Grants in Pennsylvania

Overview

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.

Geographic Focus

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. The Foundation encourages projects that cross state lines and supports economic initiatives that benefit the multi-state economy centered on Pittsburgh.

Program Areas

Education:

• Programs that improve teacher quality through professional development and innovative instructional strategies.

• Arts education, the integration of arts into other disciplines, and the partnership of community arts groups and higher education with the PreK-12 education system.

• Career education that aligns secondary and post-secondary programs to high-demand, high-wage occupations.

Economic Development:

• 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.

Community Development:

• Activities that engage diverse groups of citizens in the life of the community.

• Efforts that help communities organize, plan, and implement ambitious but achievable improvement strategies.

• Leadership development.

• Programs that improve the effectiveness and accountability of nonprofit and public organizations.

• Efforts to expand technology access, affordability, and utilization.

• Activities that provide decent, safe, and affordable housing through home construction, repair, financing, and education programs.

Health and Human Services:

• Support for a healthier quality of life for West Virginians through access to affordable health care, preventive health services, state-level policy development, and quality care systems across the lifespan.

• Ensuring a system of accessible and affordable health care for children, early intervention services that lead to school success, and the promotion of child-focused public policy.

• Delivery of oral health education for the public and the implementation of preventive strategies in the state oral health plan.

Eligibility

Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) organizations and to qualified government units and agencies.

Ineligibility

The Foundation generally does not make grants in support of:

• Organizations located outside West Virginia or Southwestern Pennsylvania

• Individuals

• Organizations not exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)

• Student aid, fellowships, or travel

• Construction or equipment

• Endowment

• Ongoing operating expenses

• National organizations

• Biomedical research

• Religious organizations for religious purposes

• Individual elementary and secondary schools

• Annual appeals or membership drives

• Conferences, films, books, and audio-visual productions, unless an integral part of a Foundation-supported program

• Scholarships

Application Process

• If you are unsure as to the alignment of your project with the guidelines, or have not yet spoken with a Program Director, please email a brief summary of your project to info@benedum.org. A member of the program staff will be in touch within 60 days of your inquiry.

• Once your completed online application is received, an automated response will be sent to you acknowledging receipt. You should receive a response to your application within 60 days, at which time you will be notified if your project is not one the Foundation can consider, or if you should submit additional information.

Contacts

• Jennifer L. Hammerstrom, Grants Administrator: 412-246-3636

• Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation:

o 1400 Benedum Trees Building

o 223 Fourth Avenue

o Pittsburgh, PA 15222

o 412-288-0360

o 800-223-5948 (toll-free from West Virginia)

o 412-288-0366 (fax)

o info@benedum.org

Additional Resources

• Mission and Guiding Principles - http://www.benedum.org/about/mission.shtml

• Application Process - http://www.benedum.org/apply/online.shtml

• FAQs - http://www.benedum.org/about/faq.shtml

• Apply for Funding and What to Expect - https://benedum.org/online-apply-report/online-apply-report/

o Nonprofits may register and apply here - http://www.grantrequest.com/SID_1185?SA=SNA&FID=35012

o Government units may apply here - http://www.grantrequest.com/SID_1185?SA=SNA&FID=35013

Overview

An ongoing mini-grant program for non-profit organizations serving the greater Phoenixville region. This program is intended to assist non-profit organizations with training and educational programs that strengthen governance structure, program accountability, and program sustainability.

Focus Areas

• Board of director training

• Standard for excellence activities

• Staff development/leadership

• DEI training

• Strategic planning

• Outcome-based training/resources

• Marketing/branding (new brochures, new websites, video promotion, social media campaigns, etc.)

• Strategic collaborative planning

Eligibility

• Any health and human services 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the greater Phoenixville region.

Ineligibility

• No specific ineligible criteria listed, but interested applicants are encouraged to discuss their project ideas with staff prior to application to ensure alignment with program goals.

Preference

• Programs that promote best practices and good governance in organizations.

• Projects that enhance program sustainability, accountability, and governance structure.

• Applications that include a detailed program budget.

Contacts

• Phoenixville Community Health Foundation

o 821 Gay Street

o Phoenixville, PA 19460

o Phone: 610-917-9890

o Contact for questions on mini-grants applications or the online system:

 Viviann Schorle, Program Office, vschorle@pchf1.org

 LPHartman@pchf1.org

Application Process

• Access grant application via the online portal - https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=phoenixvillehealth

• Proposals may be submitted at any time.

• The maximum grant award is $2,500 per year.

• Mini-grants opened on July 1, 2023.

• Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis.

• Funds are available until exhausted for the budget year.

Interested applicants are highly encouraged to contact staff to discuss the idea prior to submitting an online application.