Non-Profit Leadership Series Offered

The Community Foundation of Fayette County, in partnership with the Fayette County Cultural Trust and DeOrio Strategies Group, is announcing a new program.

The Non-Profit Leadership Program is designed to be a low cost, intensive training course for those interested in non-profit management and board service. It will consist of a series of six workshops with the goal of creating new community leaders and strengthening the non-profit sector. The program will include detailed sessions covering leadership, board governance, strategic planning, grantwriting, non-profit marketing and financial management/ budgets.

Classes will be taught by non-profit professionals. Total cost for the six session course is $100 per person. All sessions will be held at the Connellsville Canteen, 131 West Crawford Ave., Connellsville, PA. Dates for the workshops are as follows: March 11, 25; April 8, 22, and May 6 and 20.  Classes will begin at 5:30 pm with refreshments followed by the classes from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  Classes are open to anyone with an interest in non-profits.

For more information about the Non-Profit Leadership Program, please contact Clara L. Pascoe, CFFC Executive Director, or Renee Couser, Director of Donor Relations, at 724-437-8600.  To registration, please complete the Registration Form and mail, along with your payment to:  CFFC Leadership Program, 2 West Main Street, Suite 101, Uniontown, PA  15401.

 

Spring Grant & Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting grant applications for the Foundation’s upcoming grant cycle.

Eligible organizations must be non-profit (recognized under Section 501 (c)(3) or equivalent, of the I.R.S. Code), tax-exempt, and located in Fayette County, PA. The Foundation also considers the grant requests of organizations from other areas whose purposes and programs benefit Fayette County.

The Community of Foundation of Fayette County’s General Grant-Making Fund gives priority to programs in the following areas:  Arts and Culture, Education, Community Development, and Health and Human Services.

Funding opportunities are also available through the Nelson Foundation Fund which focuses on projects and programs that raise awareness of Destructive Decisions.

The CFFC will also be accepting applications for The Charity Fund which focuses on Basic Human Needs, the Development of Self-Sufficiency and Projects and Programs Serving Women and Children.

Requests of up to $5,000 will be accepted.  If the organization receives a grant, a grant report is required within six (6) months of receiving the award.

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) also has many scholarship opportunities available to Fayette County residents.  Criteria vary for each scholarship, such as the high school or college you are attending, GPA, or major.  Some scholarships are based on financial need and others are not.

If you have any questions, please contact the CFFC office at 724-437-8600.

2015 Board of Directors Announced

The Community Foundation of Fayette County Board of Directors recently announced the election of new officers and board members for 2015.

Officers are:   James R. Foutz, CPA, Board Chairman; W. David Kerr, Vice-Chairman; David Callahan, Treasurer; and Beth Casteel, Secretary.

Directors continuing to serve include:  Angela Braun, Robin Bubarth, Nancy Decker, J.D. Ewing, Dan Gearing, David Hughes, Joy Gnagey Huston, Philip Rishel, Ron Sheba, John Sunyecz, Joshua Swimmer and Lynda Waggoner.

Two new Board Members were elected to full terms beginning in 2015.  They are:  Bill Fiesta and Amy Lizza.

Strategic Plan Workshop Offered

(December 16, 2014) The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) will be hosting a Strategic Plan Workshop on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the lower level conference room of the First Niagara Bank Building, Uniontown, PA. The workshop will be facilitated by Rob DeOrio of the DeOrio Strategies Group. A strategic plan is an organization’s blueprint for carrying out its mission.  The development plan provides the means for the organization to implement its strategic plan.  A development plan is a critical link between where you want to go (your strategic plan) and how you’re going to get there (your funding needs).  A good development plan leads to focused action by board, staff and volunteers.  In this session, Rob DeOrio of DeOrio Strategies Group will discuss the basic steps in creating and implementing a development plan, as well as review strategies for prospect engagement.  Cost per person is $10, pre-registration is necessary, and space is limited.   To register, please complete and mail the Registration Form.

DeOrio Strategies Group is a full service consulting firm specializing in fundraising and development. Mr. DeOrio has over 20 years experience working in the non-profit sector. He has conducted and implemented a variety of fundraising, organizational development, capacity building and philanthropic programs for clients including development assessments, feasibility studies, capital campaigns, strategic plans, governance and budget analysis. Prior to establishing DeOrio Strategies in 2012, Mr. DeOrio was employed as Vice President at AL Brourman and Associates and worked as Director of Development at the Heinz History Center. Mr. DeOrio is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Duquesne University.

2014 Fall Grants Announced

(October 9, 2014) The Community Foundation of Fayette County Board Chairman, Jim Foutz, announced that ten (10) community based non-profits, were awarded grants totaling $20,500 for the Foundation’s 2014 general grantmaking Fall Cycle.

A.G. Montesorri School ($500) – For an indoor/outdoor gardening project.

Connellsville Area Community Ministries ($3,500) – For the Circles Mentoring Program in partnership with the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul Society. 

Dress For Success – Fayette ($2,500) – For the purchase of plus size clothing for participants.

East End United Community Center ($500) – For the Caring Corner Program; a family centered peer support grief program.

Fayette County Cultural Trust ($1,000) – For the artist incubator project at the Connellsville Canteen.

Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania ($1,000) – For volunteer recruitment and training for Fayette County.

Goodwill Industries of Southwestern PA ($2,500) – For the drivers’ education course for low income students.

Jacobs Creek Watershed Association ($2,500) – For the monofilament recycling project, and shoreline cleanup at Dunlap and Greenlick Parks; in partnership with Fayette County Conservation District and Brownsville High School and Boy Scout Troup #150.

Penn State University/Penn State Cooperative Extension, Fayette ($1,500) – To create a 4H Robotics Club using the Ev3 Lego Robotics System.

Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Program ($5,000) – funded through the Nelson Foundation Fund for presentations in Fayette County Schools to raise awareness on dating violence.

Grantwriting Workshop Being Offered

(September 22, 2014) The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) will be hosting a Grantwriting Workshop on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. in the lower level conference room of the First Niagara Bank Building, Uniontown, PA. The workshop will be facilitated by Rob DeOrio of the DeOrio Strategies Group. Anyone interested in creating more comprehensive grant proposals and achieving better results in fundraising is invited to attend. Cost per person is $10, pre-registration is necessary, and space is limited.   To register, please complete and mail the Grantwriting Registration Form.

DeOrio Strategies Group is a full service consulting firm specializing in fundraising and development. Mr. DeOrio has over 20 years experience working in the non-profit sector. He has conducted and implemented a variety of fundraising, organizational development, capacity building and philanthropic programs for clients including development assessments, feasibility studies, capital campaigns, strategic plans, governance and budget analysis. Prior to establishing DeOrio Strategies in 2012, Mr. DeOrio was employed as Vice President at AL Brourman and Associates and worked as Director of Development at the Heinz History Center. Mr. DeOrio is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Duquesne University.