Bridge Builders Community Foundations
Bridge Builders Community Foundations is a public charity and community foundation based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Venango Area Community Foundation, the organization was established in 1975 and received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in 1990. The foundation serves as a philanthropic institution dedicated to developing, managing, and distributing funding to meet the present and future needs of its service communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.4M
+8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+44.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
+17.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+22.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to develop, manage, and distribute funding in the form of scholarships, grants, and other assistance that meets the needs of the communities it serves. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $5,099 to $499,270.
Grant Range
s & Range**
Review Cycle
and scholarship application periods.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves Clarion, Forest, and Venango counties in Pennsylvania, as well as the Punxsutawney Area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023)
- Total Assets: $18,810,098
- Total Revenues: $3,657,993
- Total Expenses: $2,233,789
Staffing The organization operates with 4 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,443,066 | $18,810,098 | $15,946,859 |
| Revenue | $2,770,329 | $3,657,993 | $1,636,788 |
| Expenses | $1,846,982 | $2,233,789 | $3,107,222 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $688,472 | $596,348 | $384,146 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from Bridge Builders Community Foundations
BBCF Local Scholarship Program (70+ scholarships managed)
BRIDGE BUILDERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Amount
Varies by individual scholarship
Deadline
March 6, 2027
Center for Rural Ministry Rural Impact Fund Grant
BRIDGE BUILDERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Amount
US $2,500 - US $4,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Dr. & Mrs. Arthur William Phillips Charitable Trust Grant
BRIDGE BUILDERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of Venango County ($499,270), Franklin Civic Operetta Association ($100,000), Franklin Civic Operetta Association ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OIL CITY LIBRARY OIL CITY, PA | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION | $31,500 |
| SCENIC RIVERS YMCA OIL CITY, PA | CAMP COFFMAN SUMMER DAY CAMP AMPHITHEATER | $9,724 |
| CLARION FREE LIBRARY CLARION, PA | FRONT STAIR RENOVATION PROJECT | $9,000 |
| CLARION BLUEPRINT COMMUNITY CLARION, PA | CLARION MULTI-GENERATIONAL PARK | $8,474 |
| KEYSTONE SMILES COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER KNOX, PA | HOUSE OF TRADES PROGRAM (HOT) | $8,332 |
| BROCKWAY CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY AT TITUSVILLE TITUSVILLE, PA | BROCKWAY CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | $8,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - TITUSVILLE TITUSVILLE, PA | MAC TRAINING FOR VENANGO COUNTY RESIDENTS | $8,000 |
| KEYSTONE COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL OIL CITY, PA | WELDING TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE PROGRAM-VENANGO COUNTY | $8,000 |
| SENECA HILLS BIBLE CONFERENCE POLK, PA | 2025 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | $8,000 |
| GLADE RUN UTICA, PA | COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION (CBI) AT ST. STEPHEN'S UTICA | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BECKY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DOUG SCHWAB | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANGELA TRINCH | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| W RUSSELL MCDAID | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENISE JONES | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| COLLEEN MCALEER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MALOY SHROUT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EMILY KELKAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE MILLS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WARREN THOMAS | CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| BARRY MCCAULIFF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LYNN MCCASLIN | SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| TRENTON MOULIN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $70,350 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in recent years with several notable initiatives:
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Celebrates 50 Years of PhilanthropyOpened the 2025 Fall Grant Cycle
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Opens 2025 Fall Grant CycleOpened scholarship applications for 2025
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Opens Scholarship Applications forSelected for participation in a training and funding program
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Selected for Training and Funding ProgramCelebrated 50 years of philanthropy and community impact
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Celebrates 50 Years of PhilanthropyAnnounced 2025-2026 scholarship recipients
Bridge Builders Community Foundations Announces 2025-2026 Scholarship RecipientsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bridge Builders Community Foundations fund?
The foundation's mission is to develop, manage, and distribute funding in the form of scholarships, grants, and other assistance that meets the needs of the communities it serves. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Bridge Builders Community Foundations?
**Grant Sizes & Range** Typical awards range from $5,099 to $499,270. **Active Grant Funds** The foundation manages multiple named funds and grant programs, including: • William & Elizabeth Charitable Fund for the Trades • Venango Area Community Foundation Discretionary Grants • Punxsutawney Area Discretionary Grants • McElhattan Impact Fund for the Knox Area Grant Program • Frank M. & Eleanor R. Miese Fund Grant • Forest County Unrestricted Endowment **Recent Grant Activity** Recent grants mad…
Where does Bridge Builders Community Foundations make grants?
The foundation serves Clarion, Forest, and Venango counties in Pennsylvania, as well as the Punxsutawney Area.
What size grants does Bridge Builders Community Foundations award?
In 2024, Bridge Builders Community Foundations awarded 33 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Bridge Builders Community Foundations's EIN?
Bridge Builders Community Foundations's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1292553. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bridge Builders Community Foundations's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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