distress. With a mission to improve spiritual and material conditions, Pitcairn Crabbe Foundation provides grants to agencies within 100 miles of Pittsburgh that demonstrate strong impact, clear strategies, and measurable results.

Caroline J.S. Sanders Trust 2 provides Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) organizations with US $3,000 - US $7,000 for education, health, human services, public benefit, and religious activities. Faith-based nonprofits serving elderly, youth, indigent, homeless, or disabled people, especially through education and broad social welfare programs, may be especially competitive.

Community Foundation of Noble County

At the Community Foundation of Noble County we are passionate about making Noble County an even better place to call home. Since 1991, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Noble County to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible, as we see it as our mission to serve as a catalyst for positive change. The Community Foundation of Noble County is a public charity 501 (c) 3 entity.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Noble County offers a wide range of scholarships to support local students in achieving their academic and career aspirations. 

Kichler, Tony and Gertrude Scholarship Fund

For high school seniors or college students who reside in Green or Noble TOWNSHIPS (not county) in Noble County who are pursuing a college education in music, medicine or religion. One-time payment of $3,500. May reapply.

Religious, educational, and community-focused nonprofits in Pennsylvania can seek project funding for year-round, direct-service programming with measurable outcomes and broad community impact. Focused on charitable, educational, scientific, literary, religious, and public safety initiatives, the Pryor and Arlene Neuber Charitable Trust offers approximately US $15,000, prioritizing established programs and organizations serving Lancaster County.

Religious and faith-based nonprofits in Pennsylvania can receive funding for local churches and related community programs, including arts, education, food banks, disability support, and more. The Anne B Sweigart Charitable Foundation provides grants up to US $30,000 for organizations serving the Greater Denver and Ephrata areas in Lancaster County.

Religious and other 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania seeking program or general support across faith-based, educational, health, environmental, arts, or human services work can apply for funding, with typical awards of US $5,000 - US $20,000. Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust primarily supports organizations in Alabama but accepts applications from across the U.S.

Presbyterian women of color, clergywomen, college women, and other women seeking leadership and spiritual development opportunities can receive up to US $3,000 for events or college through the Katie Cannon Scholarship. This Presbyterian Mission Agency fund supports participation in U.S. leadership events and college, which may benefit religious nonprofits and ministries in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations serving Washington County can receive funding to provide monetary stipends to student interns performing services for their nonprofit. Washington County Community Foundation provides Pennsylvania religious and other charitable organizations with support to compensate interns who are enrolled in accredited post-secondary programs and meet state and federal internship requirements.

Adjunct faculty who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship alumni, and teach in eligible humanities or social science fields can receive support for research and scholarship to secure a tenure-track position. Institute for Citizens & Scholars provides Pennsylvania religion and spirituality scholars with US $10,000, mentoring, and conference funding through its Adjunct Faculty Fellowships.

Doctoral candidates who are Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship alumni in eligible humanities, social science, or physical science fields can receive up to US $30,000 to spend a year completing their dissertation. Grants from Institute for Citizens & Scholars may benefit Pennsylvania religious or spirituality-focused scholars whose work fits MMUF-recognized disciplines.

Junior humanities and humanistic social science faculty in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. can receive up to US $35,000 for sabbatical time, research, and travel through the Career Enhancement Fellowship. Institute for Citizens & Scholars supports Mellon Mays alumni and other eligible scholars whose work advances diverse perspectives, including in religion and spirituality fields.

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

The National Fund for Sacred Places Grant Program supports historic houses of worship in the U.S. through matching grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. This initiative, in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, aims to enhance community engagement and preserve culturally significant buildings. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their historical relevance and community service, particularly those representing underrepresented groups. The program prioritizes urgent repair needs and projects that foster inclusivity and accessibility.

The Chisholm Foundation offers grants to support arts, education, and religion projects across the United States. Applications for May and November grants should be submitted by March 1st and September 1st, respectively. The Foundation evaluates each application individually and encourages innovative projects that can attract additional funding. Grants may be awarded as lump sums or in installments, and applicants are advised to seek matching gifts to enhance their proposals.

The Wilbur Awards, presented annually since 1949 by the Religion Communicators Council, celebrate excellence in communicating religious values and themes in secular media. Open to individuals and organizations, entries must have been published or broadcast in 2024. Categories include audio, audio-visual, images, and written works, allowing for both English and non-English submissions. The awards emphasize professionalism and respect in highlighting uplifting religious narratives within diverse media platforms.

The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation focuses on enriching lives and making a positive impact in local communities. They prioritize funding for tax-exempt organizations that enhance education, health care, and support the under-served. The Foundation seeks to partner with those who demonstrate accountability and effective resource management, aligning with their mission for community enrichment and leadership development.

The Franklin Research Grants support noncommercial research by funding travel to libraries and archives, purchasing research materials, and covering fieldwork or laboratory expenses. With a maximum award of $6,000, these grants are aimed at scholars with a doctorate or equivalent publications, excluding Ph.D. candidates. Grants are taxable, not retroactive, and are not intended for conference attendance or publication costs. The program encourages young scholars and allows reapplications after two years.

Innovation in Religion and Spirituality Seed Grants Call for Proposals

The Religion and the Public Sphere program at the Social Science Research Council aims to foster research on the wider implications of new forms of religious and spiritual life. This program is offered with the support of the Luce Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

Overview

In recent years, scholars have noted that religious and spiritual life is being substantively reshaped. “Innovation” is one way of framing these changes, but it remains a partial and contested analytic lens, and is popularly associated with the sudden emergence of a “new” element introduced into an otherwise static tradition. Scholarship on religion and spirituality, however, points to a more complex set of processes. The essays in an ongoing forum for The Immanent Frame have set out some initial parameters of these dynamics: rather than invention ex nihilio, what we often see is the strategic recombination of existing elements within a broader context of social, political, and cultural change.

Research Themes

This request invites proposals that examine the dynamics of religious and spiritual change that fall within the frame of “innovation.” Possible topics include, but are not limited to: 

• Explorations of innovations within transnational or diasporic religious and/or spiritual communities within the United States, particularly related to the circulation of ideas and culture from or to the Global South.   
• Gendered knowledge of innovation. 
• Studies of the process by which an innovation attains—or does not attain—legitimacy, relevance, or authority within a given community or institution. 
• The relationship between contemporary economic conditions—poverty, economic insecurity, and competitive pressures for time and money—and innovations in religion and spirituality. 
• Historical studies of innovations in religion and spirituality; the creation, reception, transformation, and longevity of an innovation over time.  
• Civic participation and the social mobilization of new or innovative religious identities, as well as the reinterpretation of religious or spiritual traditions or ideas in the service of particular political or ideological projects.

Program Terms 

The program offers research support over a period of up to 6 months. The grant funds will be up to $10,000 per award.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student matriculating at a college, university, or business in the year of the scholarship.