Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation Grant

The Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation (GHCF), operating under The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), offers the GHCF UPstream grant program as a means of addressing systemic community issues through proactive, upstream interventions. TFEC is a community foundation committed to improving the quality of life in Central Pennsylvania by managing charitable funds and offering grantmaking services. GHCF UPstream is one of its strategic initiatives to empower local nonprofits to solve challenges at their roots, rather than merely managing symptoms. This grant supports organizations that propose new or existing programs, interventions, or systems aimed at creating positive, long-term social change. The emphasis is on "upstream" solutions—those that address problems before they manifest as larger societal issues. The funder encourages applications from organizations of all sizes and stages, including single nonprofits and collaborative projects. Eligible proposals must focus on work within the GHCF service area, specifically the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County. Projects considered for GHCF UPstream funding should tackle root causes of systemic issues in creative and strategic ways. Example projects include early childhood education, access to health and dental care, job training, life skills education, mental health counseling, early health screenings, animal spay/neuter clinics, and other community-based support initiatives. Special attention will be given to projects that align with TFEC’s thematic funds, which focus on Education, Environment and Parks, Health and Wellness, Homelessness and Hunger, Mental Health, and Seniors. Additionally, certain projects that serve Millersburg, Lebanon City, Cressona, or Camp Hill Borough may qualify for enhanced consideration under special local funds. The maximum grant award per applicant is $10,000. There is no stated award floor or total program funding, and the number of awards will depend on applicant volume and funding requests. Applicants may not seek funding for capital campaigns, lobbying, retroactive projects, religious activities, or general advertising without specific explanation. Projects adding new staff positions must include a sustainability plan. The GHCF Advisory Committee will evaluate proposals based on a 50-point scale assessing alignment with GHCF’s mission, clarity of proposal, funding diversification, success measurement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The 2025 grant cycle opens on June 1 and closes on September 1. All applications must be submitted online through TFEC’s platform. Applicants will be notified by December 1, and selected projects must take place within the grant year, which runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026. Draft reviews are available upon request up to two weeks before the deadline. For questions or support, applicants may contact the Community Investment Team at grants@tfec.org or call 717-236-5040. Specific contacts include Yamit Friedman (yfriedman@tfec.org) and Teresa Gonzalez (tgonzalez@tfec.org). TFEC also encourages applicants to review their application tutorial and FAQ resources before applying.

Draft reviews available up to 2 weeks before deadline by contacting grants@tfec.org