First Financial Foundation Grants

The First Financial Foundation, established in 2017, aims to enhance local communities through targeted grants. With a focus on neighborhood development, workforce education, and cultural initiatives, the foundation supports organizations creating affordable housing, enhancing financial literacy, and promoting the arts. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving specific counties and must align with the foundation's mission. The foundation seeks to foster community growth and diversity while ensuring impactful contributions.

The First Financial Foundation was created in 2017 to support programs and organizations that enhance and develop the communities in which we do business. As your local bank, we’re your neighbors, and we want to partner with the communities we serve to help them grow and prosper.
Funding Priorities
To ensure the Foundation’s contributions have a significant and measurable impact, we’ve established three priorities. The Board of Directors carefully evaluates grant requests using these priorities and will continuously evaluate the impact of its contributions in alignment with its goals.
Neighborhood Development
The Foundation supports organizations focused on community and neighborhood development, particularly ones that:

• Create affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income individuals
• Enhance the areas in which those opportunities are created
• Provide support services to help individuals maintain their homes

We support organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight, and attract and retain businesses and residents. Examples that meet this priority include:

• Affordable housing initiatives, particularly those focused on vulnerable populations
• Homebuyer education programs
• Foreclosure prevention programs
• Neighborhood revitalization projects
• Programs that increase homeownership opportunities
• Workforce Development and Education

The Foundation supports organizations that develop and implement programs to enhance financial literacy, with an emphasis on educating youth, first-time home-buyers, economically disadvantaged persons, and others who have struggled with financial concepts. We favor projects focused on improving the public’s ability to achieve personal and household financial well-being. We also support organizations that advocate for diversity and inclusion, including those that foster an understanding of it as a dynamic strategy for success.
Examples of organizations that meet this priority include:

• Organizations that build skills in savings, budgeting, and expense management
• Educational programs regarding credit score improvement
• Connect individuals with the necessary tools to achieve financial goals or provide job skills training and education
• Improve education or provide training for individuals or support a diverse and inclusive society
• Provide forums and resources for other organizations to become more inclusive
• Culture and the Arts

First Financial Foundation supports community arts and cultural programs that provide economic opportunity and contribute to the vitality and livability of communities. We invest in arts and cultural organizations that deliver quality, accessible and engaging programs, as well as increasing the diversity of voices reflected in the community.
Examples of organizations that meet this priority include:

• Organizations that promote the arts, including music, theatre, and more, through education

Support for the development of current and future artists, performing arts, music, dance, visual arts programs, local art events, arts education, and graphic arts programming
Promote cultural arts programs for the economic development of communities through arts and cultural industries

Eligibility

Applicants must be a not-for-profit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service.Applicants must be located in or serving residents of a county located with First Financial Bank’s assessment areas.Applicants must be in good standing with First Financial Bank and any grant reporting requirements of the Bank and the Foundation.

Ineligibility

Organizations without 501(c)(3) status.Organizations/programs that are not aligned with the Foundation’s mission.Organizations that are located or benefit residents outside First Financial Bank’s assessment areas.Organizations that discriminate or deny service on the basis of race, gender, culture, sexual orientation/identity, religion, age, disability or any other factors that are protected by law.Private foundations.Requests for political of religious purposes, including lobbying.Military organizations.Service club activities.Sports, athletic events or athletic programs.Requests to benefit a specific student or individual (such as trips, banks, choirs, tours and internships).Endowments, capital or building campaigns.Funding of travel and related expenses for any organization.Sponsorships, fundraisers, telethons, marathons, benefits, galas, golf tournaments or similar events.Feasibility studies.Animal welfare organizations.