Shaping Tomorrow

Shaping Tomorrow work is proactive with an eye on the future. The Erie Community Foundation’s Shaping Tomorrow Grantmaking portfolio consists of concrete, practical strategies that can make a difference in the lives of many struggling families in our community. We work to address the primary antecedents of poverty through our Community Advisory Panel process. We also work to address high rates of poverty in our community by supporting key programs and initiatives that promote economic self-sufficiency, such as Erie FREE Taxes. Erie FREE Taxes facilitates the economic independence of low-income individuals and families through free tax preparation services, and by providing financial literacy and education. Finally, we support the capacity-building needs of our nonprofit sector through the work of the Nonprofit Partnership. The Nonprofit Partnership provides high-quality programs and technical assistance services to strengthen our nonprofit sector.

Community Advisory Panels (CAPs)

The Erie Community Foundation has implemented Community Advisory Panels (CAPs) to maximize and leverage our grantmaking in areas identified as the primary antecedents of poverty. By increasing access to health care, workforce training opportunities, and early childhood education, we are most likely to move the needle and make a measurable difference in addressing the unacceptable rates of poverty that exist in our community.

Each CAP is empowered to study, and recommend specific solutions to programs and services for the underserved. To assist with this work, we convene experts in the field to help CAP membership identify best practices and unique grantmaking opportunities. The Erie Community Foundation allocates up to $100,000 a year for each area of work. It is also likely CAPs will identify ways to use this funding to leverage additional new private foundation or governmental resources.