Greater Susquehanna Valley Competitive Grant Cycle

The Greater Susquehanna Valley Competitive Grant Cycle, led by the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union Counties. The initiative emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to address systemic issues like racism through community engagement. With a commitment to sustainable development and innovative solutions, the grant encourages collaborations that enhance social impact while fostering a commitment to DEI strategies in organizations.

About FCFP
Whether through a modest donation or a substantial endowment, we help donors grow their contributions and reinvest the gains back into our region.
Our partnerships are as diverse as the public we serve. We oversee projects ranging from small, donor-directed funds to Raise the Region, our area’s largest and most celebrated charitable event. And the initiatives we sustain support causes from scholarships and fine arts to healthcare and food security.
We’re determined to broaden our reach and deepen our impact in the counties we serve.
FCFP is using its leadership platform to address critical issues impacting the quality of life for all members of the community it serves. FCFP’s values include visionary leadership, which is further defined by creative, resourceful thinking that leads a community through action to achieve a common goal.
In June of 2020, the FCFP Board of Directors endorsed the staff’s selection of “Systemic Racism” as the critical issue to be addressed in the inaugural “First Focus Project”. The First Focus Project will serve as FCFP’s leadership platform to bring diverse groups together across the region through education and conversation with a goal of creating a collective community response to a critical issue.
FCFP values organizations that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their staff, board, program partners/service providers, and constituencies. We are seeking an understating of potential grantees’ capacity and hopes to effectively navigate DEI issues.

Eligibility

The Greater Susquehanna Valley Competitive Grant Cycle considers requests from qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the residents of Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and/or Union County, with missions relating to art & culture, education, health & human services, youth, environment, and economic development.Nonprofit organizations that are qualified to receive tax-exempt contributions as defined by the IRS – in the vast majority of cases, applicants will be 501(c)(3) organizations, or a unit of local government as described in Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status may work through another qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is willing to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor.General Criteria for Reviewing RequestsImpact a broad range and diverse group of people.Address community needs and/or opportunities in innovative and creative ways
Result in attainable and measurable goals.Illustrate financial strength to ensure long-term self-sustainability, especially when seeking start-up or seed funding.Show collaboration with other nonprofits without duplicating efforts
Leverage or generate other funding sources and/or propose use of grant to attract matching funds.FCFP values organizations that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their staff, board, program partners/service providers, and constituencies. We are seeking an understanding of potential grantees’ capacity and hopes to effectively navigate DEI issues.

Ineligibility

Limitations:General operating expenses such as salaries for current staff positions, rent, utilities, insurance
Salaries for new staff may be considered
Costs that were or will be incurred prior to the anticipated grant approval date
Indirect costs: costs not directly related to carrying out the funded project
Re-granting, on a case-by-case basis
Religious organizations may only apply through a partnering secular qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
School Districts and School District Foundations
School Districts may apply if collaborating with one or more other Districts
Political advocacy that supports or promotes the interests of any one political party or candidateLoans, scholarships, fellowships, honorary awards
Requests from individuals
Organizations with outstanding or overdue final reports from previous grants cannot apply