Educational Improvement Tax Credit Seminar

Is your business eligible to receive an Educational Improvement
Tax Credit?

Attend this free virtual seminar on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m.
to learn more about the tax savings for PA Corporations and
PA pass through companies (S-Corporations, Partnerships, and LLC’s).

RSVP to rebecca@cffayettepa.org to receive the meeting link.

Topics include:

  • How to apply for this credit
  • How this credit will benefit your business
  • How to use the credit for PA entity level taxes or pass through to their owners
  • Amount of credit range 75% to 100% of the amount contributed
  • The Federal tax benefits to individuals subject of AMT by trading the
    state tax deduction for a charitable contribution

Grant Applications Available for the CFFC’s Emergency Relief Fund

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting grant applications for the Emergency Relief Fund. This fund was created in 2020 to provide grants to nonprofit organizations serving Fayette County, PA that were responding to the immediate needs of the community, due to COVID-19.

“Many nonprofits were in survival mode during the height of the pandemic, and there are still lasting effects and challenges. Thanks to the generosity of the Eberly Foundation, CFFC is offering another round of funding from the Emergency Relief Fund,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

To be eligible to apply, organizations must be classified as a 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), 509(a)(3), or Unit of Government and either be located in Fayette County or provide services to Fayette County residents. Requests for funding must be due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations may request up to $1,000. The application deadline is Monday, May 17, 2021.

Click here to apply!

In addition to the Emergency Relief Fund, the foundation also launched the CFFC Mask Initiative in 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide disposable masks for organizations serving local communities. Organizations can submit masks requests online.

#BuildingAStrongerFayette: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region

Many people are familiar with the one-to-one mentoring program Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Laurel Region branch provides those programs right here in Fayette County to help youth achieve their full potential. To support their local work, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region (BBBSLR) participated in Fayette Gives 2020 and placed in the top five charities for amount fundraised.

Click here to read their #BuildingAStrongerFayette feature to learn more!

BBBSLR Fayette Gives

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region

Many people are familiar with the one-to-one mentoring program Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Laurel Region branch provides those programs right here in Fayette County to help youth achieve their full potential. To support their local work, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region (BBBSLR) participated in Fayette Gives 2020 and placed in the top five charities for amount fundraised.

“Fayette Gives allowed for donors to find which missions were most inspiring to them and which ones lined up with their goals and beliefs,” said Stephanie Babich Mihleder, BBBSLR Executive Director. She noted that the “day of giving” was beneficial in increasing awareness of local charities and helping donors make a bigger impact with the bonus pool enhancement (thanks to the generous Fayette Gives sponsors).

BBBSLR Fayette Gives

Aubrey Marquis, Mentoring Coordinator and Stephanie Babich Mihleder, Executive Director

Like many charities during the covid-19 pandemic, BBBSLR had to cancel fundraising events and adjust their programming. Safety precautions affected the way that mentors (Bigs) and children (Littles) could meet, especially during school closures or limited access to facilities. “Our Bigs have stepped up and many of them are doing weekly tutoring and even Read to Succeed sessions over video chat,” said Mihleder.

BBBSLR Bigs and Littles

BBBSLR Bigs and Littles

During a challenging year of new school guidelines and limited socialization for children, mentors were a source of support and encouragement. Mentors are volunteers who are vetted and strategically matched with children based on specific qualities or interests, and BBBSLR is always happy to welcome more.

BBBSLR is already registered for Fayette Gives 2021, which will take place on November 16. This will be another opportunity for them to rally their supporters around one special day to support the charity and share their mission. Charities can learn more and register now at http://www.fayettegives.org, and businesses who wish to become a sponsor can download the 2021 Sponsorship Form.

#FayetteGives

EQT Foundation Donates to CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) received a $15,000 gift from the EQT Foundation for the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. This endowment was created in 2020 to support CFFC’s general grantmaking program.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment is an important part of the CFFC’s annual competitive grantmaking, accepting grant requests from nonprofits for the following funding priorities: arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services.

Left to right:  Renee Couser – CFFC Executive Director; Joy G. Huston – CFFC Grantmaking Committee Chair; Ellen Rossi – EQT Foundation President

The EQT Foundation’s generous donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will have a direct impact on local nonprofits and, in turn, the Fayette County residents they serve. Established in 2003, the EQT Foundation is a dedicated resource for financial, in-kind, and volunteer support for communities touched by EQT’s business. They prioritize the following categories for their funding: community enrichment; education and workforce; environment.

“We value meaningful engagement with the communities where EQT operates. Fayette County is one of those important communities, so the EQT Foundation is happy to support the CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will help Fayette County in a variety of ways for years to come. “This endowment was created to support our nonprofit community in perpetuity, and will award grants each year. The promise of lasting impact, and the CFFC’s ability to support a variety of causes, makes this a unique opportunity to continue ‘building a stronger Fayette’,” said Renee Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.

The entire community can help ‘build a stronger Fayette’ by making a donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. Checks can be made payable to CFFC and mailed to 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, PA  15401. Please write BASF on the memo line. Online donations can also be made at www.cffayettepa.org. If you have any questions on how CFFC can assist you with your charitable giving, please call 724-437-8000 x1.