Altoona Curve Charities Grant

Altoona Curve Charities, a nonprofit arm of the Altoona Curve baseball team, offers grant opportunities to support youth-oriented nonprofit organizations across specific counties in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland. The organization’s philanthropic focus lies in promoting youth development through programs that emphasize physical activity, health, exercise, and education. Their grants are designed to either provide direct financial assistance or facilitate in-kind support through facility renovations, implemented by their own staff and groundskeeping team. This blended approach allows the funder to tailor its support based on the individual needs of eligible applicants, expanding the potential impact of its contributions beyond monetary aid alone. Eligible applicants for Altoona Curve Charities grants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that can furnish a federal tax-exempt letter. Notably, the program emphasizes that not all tax-exempt organizations automatically qualify—explicit federal 501(c)(3) designation is essential. Furthermore, geographic eligibility is tightly defined: only organizations operating within Blair, Cambria, Centre, Bedford, Somerset, Huntingdon, Indiana, Clearfield, Fulton, Clarion, Jefferson, Elk, Westmoreland, and Armstrong counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Allegany County in Maryland, may apply. The program is clearly targeted at addressing local youth needs, as evidenced by this precise geographic limitation. The grant permits funding requests up to a maximum of $5,000 per project. However, the scope of allowable expenditures excludes a range of categories, including general operational costs, salaries, debt servicing, fundraising event expenses, routine maintenance, personal scholarships, or land and parking lot acquisitions. The focus instead is on tangible, project-based investments that offer sustainable benefits to youth, whether through infrastructure improvements or direct program delivery. The application must be submitted in PDF format and should include a comprehensive project description, budget details, other sources of committed funding, expected youth reach, the percentage of economically disadvantaged and disabled youth served, a proposed timeline, and an explanation of the project's potential impact absent the grant. Organizations are also encouraged to demonstrate alignment with Altoona Curve Charities’ mission and are welcome to submit visually compelling proposals to strengthen their applications. All awardees must be amenable to a site visit and must submit a final grant report confirming completion and demonstrating sustainability of renovations or programs funded. The application cycle for 2025 has already closed, with the next opportunity opening in October 2026. Applicants are required to submit materials through an online form or via email to Tony at [email protected]. It is critical to note that handwritten submissions will not be accepted, and the online application form does not support auto-save, so applicants must be prepared to complete their applications in one sitting. All submitted applications will receive a response within three months of the application deadline, but the program acknowledges that demand may exceed available funding. Overall, the Altoona Curve Charities grant program presents a well-defined, targeted funding opportunity for community-focused nonprofits that serve local youth populations. The application process is structured to ensure alignment with the organization’s values and impact goals, prioritizing measurable, sustainable improvements in the lives of children and adolescents in the eligible counties.