by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 12, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has been selected to participate in the Appalachian Regional Commission‘s (ARC) READY Community Foundations, which provides a no-cost, six-week training program to enhance our programming, operations, fundraising, and financial impact in Fayette County, PA. CFFC is one of thirty (30) community foundations chosen for the program, and one of five (5) serving Appalachian Pennsylvania.
Two CFFC staff members will participate in six weeks of virtual, cohort-based training courses to strengthen CFFC’s financial and endowment management, community-rooted fundraising, grantmaking, mission and strategy development, and more.
“ARC remains committed to providing our Appalachian communities with the resources they need to build toward a prosperous future, including training to strengthen community foundation capacity,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through the training provided by READY Community Foundations, Appalachia’s philanthropic organizations will be better able to respond to community needs and foster economic development in the areas they serve.”
“This program aligns perfectly with our new Strategic Plan, addressing items related to staff training, capacity building, and growing our foundation’s impact. We look forward to better serving and supporting Fayette County, PA through the takeaways that this opportunity will provide!” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Following completion of the training, CFFC will apply for up to $25,000 (no match required) for an internal capacity-building project that will bolster our philanthropic impact in Fayette County, PA.
Supported with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, READY Community Foundations is the fourth and final track under ARC’s capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia. Since July 2022, READY Appalachia has provided training and access to funding to 41 Local Development Districts (LDDs), 75 nonprofits, and 90 local government entities to help them better serve their communities.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 12, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
“Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning,” said Michelle Mowry, Kindergarten Teacher. Mowry teaches at Bullskin Elementary, part of Connellsville Area School District. In 2023, the school was awarded a grant from the Idea Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, to enhance Mowry’s classroom.
The grant provided funds for felt story boards, puppets, and building blocks for hands-on learning experiences. Mowry quoted students saying “This is the best ever!” and “It’s real life Minecraft!” (in reference to the materials to build structures).
Donor advised funds, like the Idea Fund, provide flexibility and ongoing involvement for the donor to support charitable causes. As part of the foundation’s fall grant cycle, the Idea Fund accepts applications from all school districts in Fayette County to help teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. Particular attention is paid to applicants who demonstrate that the funds will be used to address the needs of students in the classroom who may not be top grade earners, can show the sustainability of the program, and are willing to go beyond traditional teaching styles to reach students.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support causes close to your heart, contact the Community Foundation of Fayette County at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 9, 2024 | CFFC News
Ninety-six (96) local charities are participating in this year’s Fayette Gives, hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC). Twelve of the charities are first-time participants. In the first four years of this 12-hour fundraising marathon, over $2 million has been raised for Fayette County charities. The foundation is anticipating continued generosity for this year’s Fayette Gives on Thursday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.
Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that aims to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. On Fayette Gives day, donors will visit www.fayettegives.org to donate to one or more of the ninety-six participating charities. All money raised will be used to benefit Fayette County, helping to support the participating charities and their services to local residents.
Donors will search for a charity by the name, location, or cause. By clicking on a charity name, donors can view the charity’s profile to learn more about their work in Fayette County. “We’re excited for donors to see the new Fayette Gives website, because there are more opportunities for charities to show what they do with photos and videos on their charity profile,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
The Fayette Gives website will have a “Gift Basket” in the top right corner, where donors will add one or more charities for donations. A minimum donation of $25 per charity is required to donate by credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet. To donate by ACH transfer, the minimum donation is $100. “The website walks you through your donation and makes it easy for anyone to give back. That’s part of the appeal for Fayette Gives – we want everyone to get involved!” said Couser.
New to this year’s Fayette Gives are hourly cash prizes for charities. Over $50,000 in cash prizes will incentivize donors and keep people engaged all throughout Fayette Gives day. Prize details and rules will be posted on www.fayettegives.org closer to Fayette Gives day.
Cash prizes are supported by the 2024 Fayette Gives Sponsors. The Community Sponsors are the Charity Fund and the Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors are COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing. Humanity Sponsors are NiSource Charitable Foundation/Columbia Gas; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; Montgomery Medical; Uniontown Walmart Supercenter; Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network – Highlands Wealth Management; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital.
Another new addition this year is the Donor Wall, which displays recent donations. Donors can select which information to display on the Donor Wall (name, donation amount, personal message), with an option to remain anonymous. Same as previous years, the Fayette Gives website will have live results and leaderboards so the public can track the fundraising of their favorite charities. All of these features invite the public to engage and see the impact of community-wide giving.
“Fayette Gives has been a great way for the foundation to facilitate charitable giving. You can donate to multiple charities, all in one place – all in one day. It’s an impactful day for the county and for the wonderful charities that work so hard to help others,” said Angela Braun, DC, CFFC Board Chair.
Aside from online donations on November 7, donors can also give by check, donor advised fund, IRA charitable distribution, and stock transfer. These “offline” donation methods require a Check Contribution Form, an official Fayette Gives document to designate charities and donations amounts. The Check Contribution Form is available at www.fayettegives.org and “offline” donations are being accepted now.
Click here to download the 2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form.
Click here to view the list of 96 participating charities.
To learn more, visit www.fayettegives.org or contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x203.
2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2024 | CFFC News
Last year, nearly $20,000 was awarded in the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) fall grant cycle to support an aeroponics indoor garden, plant nursery, coding robot, items for a sensory room, a drone coding project, microscopes, hands-on learning, and more. The grants were made from three Donor Advised Funds held at CFFC – Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund. These funds are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools again for the 2024-2025 school year.
Submitted by Luke Rice, Laurel Highlands School District – Aeroponic Tower Garden. “Students gathered data by measuring growth, different ratios of nutrients, light schedules, and by testing pH.”
Submitted by Michelle Mowry, Connellsville Area School District – Hands-on Learning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning.”
“Donor Advised Funds give donors flexibility with how grants are used to support charitable causes, and the donors have ongoing involvement,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. “The fund holders partner with us to support projects that match their passions,” said Couser.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests for reusable items that will enhance the classroom(s). Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply. Requests from $750 up to $10,000 will be considered.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who is interested in helping teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests to enhance STEM teaching and learning at the Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school. An award in the amount of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.
Applications are due by October 4 through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be found on the “Grant Seekers” page at www.cffayettepa.org. Further details are listed online for each fund’s criteria.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 7, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Microscopes are a staple of science class, and students at Lafayette Middle School got an upgrade with funding from a grant in fall of 2023. The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, awarded a grant to Uniontown Area School District for a new set of digital microscopes for Robert Schiffbauer’s middle school science classroom.
“In recent years, I have had to skip portions of lessons due to the fact that I did not have the necessary classroom tools. Rather than simply looking at images on the projection screen, students will now be able to explore and discover on their own and within small groups,” said Schiffbauer.
Seven digital microscopes were purchased to replace outdated and damaged microscopes in the school’s inventory.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is a donor advised fund that has awarded funding to enhance STEM education for local students. “After 40 years as a science educator, I wanted to give back to the community that launched my career. Helping to enhance teaching and learning through an annual grant to a Uniontown Area STEM teacher seems like a good start,” said Dr. Patricia A. Metz. “This year’s awardee taught me that microscopes have come a long way since I was a high school student!”
