Chester County Community Foundation
28 West Market Street
West Chester, PA 19382

REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSALS

Founded in 1994, the Chester County Community Foundation leads, inspires and encourages all individuals and organizations to create or contribute to lasting philanthropic charitable legacies, to improve the quality of life primarily in Chester County. The Foundation manages Field of Interest Funds, Donor Advised Funds, Memorial Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Nonprofit Endowments.

The Chester County Community Foundation needs to have an updated grant proposal from your nonprofit on file. Grant proposals submitted by Chester County nonprofits will be considered for 2 types of grants:

1) DONOR ADVISED & FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS: Proposals received at any time throughout the year are eligible for funding consideration from the Foundation's Donor Advised Funds and Field of Interest Funds. The Chester County Community Foundation holds in trust over 275 funds established by individuals, families and corporations. Grant proposals are shared with Fund Advisors to assist them in making grant decisions related to the funds they have entrusted to the Community Foundation. Grants made from donor advised funds may be made to charitable organizations from various fields of interest including arts and culture; humanities; education; community improvement; environment; health; and human services. These grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $20,000. Grant decisions are made intermittently throughout the year.

2) FUND FOR CHESTER COUNTY: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE: Proposals received by September 15 of each year will be eligible for funding consideration from the Foundation's unrestricted grant making fund, the Fund for Chester County: Strengthening Communities Initiative. These highly competitive, small general operating grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $2,000. Preference will be given to small and mid-size nonprofits, with budgets under $500,000, that provide services to Chester County residents that strengthen the social, cultural, health, educational and/or economic character of a community. An emphasis of the initiative is to illuminate the work of emerging nonprofits. The nonprofit must be located in Chester County to receive a grant from this fund. Distribution of grants will occur by late February.

A proposal is considered complete when the Chester County Community Foundation has received the Grant Proposal Summary Sheet, Grant Proposal Narrative, and Attachments. Completed proposals may be submitted via U.S. postal service or e-mail.

E-mail proposals are strongly encouraged, and an electronic form is available hereor by emailing grants@chescocf.org.

Applicants to the Fund for Chester County: Strengthening Communities Initiative:

~ Must be charitable, tax exempt organizations with 501(c) (3) certification

~ Must be located in and support charitable activities in Chester County

The Fund for Chester County: Strengthening Communities Initiative will not fund:

~ Individuals

~ Organizations that do not provide services in Chester County

Please send completed applications to:

Beth Harper Briglia, Vice President of Donor Services and Grantmaking

Chester County Community Foundation

28 West Market Street

West Chester, PA 19382

mailto:info@chescocf.org

Questions? Contact Shelly Thomas at (610) 696-8211.

Click here if you do not want to receive further emails.