Jul 17, 2023 2 min read

The Washington County Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $225,000 in capacity-building grants to 13 organizations. Capacity-building is defined as any activity that increases the nonprofit’s operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity. The grants, which were issued from a variety of component funds and ranged from $5,000 to $60,000, supported equipment purchases, program expansions, communications, financial process improvements, data management, and technology.

Equipment grants were issued to three charities. LeMoyne Community Center received $60,000 to purchase a new van to transport children participating in its Homework and More after-school program and Camp Challenge summer program. Always B Smiling received $15,000 to purchase an adaptive bike that will help to serve more children and families with special needs and health challenges. Peters Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 received $5,000 to purchase specialized equipment that will improve its wildland firefighting capabilities.

Two program expansion grants were awarded. Bentworth School District received a grant of $35,000 to create a makerspace/STEM lab for Bentworth High School, ensuring students will have access to new learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. Cornerstone Care received a grant of $35,000 for a mobile dental unit that will provide improved health care access to underserved and rural populations, specifically youth ages 1 to 17 in need of preventative care.

Communication grants of $10,000 each were issued to three charities: Harmony Life Center, Mon Valley Youth & Teen Association and Transitional Employment Consultants. Each one will use its award to develop a new website.

A financial process improvement grant of $10,000 was awarded to Clean and Tidy Our County to purchase accounting software and related equipment.

A data management grant of $15,000 was awarded to Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation to hire a part-time director to lead its data management and digitalization project.

Three technology grants were awarded. Church of the Covenant received an award of $10,000 for computers and printers for its preschool program. World Series Tournaments received $5,000 to upgrade the Wi-Fi capabilities at Lew Hayes PONY Field. United Way of Washington County received $5,000 for laptops, phones, and customer relationship management software.

Nonprofit organizations that would like to be considered for a capacity-building grant, and who did not receive a capacity-building grant in 2022 or 2023, may submit a preliminary request via the foundation’s grant-management portal. Requests will be accepted from Aug. 1 through Oct. 1, and may range from $5,000 to $50,000. Additional information is available in the “For Grant Seekers” section of www.wccf.net.