by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 16, 2021 | CFFC News, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) recently received re-accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.
Since its founding in 1999, CFFC has been committed to serving Fayette County with the mission to “help define charitable needs, connect donors with causes that matter to them, support nonprofit organizations and invest charitable assets to make the community a better place to live.” CFFC first received accreditation in 2009 and has worked hard to receive re-accreditation to maintain recognition as an operationally and legally sound community foundation.
“CFFC’s re-accreditation distinguishes us as credible and trustworthy, which are valuable traits for our relationships with donors and professional advisors. These standards also hold us accountable for maintaining best practices, which will help us best serve the community for years to come,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
National Standards is not mandatory, but the foundation chooses to go above and beyond by affirming its commitment to excellence and accountability. Accreditation provides assurance that CFFC has sound policies and practices in place, and it means that CFFC meets the highest standards for local giving.
Please visit www.cffayettepa.org and follow CFFC on social media at @cffayettepa to learn more about CFFC.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 11, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) recently awarded seven charities a total of $41,400.
In 2020, the Strawberry Patch Fund was created through an estate gift. This Donor Designated Fund will support the following charities in perpetuity: Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Fayette Friends of Animals; Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Mount Macrina Manor; St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; and Uniontown Public Library.
“Making a legacy gift to CFFC reflects a donor’s ongoing commitment to the charities and causes they care about the most. We are honored to carry out the wishes of donors in this way,” said Renee M. Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.
Left to right: Carol Ashton, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Andrea Hibbs, Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Lisa Hannum, Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Christine Roskovensky, St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; Lori Coffman, Fayette Friends of Animals; Linda Evans, Uniontown Public Library; not pictured Mount Macrina Manor.
Andrea Hibbs, Executive Director of Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County, said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this donor and grateful for this annual award. Crime Victims’ Center is using some of the funds to support our 24-hour crisis hotline service, and we also plan to provide additional outreach for our underserved/unserved areas of Fayette County with this funding.”
Lori Coffman, Board President of Fayette Friends of Animals, said, “Fayette Friends of Animals is eternally grateful for every donation we receive since our operational expenses are paid for in large part by donations from animal lovers within our community. Gifts like the annual grant from the Strawberry Patch Fund will be hugely beneficial with the upkeep of our aging building.”
Contact Renee Couser at 724-437-8600 x1 to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact through philanthropy.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 29, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting applications for the fall grant cycle. All grant applications have a deadline of September 30, 2021. Please visit the “Grants” tab at www.cffayettepa.org to learn more and apply.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awards funding to schools for reusable items that will enhance the classrooms. Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
The Idea Fund makes awards to enhance traditional classroom learning in any subject, to show creativity in teaching, and to expand the horizons of the students. Teachers at St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Laurel Highlands School District, and Albert Gallatin School District are eligible to apply.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund aims to enhance STEM teaching and learning at Uniontown Area High School. Requests will be accepted for support of teacher or student activities or for the purchase of classroom materials.
Additionally, CFFC is accepting Letters of Inquiry for Innovative Educational Programs on a rolling basis.
Thank you to the generous donors who make these CFFC funding opportunities possible. Learn more and apply on the “Grants” tab at www.cffayettepa.org, and call 724-437-8600 x203 with any questions.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 21, 2021 | CFFC News, News Releases, Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) will award over $160,000 in post-secondary scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year. Congratulations to the selected students!
Watch the scholarship award slideshow here! (also posted on our Facebook page)
Scholarship funds are created in honor or memory of a loved one, to support certain career paths, or to simply give back to the community. Generous donors who create and support these funds make it possible to award a wide selection of students each school year. Each scholarship has unique criteria, including qualifications related to academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study, or school preference.
“The CFFC Board of Directors would like to applaud all of the 2021-2022 scholarship recipients for their hard-earned accomplishments and achievements. We look forward to seeing how these students progress in their education, professions, and as members of the Fayette County community. We also want to thank the volunteers of the CFFC Scholarship Committee who reviewed hundreds of applications to select this year’s winners,” said Angela Braun, CFFC Scholarship Committee Chair.
CFFC hosted a “Snap & Go” Ice Cream Social for the scholarship recipients on May 25 at Hatfield Elementary School’s covered patio. Students “snapped” pictures to commemorate their accomplishment and took an ice cream treat “to go”.
Through the CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students will have the opportunity to have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
Please visit the website at www.cffayettepa.org and follow CFFC on social media @cffayettepa to stay updated with the scholarship program and much more.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 14, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $22,000 in Spring 2021 grants to nonprofits that address a variety of causes in Fayette County.
Building a Stronger Fayette General Grantmaking awards support Arts and Culture, Education, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, and other areas of interest. The following nonprofits received grant awards: Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, Christian Layman Corps., East End United Community Center, German-Masontown Public Library, State Theatre Center for the Arts, Historic Church of St. Peter, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, and Uniontown Public Library.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund supports nonprofits that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents. Fayette Emergency Medical Service and Redstone Foundation, on behalf of McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Company, were awarded funding.
The Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund supports projects/programs related to community gardens and/or science/environmental education. Albert Gallatin Human Services/Masontown Senior Center, City Mission- Living Stones, Inc., and Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. were awarded funding.
The Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund supports nonprofits that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens. LaFayette Manor Inc. was awarded funding.
CFFC will also award $5,000 in Emergency Relief Fund grants to local health and human service organizations.
“As a community foundation, CFFC has a unique ability to address multiple categories of community need. We were happy to travel around the county to hand-deliver grant checks to nonprofits for this Spring 2021 grant cycle and hear about their projects and programs that impact Fayette County in a variety of ways,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 19, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
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.
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.