Capacity and Community Development

Program

Capacity and Community Development

Purpose

To help develop communities’ abilities to better steward their use of existing resources, and to elevate their level of operational, programmatic, and financial sustainability, the Foundation seeks to empower organizations with skills and resources to effect positive change within their communities via recreational and educational opportunities.

Such projects facilitate a process in which community members take collective action to generate solutions to common problems, involving civic leaders, activists, engaged citizens, and professionals, to improve and build a more resilient neighborhood or local community. They may take the form of education or technical assistance on fundraising, grant writing, Board training, leadership development, community engagement, visioning, resource management, planning, etc.

Under-resourced Communities

Applicants whose projects benefit under-resourced communities receive a scoring bonus. As defined for this purpose by the Foundation, an under-resourced community is one that lacks access to specialized professional, financial or institutional expertise and communal knowledge; or is functioning with neglected or outdated infrastructures and absent or limited assets and resources, which in turn diminishes its cyclical capacity, competitiveness, funding and livability. 

Eligible Organizations

Political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (municipalities, commissions, authorities, etc.), and legally recognized nonprofit entities are eligible to receive grants from the Foundation. 

Those who are PRPS members may apply for free. Nonmembers may be charged a nonrefundable fee at the time of application. 

The Foundation does not provide grants to individuals.

Funding

Up to $25,000

Match

Match not required