After The Erie Community Foundation Board of Trustees met in September, the Foundation is pleased to announce the approval over $2.7 million in grant awards to address immediate community needs and long-term requests.
Each year, the Foundation conducts four quarterly grant cycles for its Helping Today and Shaping Tomorrow programs. These competitive grants are awarded from the Foundation’s Community Impact Fund, which is unrestricted to meet current broad needs. “The flexible funding allows the Foundation to meet the moment when Erie needs it most, even when future challenges are unknown,” said Patrick Herr, vice president of Community Impact.
The Foundation’s Helping Today program is the most utilized grant opportunity, intentionally casting a wide net to support nonprofits addressing multiple issues. During the third quarter cycle, the Foundation received 21 applications. Of those, 12 projects were funded, including eight that were fully funded to meet pressing needs.
The Foundation’s Shaping Tomorrow program is designed to strengthen Erie’s future by supporting projects that create collaborative impact. As part of this initiative, the Foundation is awarding $250,000 to Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Saint Vincent Hospital to establish a new Simulation, Teaching, and Academic Research (STAR) Center North in Erie. “Each of these grants represents a partnership,” added Herr. “We work alongside nonprofits, donors, and community leaders to address pressing needs while building a stronger foundation for Erie’s future.” (A press conference is in the works to showcase the space before year-end.)
Beyond competitive grantmaking, the Foundation awards grants throughout the year from donor-established funds such as donor-advised, designated, and field-of-interest funds. This quarter, the Foundation distributed 573 non-competing grants totaling $2,181,366. Non-competing grants are those directed by donors through their charitable funds at the Foundation. Donor generosity and the Foundation’s stewardship make a long-term impact. Together, these funding streams of grantmaking demonstrate the power of collective giving, honor the legacies of yesterday, and shape the possibilities of tomorrow.
“What is most exciting about this quarter’s awards is the range of projects,” said Karen Bilowith, Foundation President & CEO. “From immediate support for nonprofits to long-term investment in healthcare innovation, these grants demonstrate the flexibility of philanthropy to serve needs that are both urgent and visionary long-term projects.”