EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. – The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) is seeking applications for $35,000 in grants available through its final competitive grant cycle of 2020. Seven grants of $5,000 each will be awarded, with the grantees announced in late October. Requests are encouraged from charitable groups throughout Washington County whose project falls within one of the Foundation’s funding areas as follows:
- Arts & Humanities – projects that benefit arts education, arts appreciation, and cultural and historic projects in our community.
- Community Improvement – projects that focus on strengthening, unifying and building the economic, cultural, educational and social services, and the spirit of any community or neighborhood. Projects include, but are not limited to, economic development activities in depressed areas, community parks, walking trails, green space projects, agricultural fairs, and community festivals.
- Education – projects to enhance the education experience for persons of any age, including literacy and lifelong learning.
- Environment & Animal Welfare – projects to protect the environment and to ensure biodiversity, including conservation, protection of ecosystems, agricultural projects, protection of wildlife, and the care of domesticated animals.
- Health & Fitness – projects that promote the physical and emotional health of the community, including medical services, counseling, fitness, and wellness programs.
- Human Needs – projects that give aid, comfort, support or assistance to children and youth, senior citizens, or the indigent.
- Religious/Faith-Based – projects that promote interdenominational sharing and understanding and that emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and development.
Grant requests should be submitted electronically by September 1, 2020 via the Foundation’s website at www.wccf.net. Questions should be addressed to allocations@wccf.net. The WCCF does not award grants to political candidates, for use in political campaigns or for lobbying of elected officials and discourages requests for routine projects, to pay off deficits, or for endowment funds.
About the Washington County Community Foundation
The mission of the Washington County Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in Washington County by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. It was one of the first community foundations in the country to be approved for the rigorous National Standards for Community Foundations and was re-accredited in 2020. It is the largest publicly-supported grant-making foundation in Washington County and cumulatively has provided approximately $18 million in grants.