TFEC Community Impact Grants

TFEC Community Impact Grants support nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities across South Central Pennsylvania. Through this grant opportunity, TFEC seeks to strengthen community capacity by investing in local non-profit organizations and partnerships that drive measurable impact and long-term sustainability to address diverse needs in communities. By supporting initiatives that increase access to services, enhance collaboration and align local resources around shared goals, the grant opportunity empowers communities to address pressing challenges with locally informed, data-driven solutions. Emphasis is placed on strategies that generate lasting outcomes—such as strengthened organizational infrastructure (i.e. strategic plans and measurable outcomes), sustainable strategies, and equitable community-wide benefit—ensuring that benefits extend well beyond the grant period and create enduring positive change.

The Community Impact Grant is available to organizations of all sizes, budgets and reaches. The number of grant awards is dependent upon the number of qualified applicants, funds sought, and available funding at the time of grant selection.

Grant Amount

Up to $10,000

Applications Open: June 1

Applications Close: September 1

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Funding Priorities

This competitive grant is open to nonprofit organizations whose proposed projects serve Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, or Perry Counties and the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County.

The Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund is available through the Community Impact Grant application process. A separate application is not needed to be eligible for Benjamin Franklin. It gives preference to eligible applications serving Mifflin and Juniata counties.

Attention Prospective Arts Applicants!

TFEC recognizes the artistic, cultural and economic value of the arts and is pleased to offer funding opportunities for the arts through The Arts for All grant opportunity. This unique funding initiative aims to increase the overall impact of grant funding for arts programming in our communities. Prospective grant applicants whose project is centered upon the arts and access to the arts, will be best served by seeking funding support through The The Arts for All – a separate grant from the Community Impact Grants. This grant opportunity opens February 1. Grant guidelines can be found here.

The Community Impact Grant is empowered by a range of special funds which serve to collectively strengthen local communities and eligible applicants that address:

Education: Early childhood education; education & development programs for children & youth; educational programs serving adults
Environment & Parks: Environmental stewardship; horticulture & the arts; health & environment; park beautification & improvement
Health & Wellness: Health & human services; programs and projects focusing on: cancer awareness and/or research, dental care for those in need, HIV & AIDS, individuals with debilitating or terminal illness, individuals with intellectual disabilities, prevention of head and/or spinal cord injury, purchasing of devices that improve accessibility
Homelessness & Hunger: Programs & projects addressing homelessness & hunger
Housing Stability: Funding for immediate response to programs and projects that strengthen housing stability.
Mental Health: Counseling for children with terminally ill family members; guidance, counseling, or programming that includes guidance and/or counseling for youths; programs and projects that address mental health
Seniors: Programs & projects serving older adults
Animal Welfare: Programs that serve for the protection and well-being of all animals.
Communities of Focus: Programs and projects that benefit residents of Millersburg, a borough of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Disaster relief & human services that serve the communities of Lebanon City, PA, and Cressona, PA. Projects to enhance Camp Hill Borough parks provided by youth organizations such as Scout programs or other youth organizations; programs & projects that focus upon or nurture access to early childhood education within Camp Hill.
- Each community of focus is supported by special funds and parameters established by caring community members and is specific to the respective community.

The number of grants awarded will be dependent upon the amount of funds available for grants, the number of qualified applicants, and the amount of grant funds sought.

Grant Eligibility

Eligible projects must serve individuals, groups, and/or locations within Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon and Perry Counties and/or the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County.
- Projects can serve one or more of these counties.
- The Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund is available through the Community Impact Grant and gives preference to Mifflin and Juniata counties.
Applicants must either be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a nonprofit organization as recognized by the IRS as such, or have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project.
Applications from faith-based organizations for programs or projects that serve all members of the community, as applicable to the project, and do not require participation in religious activity for receipt of services are eligible.

Grant Timeline

June 1: Application available.
September 1: All application materials must be submitted online.
Applicants will be notified of their status by December 1.
Proposed projects may take place at any time during the grant year, beginning January 1 and ending December 31. Only projects taking place during the stated grant year will be considered for this round of funding.

New in 2026: Housing Stability

As housing needs continue to grow in our communities, an additional $10,000 per region is available through The Community Impact Grant to support housing-related needs for individuals in Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties.

Funding to support housing-related needs in Franklin and Perry Counties was made available through the Franklin County Community Foundation and the Perry County Community Foundation. Additionally, funding for housing initiatives in the Mechanicsburg zip codes of 17050 and 17055 are funded through the Mechanicsburg Area Community Foundation.

For questions about this funding opportunity or the application process, nonprofits and community partners are encouraged to contact the TFEC team.

Email grants@tfec.org or call 717-236-5040 to connect with a TFEC Grants Officer.

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

*Grant proposals that include these should describe the scope, purpose and guidelines.

Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

The Community Impact Grant Review Committee makes all grantmaking decisions and consists of a dedicated group of individuals committed to the betterment of the TFEC service area. The Committee may request additional information about the grant application prior to making an award or denial. Below is a list of the criteria utilized to evaluate applications.

(20) Connection to the Mission of The Community Impact Grant
- 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) Roles and responsibilities are defined and work to strengthen/enhance the project.

- Partnerships, collaborations, services and affiliations clearly defined if applicable.

(5) Funding

- Project has funding diversification plan and is not 100% dependent on grant award.
- Budget Worksheet clearly defines where awarded funds will be applied.

(10) Project success is clearly defined and measurable.

- Goals are measurable and anticipated outcomes are clearly defined.

(10) 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

Would you recommend funding this project? Yes/No

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 Impact Team at grants@tfec.org.

If you should have any questions regarding TFEC grant opportunities or your application, please contact the Community Impact Team at grants@tfec.org or 717-236-5040. Questions are welcome at any time!