CFFC Awards Over $22,000 in Spring 2021 Grants

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $22,000 in Spring 2021 grants to nonprofits that address a variety of causes in Fayette County.

Building a Stronger Fayette General Grantmaking awards support Arts and Culture, Education, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, and other areas of interest. The following nonprofits received grant awards:  Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, Christian Layman Corps., East End United Community Center, German-Masontown Public Library, State Theatre Center for the Arts, Historic Church of St. Peter, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, and Uniontown Public Library.

The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund supports nonprofits that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents. Fayette Emergency Medical Service and Redstone Foundation, on behalf of McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Company, were awarded funding.

The Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund supports projects/programs related to community gardens and/or science/environmental education. Albert Gallatin Human Services/Masontown Senior Center, City Mission- Living Stones, Inc., and Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. were awarded funding.

The Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund supports nonprofits that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens. LaFayette Manor Inc. was awarded funding.

CFFC will also award $5,000 in Emergency Relief Fund grants to local health and human service organizations.

“As a community foundation, CFFC has a unique ability to address multiple categories of community need. We were happy to travel around the county to hand-deliver grant checks to nonprofits for this Spring 2021 grant cycle and hear about their projects and programs that impact Fayette County in a variety of ways,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

Educational Improvement Tax Credit Seminar

Is your business eligible to receive an Educational Improvement
Tax Credit?

Attend this free virtual seminar on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m.
to learn more about the tax savings for PA Corporations and
PA pass through companies (S-Corporations, Partnerships, and LLC’s).

RSVP to rebecca@cffayettepa.org to receive the meeting link.

Topics include:

  • How to apply for this credit
  • How this credit will benefit your business
  • How to use the credit for PA entity level taxes or pass through to their owners
  • Amount of credit range 75% to 100% of the amount contributed
  • The Federal tax benefits to individuals subject of AMT by trading the
    state tax deduction for a charitable contribution

Grant Applications Available for the CFFC’s Emergency Relief Fund

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting grant applications for the Emergency Relief Fund. This fund was created in 2020 to provide grants to nonprofit organizations serving Fayette County, PA that were responding to the immediate needs of the community, due to COVID-19.

“Many nonprofits were in survival mode during the height of the pandemic, and there are still lasting effects and challenges. Thanks to the generosity of the Eberly Foundation, CFFC is offering another round of funding from the Emergency Relief Fund,” said Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

To be eligible to apply, organizations must be classified as a 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), 509(a)(3), or Unit of Government and either be located in Fayette County or provide services to Fayette County residents. Requests for funding must be due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations may request up to $1,000. The application deadline is Monday, May 17, 2021.

Click here to apply!

In addition to the Emergency Relief Fund, the foundation also launched the CFFC Mask Initiative in 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide disposable masks for organizations serving local communities. Organizations can submit masks requests online.

EQT Foundation Donates to CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) received a $15,000 gift from the EQT Foundation for the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. This endowment was created in 2020 to support CFFC’s general grantmaking program.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment is an important part of the CFFC’s annual competitive grantmaking, accepting grant requests from nonprofits for the following funding priorities: arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services.

Left to right:  Renee Couser – CFFC Executive Director; Joy G. Huston – CFFC Grantmaking Committee Chair; Ellen Rossi – EQT Foundation President

The EQT Foundation’s generous donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will have a direct impact on local nonprofits and, in turn, the Fayette County residents they serve. Established in 2003, the EQT Foundation is a dedicated resource for financial, in-kind, and volunteer support for communities touched by EQT’s business. They prioritize the following categories for their funding: community enrichment; education and workforce; environment.

“We value meaningful engagement with the communities where EQT operates. Fayette County is one of those important communities, so the EQT Foundation is happy to support the CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will help Fayette County in a variety of ways for years to come. “This endowment was created to support our nonprofit community in perpetuity, and will award grants each year. The promise of lasting impact, and the CFFC’s ability to support a variety of causes, makes this a unique opportunity to continue ‘building a stronger Fayette’,” said Renee Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.

The entire community can help ‘build a stronger Fayette’ by making a donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. Checks can be made payable to CFFC and mailed to 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, PA  15401. Please write BASF on the memo line. Online donations can also be made at www.cffayettepa.org. If you have any questions on how CFFC can assist you with your charitable giving, please call 724-437-8000 x1.

Meet the Grantmakers on March 31

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), in collaboration with Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania (GWPA), is presenting “Meet the Grantmakers” on Wednesday, March 31 from 11:00 a.m. to noon via Zoom. This panel discussion will feature foundation leaders with a demonstrated interest in funding Fayette County.
 
  • Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
    • Jim Denova, Vice President
  • EQT Corporation
    • Ellen Rossi, President EQT Foundation
  • The PNC Charitable Trusts
    • Emily Lewis, Officer and Project Manager
  • Staunton Farm Foundation
    • Joni S. Schwager, Executive Director
 
Attend this program to hear their reflections on their organizations’ funding priorities, guidelines, decision-making processes and how they go about partnering with nonprofits.
 
This event is free and open to any nonprofit organization. Register online here.

Fayette Gives 2021 Registration Now Open!

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is hosting the second Fayette Gives on November 16, 2021 and registration is now open for Fayette County charities. Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that engages the community in philanthropy and helps build a stronger Fayette by supporting local charities. Register now at www.fayettegives.org until September 1, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Each charity that registers and is approved to participate in Fayette Gives will be notified and listed at www.fayettegives.org. Please note that charities must register annually. On November 16, 2021 online donations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Check donations will also be accepted with a Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form after registration closes. Each donation received at the CFFC office by 8 p.m. on November 16 will be enhanced by the bonus pool. Charities can learn more by reviewing the FAQs at www.fayettegives.org or by contacting Rebecca Wardle at 724-437-8600 x203.

During the first-ever Fayette Gives in 2020, the CFFC distributed a total of $292,423 to participating charities, and it served as a safe fundraising opportunity amid the pandemic. The public donated $233,746 to 42 participating charities and the bonus pool contributed an extra $57,000, thanks to generous sponsors.

The CFFC is thrilled to thank Mike Kelly Toyota as a Community Sponsor for the second year in a row. Those interested in sponsorship can download the form on the Fayette Gives website or contact Renee Couser at 724-437-8600 x1. The CFFC invites everyone to help build a stronger Fayette through Fayette Gives 2021.

#FayetteGives