Education / Economic Development Grants

To encourage human development in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania through strategically placed charitable resources. Guiding Principles The following principles guide the Foundation’s grants programs in those regions: We honor Michael and Sarah Benedum’s belief in “helping people help themselves,” and we seek opportunities to cultivate the creativity of people and communities. We nurture leadership within the communities we serve, and we participate in leadership when it adds value. We encourage planning, projects and programs that cross geographical and political boundaries so that access to services and economic growth is maximized. We expect collaboration among the public, private and nonprofit sectors in order to leverage the resources that each can bring to common concerns. We strive to advance innovative practices that demonstrate measurable and sustainable benefit. We seek projects that contribute to advancement in public policy.