The Community Giving Foundation's service area includes a 5 1/2 county footprint. Each year, the Foundation works with affiliate boards and advisory committees to implement competitive grant rounds for the region.
The Foundation partners with five affiliate foundations–Berwick, Bloomsburg, Danville, Selinsgrove, and Sunbury–who benefit from the administrative support, guidance, and expertise provided by the regional Foundation. A board of directors composed of local leaders oversee each affiliate and are responsible for educating the community about personalized giving while making grant allocations based on community needs and affiliate priorities.
Each year, the Foundation works with these boards and other advisory committees to implement competitive grant rounds. Qualifying nonprofit organizations are invited to apply through an online application process in January/February. In the spring, grant committees evaluate applications based on current needs, funding priorities, and potential community impact opportunities. This competitive grant process supports organizations invested in a number of program areas, including arts/culture, education, health/human services, and youth/recreation.
In 2024, nearly $800,000 was awarded through competitive grant rounds.
I had the opportunity to serve on the grant committee this year and was impressed by the depth of knowledge Foundation staff brought to the table. With their assistance, our committee was able to make effective decisions to maximize the impact of our giving while targeting areas of true need in the community.