Community foundations offer incredible value as a community leader, connector, and changemaker, ensuring charitable gifts are used effectively to meet the community's most critical needs. Community Giving Foundation represents so many communities in our 5 1/2 county footprint with both unique needs and regional opportunities. The Foundation maintains a deep understanding of local needs through strong relationships with nonprofit and community partners and by monitoring local needs assessment for ever-changing conditions and community goals. This data-driven community lens helps us collectively create a greater impact—today, tomorrow, and forever—connecting the needs of our region with the passions and charitable goals of donors to maximize community impact.
Foundation Impact Snapshot
The new July edition of our Impact Snapshot highlights data from our 2026 competitive grant round (Community Giving Foundation: Berwick, Bloomsburg, Danville, Selinsgrove, and Sunbury; C.K. Battram Fund; and Youth in Philanthropy) by Foundation impact area and regional top needs. The chart at right shows the breakdown of 2026 competitive grants by Foundation impact area (as of June 30, 2026):
- Basic Needs: $317,870 (23%)
- Community & Economic Development: $84,142 (6%)
- Culture & Community Interests: $106,545 (8%)
- Health & Wellness: $613,083 (44%)
- Youth & Education: $265,778 (19%)
If stories are more your speed, check out our archive of Foundation stories.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS BY IMPACT AREA
Identifying Regional Needs
Led by our Impact Coordinator, the Foundation has compiled local needs assessments and data to identify top community needs to inform our work and maximize grant impact. Note: The following needs are not listed by priority ranking.
TOP 10 REGIONAL NEEDS
Access to Healthcare • Affordable Housing • Childcare • Food Insecurity • Health Literacy and Advocacy • Living Wage Jobs • Mental Health Services • Social Cohesion and Connection • Substance Abuse Treatment & Services • Transportation
TOP 3 NEEDS BY COUNTY
- Columbia County: Affordable Housing • Living Wage Jobs • Transportation
- Montour County: Affordable Housing • Childcare • Mental Health Services
- Northumberland County: Affordable Housing • Living Wage Jobs • Transportation
- Snyder County: Affordable Housing • Aging Population • Transportation
- Union County: Affordable Housing • Mental Health Services • Transportation
Community Needs Assessments
The Foundation continues to monitor community needs assessments and data shared by our partners doing on-the-ground work across the region. The following resources were compiled in 2024/25.
- Current•ly Along the Susquehanna: Monitoring Community Vitality in Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder & Union Counties (website) (full report)
- Youth in Philanthropy: Youth-Led Community Needs Assessment Priority Areas (25/26 report) (24/25 report)
- Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc.: 2025-2027 Community Needs Assessment (website) (full report)
- Union-Snyder Community Action Agency: 2024 Community Needs Assessment (website) (full report)
- Evangelical Community Hospital: 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (website) (full report)
- Geisinger: 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (website) (full report)
- Central PA Food Bank: SUN County Community Hunger Mapping (website)
- Columbia County Human Service Coalition: 2006 Needs Assessment (full report)
Want to Learn More?
- DONORS: Contact Alyssa Meyers-Sanonu to discover ways to turn your passions and interests into a community giving legacy, meeting local needs and maximizing impact.
- NONPROFITS: Contact Katie Simpson to learn more about sharing community needs with the Foundation.