Jul 26, 2018 3 min read

Washington County Community Foundation has awarded $500,000 in grants to 20 local charities as part of its new capacity building grants initiative of the Community CARE Fund (CCF). This total represents the largest amount awarded during any competitive grant cycle of the foundation.

The objective of the CCF capacity building grants initiative is to help strengthen the infrastructure, management and governance of local charities so that they may more effectively fulfill their charitable missions.

Of the total awarded, the majority of the money was provided for either technology and software, or program expansion. The largest grant for technology and software was $35,000 awarded to the Washington Area Humane Society to upgrade computer equipment, to purchase a specialized software package for humane societies and to purchase other software for marketing and donor development.

Charities receiving technology or software grants include $15,000 to the Brownson House, $15,000 to David Bradford House, $30,000 to Donora Public Library, $30,000 to Greater Washington County Food Bank, $10,000 to Leadership Washington County, $5,000 to Main Street Farmers Market, $5,000 to Olivia Scott Foundation and $15,000 to Washington Communities Human Services.

The Washington-Greene County Blind Association and the Washington Jazz Society received $50,000 program expansion grants. The Blind Association will use its grant to implement the Pre-Employment Training Services program for adolescents with visual impairment; and the Jazz Society will use its grant to implement a music education program for economically-disadvantaged youth and to initiate an instrument recycling program. In addition to providing valuable programs to disadvantaged youth in Washington County, the Blind Association grant will enable the organization to generate a new revenue stream while the Jazz Society grant will leverage grants from other funding institutions.

Two other organizations received program expansion grants – Dress for Success, which will use its $35,000 grant to purchase a mobile unit dedicated to Washington County, and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, which will use its $25,000 grant to design and create interactive exhibits.

Five charities received planning grants to develop strategic plans, development plans, marketing plans and more. The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Washington County Historical Society and the Washington County Library System each received $25,000. The David Bradford House and Genesis each received $10,000.

The largest staffing grant of $50,000 was awarded to the Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Donora Public Library, Main Street Farmers Market and Resurrection Power each received $5,000 for staffing.

Two organizations received $10,000 grants for auditing and financial reporting – the National Duncan Glass Society and Resurrection Power.

“We are grateful to be in a position to provide $500,000 in capacity building grants through our Com-munity CARE Fund. When reviewing the applications we considered where each charity was in its own development, and selected those charities who made the most compelling cases regarding increased capacity,” said Betsie Trew, WCCF president and CEO. “We are hopeful that these grants will enable the charities to reach the next level in their organization’s operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity.”

Serving as a grant-maker, fundraiser, community leader, and donor service organization, WCCF promotes and facilitates local philanthropy and is the largest publicly supported grant-making foundation headquartered in Washington County.

For more information, visit www.wccf.net.