Apply for CFFC’s Spring 2023 Grants

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 30, 2023 | CFFC News, Grants

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting applications for their spring 2023 grant cycle. Nonprofits can request funding from five charitable funds, based on specific criteria and funding categories. All applications are completed through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be accessed from the Grants page at www.cffayettepa.org. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2023.

This grant cycle, CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Fund is awarding grants for capacity building, in contrast to previous years where this fund accepted requests for a variety of categories. “Capacity building is whatever is needed to bring a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity, so it may more effectively and efficiently advance its mission into the future,” explains the National Council of Nonprofits.

• Building a Stronger Fayette Fund: supporting capacity building – an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit (e.g. office equipment, software, training). These awards are made with the combined funding from the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund; Fayette County Charities Endowment; Franklin K. and Jean Smith Family Fund; and Thompson Fund.
• Burchinal Family Endowment Fund: supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
• Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund: supports projects and programs in the areas of community gardens and/or science/environmental education.
• Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund: supports organizations that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens.
• Community Beautification Fund: supports landscape improvements (including but not limited to planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers) for community beautification projects.

For questions about grant applications, contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at rebecca@cffayettepa.org or 724-437-8600 x203.

CFFC Awards $35,000+ in Fall Grants

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 6, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants

CFFC has awarded $35,302 in fall grants. Awards range from $500 to over $7,000. “These funding opportunities were created by generous donors who want to give back to the community, and we’re happy to support such diverse projects,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

To support health and medical care for Fayette County residents, CFFC awarded two grants from the Burchinal Family Endowment Fund. Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center received a grant for their conversion to a medical model pregnancy center – specifically for a medical exam room and staff training materials. New Haven Hose Company also received a grant, which they will use to purchase two new AEDs. These devices will be utilized for medical service on the bike trail, at the fire department, and at the social hall which serves as Connellsville’s emergency shelter.

The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund supports the purchase of reusable items to enhance classrooms. Laurel Highlands School District was awarded three grants for autistic support educational and sensory room items, a book vending machine at an elementary school, and STEM activities for elementary media centers. Uniontown Area School District was awarded two grants for cooking supplies in middle and high school family & consumer science classes and graphing calculators for high school algebra classes.

Albert Gallatin Area School District was awarded a grant from the Idea Fund to enhance traditional classroom learning with the purchase of an audio booth for the high school’s AGTV studio. It will be used for all media classes and for the speech and presentation course.

To learn more about grant opportunities and how you can make an impact in our community through philanthropy, contact our office at 724-437-8600.

CFFC Receives $15,000 from EQT Foundation

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 26, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants

EQT Foundation awarded the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) a $15,000 grant for the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund. This fund is an endowment to support CFFC’s general grantmaking program in perpetuity. CFFC accepts applications for this fund in the spring grant cycle, evaluating requests from local nonprofits and strategically selecting grant awards.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund supports arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; and other areas of interest. In CFFC’s spring 2022 cycle, grants were awarded for a library program, household and hygiene items, musical productions, a junior firefighter boot camp, a program to provide beds to families, a free community lunch program, software, and a program to support grandparents as caretakers.

Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Kaitlyn Magyar, EQT Corporation Public Relations Intern

EQT Foundation’s $15,000 grant will be added to the fund and will help strengthen CFFC’s general grantmaking program. “Working with local community foundations has been an essential part of our strategy to be engaged corporate citizens in the areas where EQT operates,” said Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President. “We are thankful for the partnership we have created through the CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Fund to help nonprofits in the community thrive,” said Rossi.

“CFFC thanks EQT Foundation for their support. This fund has been a focus for our fundraising, since supporting local nonprofits is such a big part of what we do,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. To raise additional money for the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, CFFC is participating in Fayette Gives on November 10 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.

Apply Now for CFFC Fall Grants

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 1, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting applications for the fall grant cycle. Organizations will apply through CFFC’s online grant system. All applications have a September 30 deadline.

The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund is accepting requests of $5,000 to support charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.

The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund invites teachers, school counselors, and administrators in the Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District to submit requests of $500 – $10,000 for reusable items that will enhance classrooms.

The Idea Fund invites teachers at St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Laurel Highlands School District, and Albert Gallatin School District to submit requests of $1,000 to enhance traditional classroom learning in any subject, show creativity in teaching, and expand the horizons of students.

The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund invites requests of $500 from Uniontown Area High School to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials for STEM teaching and learning.

Learn more about each grant opportunity and preview the application questions through CFFC’s online grant system. Please direct any questions to Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x203.

Supporting Local Education through Grants

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 13, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants

The Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, granted $2,000 to Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) for their masonry and carpentry programs. Regina Hughes created the fund to honor the memory of her husband and to support local students pursuing the trades. Graduating seniors from CACTC’s masonry and carpentry programs were recognized at a memorial luncheon in May.

Jeff Butela, Jerry Matthews, Renee Couser, Jeff Puskar, and Ryan Butela

graduating seniors from CACTC’s masonry and carpentry programs

CFFC Awards $36,333 in Spring Grants

by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 18, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) hosted the Spring 2022 Grants Presentation on May 17, 2022 at the Connellsville Canteen and announced $36,333 in grant awards. The fifteen (15) selected nonprofits received their grant check and spoke about their awarded project or program. From healthcare and environmental science to musicals and food assistance, CFFC is proud to fund a variety of community needs through these grant awards – thanks to the generosity of donors who create and support these charitable funds.

Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director, welcomed the group and highlighted the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, an endowment that CFFC created in 2020 to provide general grantmaking in perpetuity. EQT Foundation is one of the supporters of the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, donating $15,000 in 2021. Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President, spoke to the group about EQT’s presence in the region and their engagement with Fayette County.

To learn more about CFFC’s grantmaking program to or donate, visit www.cffayettepa.org.

Building a Stronger Fayette Grants

Burchinal Family Endowment Fund

Community Beautification Fund

• Fayette County Cultural Trust: Downtown Connellsville Beautification Project 2022

Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund

Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund