by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 16, 2021 | CFFC News, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) recently received re-accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.
Since its founding in 1999, CFFC has been committed to serving Fayette County with the mission to “help define charitable needs, connect donors with causes that matter to them, support nonprofit organizations and invest charitable assets to make the community a better place to live.” CFFC first received accreditation in 2009 and has worked hard to receive re-accreditation to maintain recognition as an operationally and legally sound community foundation.
“CFFC’s re-accreditation distinguishes us as credible and trustworthy, which are valuable traits for our relationships with donors and professional advisors. These standards also hold us accountable for maintaining best practices, which will help us best serve the community for years to come,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
National Standards is not mandatory, but the foundation chooses to go above and beyond by affirming its commitment to excellence and accountability. Accreditation provides assurance that CFFC has sound policies and practices in place, and it means that CFFC meets the highest standards for local giving.
Please visit www.cffayettepa.org and follow CFFC on social media at @cffayettepa to learn more about CFFC.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 11, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) recently awarded seven charities a total of $41,400.
In 2020, the Strawberry Patch Fund was created through an estate gift. This Donor Designated Fund will support the following charities in perpetuity: Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Fayette Friends of Animals; Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Mount Macrina Manor; St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; and Uniontown Public Library.
“Making a legacy gift to CFFC reflects a donor’s ongoing commitment to the charities and causes they care about the most. We are honored to carry out the wishes of donors in this way,” said Renee M. Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.
Left to right: Carol Ashton, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Andrea Hibbs, Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Lisa Hannum, Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Christine Roskovensky, St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; Lori Coffman, Fayette Friends of Animals; Linda Evans, Uniontown Public Library; not pictured Mount Macrina Manor.
Andrea Hibbs, Executive Director of Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County, said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this donor and grateful for this annual award. Crime Victims’ Center is using some of the funds to support our 24-hour crisis hotline service, and we also plan to provide additional outreach for our underserved/unserved areas of Fayette County with this funding.”
Lori Coffman, Board President of Fayette Friends of Animals, said, “Fayette Friends of Animals is eternally grateful for every donation we receive since our operational expenses are paid for in large part by donations from animal lovers within our community. Gifts like the annual grant from the Strawberry Patch Fund will be hugely beneficial with the upkeep of our aging building.”
Contact Renee Couser at 724-437-8600 x1 to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact through philanthropy.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 3, 2021 | CFFC News
The Covid-19 Arts Working Group (CAWG), a collaboration of 15 foundations and a private donor in the Pittsburgh metro area, announced the Arts I Equity I Reimagined Fund, in response to the unprecedented and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region’s arts and cultural sector.
The Capacity Building Assistance program is designed to quickly respond to requests to gain the skills or concrete strategies needed to address COVID 19 related challenges. Open to nonprofit arts organizations or sponsored projects at $2.5 million or less in budget.
The Collective Action for Reimagining program seeks ideas that employ new, novel, and innovative ways of working together to address the dramatic shifts that have been instigated by the COVID 19 crisis, and that also address opportunities and solutions to reposition the sector for a more sustainable and equitable future. Open to any size nonprofit arts organization or project.
Details about the Arts I Equity I Reimagined Fund can be found at www.artsreimagined.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 29, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting applications for the fall grant cycle. All grant applications have a deadline of September 30, 2021. Please visit the “Grants” tab at www.cffayettepa.org to learn more and apply.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awards funding to schools for reusable items that will enhance the classrooms. Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
The Idea Fund makes awards to enhance traditional classroom learning in any subject, to show creativity in teaching, and to expand the horizons of the students. Teachers at St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Laurel Highlands School District, and Albert Gallatin School District are eligible to apply.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund aims to enhance STEM teaching and learning at Uniontown Area High School. Requests will be accepted for support of teacher or student activities or for the purchase of classroom materials.
Additionally, CFFC is accepting Letters of Inquiry for Innovative Educational Programs on a rolling basis.
Thank you to the generous donors who make these CFFC funding opportunities possible. Learn more and apply on the “Grants” tab at www.cffayettepa.org, and call 724-437-8600 x203 with any questions.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 28, 2021 | CFFC News, Fayette Gives, Workshops
Register for the Fayette Gives 2021 Kickoff Webinar for Charities on July 12, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to learn what Fayette Gives is, how it works, and how your charity can take advantage of this opportunity. CFFC is hosting this webinar for charities that are registered, or interested in registering, for Fayette Gives 2021.
Webinar Agenda:
Introduction & Background
Fayette Gives Website Overview
Donation Methods
Bonus Pool Incentive
5 Steps to Success (from Tungsten Creative Group)
Marketing Fayette Gives
Questions & Closing
Fayette Gives is a community-wide “day of giving” that supports local charities in an effort to build a stronger Fayette County. This year, it will take place on November 16, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.
Register for the webinar here!