Fund for the Future

The Elk County Community Foundation administers a competitive open grants program through its Fund for the Future and the Elk County Development Fund. These grant programs are supported by the generosity of individuals, families, and organizations who have created funds with the intent of making a positive impact in their communities. The Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the region through donor-driven development, stewardship, and grantmaking that aligns with local philanthropic goals. The purpose of the open competitive grants is to support nonprofit initiatives that benefit the Elk County region. The combined funds—Fund for the Future and Elk County Development Fund—are intended to be awarded together with similar eligibility and application criteria. These grants prioritize flexibility and responsiveness to community needs while encouraging thoughtful project planning by applicants. Funding is intended for community-serving projects, though the specific types of eligible projects are not delineated on the source page. The typical award amount ranges from $2,000 to $3,000, though awards have reached as high as $10,000. There is no specified total program funding or number of awards to be distributed per cycle. The Foundation does not state any matching fund requirement for applicants. Applications must be submitted using the Elk County Development Fund application form, which serves both funds. Applicants cannot apply separately to each fund—only one unified application process is used. To begin the application process, prospective applicants are required to contact the Foundation by phone or email before completing the application. This preliminary conversation helps determine the best alignment between applicant projects and available funding opportunities. Once a project is deemed suitable, the applicant proceeds with a formal submission using both electronic and paper formats. Guidelines and application instructions are accessible online via the Foundation’s website. The grant operates on a biannual cycle with submission deadlines on January 15 and July 15. Following each deadline, the review process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. The program is recurring but not rolling, meaning submissions are accepted only during specific windows. There are no pre-application deadlines or separate Letter of Inquiry processes mentioned. If a deadline is missed, applicants may wait until the next upcoming cycle. The Foundation encourages early engagement to allow sufficient time for preparation. Eligibility for the grants is generally geared toward nonprofits, although detailed eligibility categories are not explicitly listed in the source. As such, the eligibility criteria must be verified by contacting the Foundation directly. Contact details for the Foundation include phone number (814) 834-2125 and email address eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org. The Foundation office is located at 32 South Saint Marys Street, Suite 4, PO Box 934, Saint Marys, PA 15857.

Applicants are advised to contact the Foundation before beginning the application process.