Harold L. Brake & Dolores K. Brake Legacy Fund
This fund was established through the generous estate of Harold L. Brake, a long-standing resident of St. Thomas. Harold and Dolores have strong interests in preserving the rural quality of life. The income from this fund will be distributed annually to support charitable organizations that they love, such as the St. Thomas Sports Association, St. Thomas Cemetery Association, Menno Haven, and others. Funds will be available annually to support various other community needs as identified by a local committee.
Grant Amount
Up to $35,000* (*For 2026 and forward, the grant amount up to will increase.)
Applications Open: July 1, 2025
Applications Close: August 31, 2025
Apply NowFunding Priorities
The purpose of the fund is to support nonprofits with a project in the St. Thomas, Peters and Hamilton Townships in Franklin County.
Grant Eligibility
- This opportunity is available to nonprofit organizations that have a project serving the townships of St. Thomas, Peters and Hamilton in Franklin County.
- An organization may not be awarded more than one of three consecutive years.
- The following organizations are not eligible to apply: St. Thomas Sports Association, St. Thomas Cemetery Association, Menno Haven, St. Thomas Ambulance Company and WellSpan Summit Foundation specifically for the Rhonda Brake Shreiner Women’s Center.
- Applicants must either be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project.
Grant Timeline
- July 1, 2025: Application available.
- August 31, 2025: All application materials must be submitted online.
- Applicants will be notified of their status by December 1, 2025.
- Proposed projects may take place at any time during the grant year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026. Only projects taking place during the stated grant year will be considered for this round of funding.
What We Do Not Fund
- Advertising*
- Capital campaigns
- Direct lobbying to influence legislation or funding appropriations
- Individuals
- National and statewide umbrella organizations that cannot demonstrate a local presence
- New staff positions without a substantial plan for sustainability
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Retroactive projects
- No more than 50% of the total cost of a project
*Grant proposals that include these should describe the scope, purpose and guidelines.
Criteria for Evaluating Proposals
The Harold L. Brake & Dolores K. Brake Legacy Fund Committee makes all grantmaking decisions and consists of a dedicated group of individuals committed to the betterment of the community. Committee members evaluate each applicant’s submission and make valuable suggestions to ensure that work supported by the Harold L. Brake & Dolores K. Brake Legacy Fund will make a difference. The Grant Review Committee may request additional information about the grant proposal prior to making an award or denial.
Below is a list of the criteria utilized to evaluate applications.
- 20 Points: Connection to the Mission of the Fund
- Need and target audience is clearly stated.
- Narrative provides a clear picture of all proposed actions and activities.
- Project/program dates and locations are clearly addressed and anticipated.
- 5 Points: Roles and responsibilities are defined and work to strengthen/enhance the project.
- Partnerships, collaborations, services and affiliations are clearly defined if applicable.
- 5 Points: Funding:
- Project has a funding diversification plan and is not 100% dependent upon grant award.
- Budget Worksheet clearly defines where awarded funds will be applied.
- 10 Points: Project success is clearly defined and measurable.
- Goals are measurable and anticipated outcomes are clearly defined.
- 10 Points: Diversity Equity and Inclusion:
- Project demonstrates how it will be inclusive/accessible to all applicable audiences.
- The board, staff and/or volunteers reflect the community and the people being served.
50 TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE
Resources
- Application Tutorial
- How to register and apply
- Draft Reviews
- Applicants may request a draft review of their application up to 2 weeks prior to the deadline. To request a draft review contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org.
If you should have any questions regarding TFEC grant opportunities or your application, please contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org or 717-236-5040. Questions are welcome at any time!
