The Greater Harrisburg Foundation (GHF), a regional foundation of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), is pleased to announce 15 grant awards valued at $315,000 to support nonprofit organizations that enhance or benefit the lives of citizens in the Central Pennsylvania counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area.
“We are continuously striving to improve the quality of life for those living in our community,” said TFEC President and CEO Janice R. Black. “However, we’re well aware that we cannot do so alone, all of us need to commit to making this region a vital and healthy community and the ‘Our Challenge for Giving’ grants encourage our nonprofit partners to expand their reach and build upon their success to further their missions in helping central Pennsylvania citizens.”
The “Our Challenge for Giving” is GHF’s commitment to award up to $7,500 to increase the number of new private donors, reengage lapsed donors (over 12 months since last donation) and to promote increased gifts of current donors. The grant initiative maintains the traditional funding priorities of GHF, which include arts & culture, community development, education, environment and health & human services.
Grantee organizations have a total operating budget of $1 million or less. Organizations with a total operating budget of up to $250,000 received a $1 to $1 match. Organizations with a total operating budget between $250,000 and $1 million received a $3 to $1 match. Coupled with the matching dollars, GHF’s investment of $112,500 is bringing $315,000 in new dollars to local nonprofit organizations.
Grantee organizations have until December 31, 2016 to raise the required match. If you would like to make a donation to help one of the grant recipients, please contact the organization directly, or call TFEC at 717.236.5040 for more information.
TFEC is a community foundation which aims to stimulate philanthropy and enhance the quality of life in the community through accumulating, managing, and disbursing financial assets while serving as a catalyst and neutral convener to meet a wide range of community needs in south central Pennsylvania.
For more information on TFEC and grantmaking or funding opportunities, please visit www.tfec.org.
The following is a list of grant recipients, the amount of funding and a brief description of the projects.
- Capital Area Girls on the Run – $7,500; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The match campaign is part of the “Girls on the Run 5 Years Running” fundraising plan. Funds will be used to meet the growing need for scholarships, attract volunteer coaches, and fund an expansion into Lebanon County.
- Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Inc. – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The grant funds will be used to “Keep the Carlisle Arts Learning Center Growing!” The Center’s leadership is committed to continued growth of their educational programs for youth and adults, but building organizational capacity is necessary to make this growth sustainable.
- Chambersburg Ballet Theatre Youth Company, Inc. – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. Grant funds will be used to “Help CBT Double its Reach!” The Company plans to increase the number and breadth of their collaborations with local performing arts organizations and schools, as well as with professional artists from inside and outside the Chambersburg area. These increased collaborations will help to enrich programming, increase the number of dancers, and enlarge their audience and donor base.
- Community Check Up Center Of South Harrisburg, Inc. – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. The Challenge Grant will be used to maximize the Center’s ability to attract new donors and increase revenue. New funds will enable the Check Up Center to continue providing services such as GYN exams, STI testing and treatment, and all methods of contraception. The Check Up Center’s mission is to offer the same medical options to all of their patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
- Employment Skills Center – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. The Center plans to utilize this Challenge Grant to boost donor engagement through greater awareness of the organization, the services offered and specific program funding.
- Hope Within Ministries, Inc. – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. Hope Within Ministries seeks to use the Challenge Grant to expand their fundraising efforts by adding a Development Assistant position to their staff, increasing communication with donors, updating their website and adding mobile friendly donation options, and more.
- Jewish Family Service Of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. Grant funds will be used to enhance “Two’s Company Plus: Transportation Assistance for Seniors”. The program enables homebound older and/or disabled adults to maintain their independence and reside safely in their own homes for as long as possible. Trained volunteers are matched with clients to provide services such as food shopping, friendly visits, phone calls, monitoring the home for safety issues and occasional transportation to medical appointments.
- LEAF Project, Inc. – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The Challenge Grant will be used to maximize LEAF’s new opportunities for growth as they seek to “Develop Our Roots”. Since their inception, LEAF has operated on the generosity of many organizations and individuals; however, they’ve recently acquired their own independent nonprofit status and made the move to their own farm.
- LGBT Center of Central PA – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The LGBT Center plans to utilize the Challenge Grant to “Inspire LGBT Community Giving”. Research shows that only 3-5% of LGBT people give to LGBT organizations. Through this grant, the Center hopes to educate the local LGBT community about this low threshold of giving and turn that trend around for the long-term.
- Love Inc of Greater Hershey – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. Grant funds will be used to fund “Transformational Ministries” which engage those currently receiving transactional services (material items for material poverty) into programs designed to empower clients to overcome poverty. Programs will include classes on budgeting, parenting, life-skills, job search training, and more, as well as provide personal mentors for individuals or families.
- Open Stage of Harrisburg – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. As Open Stage embarks on their 30th season, they plan to use the Challenge Grant to kick start a new “Friends of Open Stage” loyalty program. The goal is to brand their annual appeal, making it friendlier and inspire giving now and for another 30 years of theatre.
- Perry County Literacy Council – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The Literacy Council plans to use the Challenge Grant as a catalyst to develop an innovative fundraising model that will embed ongoing recruitment and sustainability practices, policies and procedures.
- Samara – The Center for Individual and Family Growth – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. With demand growing for Samara’s Intensive Parenting/Children’s Program and plans for the launch of a new program, there is urgent need to grow infrastructure and capacity. Grant funds will be used to support new parent support groups for clients who return voluntarily to the Intensive Parenting Program. During a recent trial of the pilot program parents named themselves PhDs – Parents having Discussions.
- Susquehanna Chorale Inc – $7,500.00; 1:1 match for a total of $15,000 in new money. The Chorale will utilize the Challenge Grant to create a new development program to sustain and increase – on an ongoing basis – programs for enriching lives through song. Funds, as well as new donors, will be essential in creating a new development position that will help the organization grow capacity, increase revenue, and increase their community impact.
- YWCA Carlisle – $7,500.00; 3:1 match for a total of $30,000 in new money. YWCA Carlisle will use the Challenge Grant opportunity to create and fortify an agency-wise culture of fundraising, which will assist efforts to develop a strategic approach to donor stewardship at both the staff and board of directors’ level. The Board and Staff will work together to advance fundraising efforts and establish a sustainable fund development program.
