The Community Foundation of Fayette County is offering grants for nonprofit organizations in Fayette and Greene counties.
A community foundation is a nonprofit, public charity created by and for the residents of a specific geographic area, or for a specific purpose of interest.
The CFFC’s General Grant Making Fund gives priority to Arts and Culture, Education and Health and Human Services programs. Nonprofit organizations can apply for $5,000 grants.
Renee Couser has been the director of donor relations since 2008. She said it was the CFFC’s purpose to provide funding for local nonprofits that need it.
“The Community Foundation of Fayette County has been around since 1999, and since around 2002 to 2003 was when we started giving out grants,” said Couser. “We are only allowed to give out grants to nonprofit organizations, legally.”
New this year is additional funding in the categories of Human Services, Economic Development and Workforce Development. Nonprofit organizations in the region can request a grant for up to $10,000.
“The grants are to be given out for projects and programs around the Fayette County and Greene County areas,” said Couser. “Five to 10 grants are given out each spring and fall.”
The CCFC is also offering 47 scholarships this spring.
The deadline to apply is March 23, 2018. Some examples of the different scholarships available, included on the CFFC website, are the Jim and Barb Browne Family Fund, the Maurice M. Bortz & Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship and the Fayette County Community Service All Star Scholarship.
Requirements for each scholarship vary—more information can be found on the website.
Couser said the scholarships and grants give the CFFC the chance to contribute to surrounding areas in the ways they need it most.
“We love to give back to our community as much as we can,” said Couser.
The CFFC not only tries to help the community through funds and grants, but also through leadership and solving Fayette County’s and Greene County’s social and economic needs. Through a variety of programs, the CFFC now is able to hold over 150 funds as well as $15 million in assets. Couser said these funds are available to any nonprofit organization willing to apply.
“We encourage everyone in the community that is able to apply for a scholarship to apply,” said Couser.
Since 2009, the CFFC has provided almost $4 million in grants. Last year, the nonprofit organization provided just less than $700,000 in grant funds. Some of the more recent places that the grants have been provided to are the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, the Alternative, Yes Pregnancy Support Center, the Fayette County Community Action Agency, the Laurel Highlands Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Springfield Township Volunteer Hose Company and the Brownsville Free Public Library.