Essential Foundation Grants

Essential Foundation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Essential Foundation
Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Summary

The Essential Foundation Grants aim to enhance the quality of life in communities served by Aqua and Peoples, supporting nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental initiatives, education, and emergency services. With a strong commitment to corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism, the foundation focuses on funding projects that promote community growth while ensuring compliance with nondiscrimination laws. This initiative reflects Essential Utilities' dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of over 5 million people across nine states.

Overview

NOTE: Our application is open from late January until early November. Background Essential Utilities is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 9 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential represents an infrastructure company uniquely positioned to have a powerful impact on improving reliability, quality of life and economic prosperity for all. Each subsidiary lends more than 130 years of experience in infrastructure expertise, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. As utility infrastructure experts, we are passionate about infrastructure improvement that strengthens reliability and safety. We recognize the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life and are proud to deliver safe, reliable services for the greater good of the communities we serve. Aqua currently provides wastewater and water utility services to more than 3 million people in eight states within the United States. As we continue to grow the company and operations, Aqua strives to deliver excellent customer service and give back to the communities we serve.Peoples is dedicated to exploring and supporting the creation of new technology to reduce methane emissions. In 2016, Peoples joined 32 other natural gas utilities to launch the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program. This program is an essential piece of our commitment to preserve the environment. Essential Foundation Grants Essential Utilities gives back to the communities it serves through corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism throughout the Aqua and Peoples service areas. The Essential Foundation was established to support the work of nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life of the customers, families, businesses, and communities throughout Essential's 10-state footprint. The Essential Foundation seeks to engage in collaborations that result in measurable success for the communities we serve and support the mission, vision, and values of Essential Utilities. Primary areas of giving include environmental initiatives, direct human services, emergency services, community economic growth, education, food insecurity and other essential resources for life.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Only nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations are eligible to apply for funding for work that benefits communities served by Aqua or Peoples. The Essential Foundation requires grantees to comply with applicable local, federal and state laws relating to nondiscrimination. Violation of this Policy is grounds for the Essential Foundation to request the return of grant funds.

Ineligibility

The Essential Foundation aims to ensure no funding is directed to any organization with a written policy or an actual practice of discrimination against any person for their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.