The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) is pleased to announce that seven grant opportunities are now available for application. Within this grant cycle, applicants will be notified of their status on or by December 1, 2018 and proposed projects may take place at any time from January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019.

Arts for All Partnership

The Arts for All Partnership is a partnership between TFEC and the Cultural Enrichment Fund. This unique collaborative funding initiative aims to improve the efficiency of arts grant funding and increase the overall impact of grant funding for arts programming in our communities. The Arts for All Partnership is most interested in proposals that will increase access to the arts in the Capital Region through free public performances for families, ticket subsidy programs that fill houses, innovative programs that engage and build young audiences, and educational outreach programs. Priority will be given to programs that increase arts engagement and access among diverse audiences, underserved and/or economically disadvantaged communities. Nonprofit organizations serving the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area and/or located within 20 miles of center city Harrisburg are invited to apply. The maximum grant award is $5,000; in 2017 grant awards ranged from $1,500-$5,000. Click here to apply.

Children’s Home Foundation Fund

The mission of the Children’s Home Foundation Fund, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is to provide aid to economically disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties. In accordance with this mission, funding priority will be given in the following areas: human services, especially programs which address needs for food, clothing and shelter; education; and cultural enrichment and the arts. Funding is restricted to programs serving only disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. Grant awards are generally between $1,500–$6,000. Click here to apply.

Franklin County Foundation

The Franklin County Foundation (FCF), a regional foundation of TFEC conducts an annual competitive grantmaking program for nonprofit organizations serving Franklin County. FCF seeks to support programs and services that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in Franklin County. In addition, FCF strategic grantmaking focus is to invest in innovative, collaborative approaches and solutions to community problems, and to support projects that demonstrate achievable outcomes, the potential for replication as a model program, and plans for sustainability beyond the grant term. Applicant organizations are expected to be aligned with one o r more of the following priorities: arts and culture, community development, education, environment, and health and human services. FCF also welcomes applications that focus upon: programs & projects in the field of music & the arts; health services with particular emphasis on cancer; services for the in-need, elderly, & people with special needs; programs that benefit children with special needs or accessibility needs; and programs & projects that focus upon or nurture access to early childhood education. The maximum grant award is $7,000. In 2017, grant awards ranged from $983-$7,000. Click here to apply.

Greater Harrisburg Foundation Upstream

The Greater Harrisburg Foundation (GHF) Upstream grant opportunity seeks to improve our area communities by supporting existing or new “upstream” systems, interventions, programs, or projects that attempt to create positive social change by addressing a problem at its source rather than managing its “downstream” symptoms. This grant opportun ity is open to singular or collective nonprofit organizations whose proposals will serve the GHF service area of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and/or Perry Counties and the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County. GHF Upstream is available to organizations of all sizes, budgets, and reaches. The number of grant awards will be dependent upon the quantity of qualified applicants and funds sought. Awards will range from $500-$10,000. In 2018 up to $250,000 in grant funds will be available through GHF Upstream. Click here to apply.

The Martin M. Sacks Memorial Fund

The Martin M. Sacks Memorial Fund was established in 1984 in memory of Martin M. Sacks, a well-known accountant and handball devotee. Mr. Sacks was committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that provide programs and services for the disadvantaged and underserved, particularly youth. This annual competitive grantmaking program is for nonprofit organizations providing youth and family-oriented programs in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties. Preference will be given to programs and/or services that are provided to or within Harrisburg and the immediate surrounding areas. Proposals should be innovative and not duplicate existing programs and services; empower the disadvantaged and underserved; be collaborative in nature and demonstrate measurable and achievable outcomes. It is anticipated that approximately $9,000 will be available to grant in 2018. The average grant award is $1,500. Click here to apply.

Mechanicsburg Area Foundation

The Mechanicsburg Area Foundation (MAF), a regional foundation of TFEC, conducts an annual competitive grantmaking program for nonprofit organizations serving the Mechanicsburg zip codes of 17050 and 17055. MAF seeks to fund programs and services that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in the Mechanicsburg area. MAF requires that applicant organizations be aligned with one or more of the following funding priorities: arts and culture, community development, education, environment, and health and human services. MAF also welcomes grant applications that address civic interests in Mechanicsburg, hospice ser vices, and degenerative disease services, and programs & projects that focus upon or nurture access to early childhood education. The maximum grant is $12,000. In 2017 grant awards ranged from $2,000 -$8,000. Click here to apply.

The Women’s Fund

The mission of The Women’s Fund, a special initiative of TFEC, is to broaden the awareness of and response to issues affecting women and girls through the power of collective philanthropy. The Women’s Fund will make grants to programs and initiatives that serve women and girls in the South Central PA counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area of York County. To further its mission, the Women’s Fund utilizes three Funding Priorities, which seek to support projects that advance the lives of girls and women by providing opportunities to address basic needs or develop economic self-sufficiency; strengthening and/or providing health and safety programs for women and girls; and promoting the education of women and girls. The maximum grant is $3,000. In 2017 grant awards ranged from $2,000-$3,000. Click here to apply.

Additional Information

Eligible applicants must have 501(c)3 status or demonstrate nonprofit status as a church or school. Applicants may apply to multiple grant opportunities, but may not submit more than one grant to each opportunity. TFEC grantmaking does not fund individuals, capital campaigns, religious organizations for the propagation of religious doctrine, advertising, direct lobbying to influence legislation, or retroactive projects. Questions about grant eligibility may be directed to Jennifer Strechay, Program Officer for Community Investment at TFEC, at 717.236.5040 or jstrechay@tfec.org.

Share our content