COMMUNITY IMPACT
SPONSORSHIPS
Please note that our Community Impact sponsorship budget has been exhausted for 2025. Please check back in December for next year’s CI sponsorship application as we look forward to supporting many community events again in 2026!
Community Impact (CI) sponsorships support free and open community events, especially those intended to benefit underserved or marginalized communities. CI sponsorships focus on community education, celebrate diversity, and intentionally advance multicultural values.
Typically, sponsorship awards do not exceed $2,500. While there have been a few cases where higher amounts were awarded, the goal of this program is to support as many events as possible with a very limited budget. CI Sponsorship applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funds have been exhausted.
Eligibility
Criteria
- The event must be free, open to the public, and prioritize marginalized or underserved communities
- Ideally, the event will be in an accessible space and located along public transportation routes.
- The event must have an articulated DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) strategy
- The event should include education and introspection opportunities and not simply for entertainment purposes.
Who is eligible to apply?
- 501(c)3 tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service (if your nonprofit does not meet this requirement, see information here regarding fiscal sponsorship).
- Must be located or serve a sizable population in Erie County, PA
- Must not have already received a Community Impact or Marketing Sponsorship during the current year
Who is not eligible to apply
- Individuals
- For-profit businesses
- Events requiring ticket purchases or registration fees to attend
Application
Process
The Community Impact Sponsorship application is available for anyone to access through GoApply. ALL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE. REQUESTS SENT VIA EMAIL OR MAIL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
- Sponsorship applications are typically reviewed every month by the sponsorship committee.
- All applicants will be notified of funding decisions via email.
- All organizations awarded sponsorship grants will be asked to log in on GoApply and complete a sponsorship invoice form before receiving the check.
FAQs
What is the difference between Community Impact Sponsorship and Event Sponsorship?
Accessibility distinguishes the two sponsorship opportunities. A CI sponsored event must be free admission and open to the community. If the event requires ticket purchases, registration fees, or otherwise restricts who can attend, the event is better suited for an event sponsorship.
Can my organization apply for both types of sponsorships in the same year?
While there is no restriction on how many times an organization can apply for sponsorship, it would be highly unlikely for an organization to receive multiple event sponsorships in one year because of the limited availability of sponsorship dollars.
Is there a limit on how much I can request for a sponsorship?
Typically, sponsorship grants do not exceed $2,500. In rare cases, awards have been made for higher amounts for events that align on the highest levels with the Foundation’s funding priorities.
What is the timetable for my request to be reviewed?
The Foundation’s sponsorship committee typically meets once per month, with meeting dates at follows:
- January 14
- February 6
- March 6
- April 3
- May 1
- May 29
- July 10
- August 7
To ensure adequate time for review and consideration, we recommend that organizations submit their sponsorship applications to be reviewed at least six months prior to the date of the event. This allows the committee to review your request in a timely manner and, if approved, ensures funds can be disbursed ahead of the event.