Please Live Fund

The Please Live Fund is administered by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), a community foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. TFEC supports a broad range of charitable and nonprofit initiatives in Central Pennsylvania. With a mission rooted in community betterment and philanthropy, the Foundation facilitates funding programs that aim to improve the lives of residents in its service area. The Please Live Fund, one of its key mental health-focused initiatives, represents a call to action for ending suicide through early intervention and education. Established with the vision of reducing suicide rates and promoting mental wellness, the Please Live Fund seeks to support nonprofit organizations that deliver mental health education and suicide prevention programming. The fund particularly prioritizes projects that benefit K-12 students and college-aged youth in Pennsylvania. It emphasizes the importance of youth engagement, encouraging applicants to include student leaders as active participants in project planning and execution. The overarching goal is to support programs that teach mental health awareness and offer early support before a crisis escalates. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations operating within the Pennsylvania counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County. Applicants must either be registered as 501(c)(3) organizations or have a qualifying fiscal sponsor. Projects should directly serve the listed regions, and all activities must occur within the grant year from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Any project outside these dates or retroactive efforts will not be eligible for funding. The maximum grant award available through the Please Live Fund is $10,000. Applications open on June 1, 2025, and close on September 1, 2025. All applications must be submitted online. Applicants will be notified of award status by December 1, 2025. TFEC also offers applicants the opportunity to request a draft review of their proposals, which must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the final deadline. To request a review, applicants can contact the Community Investment Team via email at grants@tfec.org. The selection process is overseen by the Please Live Committee, a group of individuals committed to community mental health. Proposals are evaluated based on a 50-point scale that includes mission alignment (20 points), clarity of roles and partnerships (5 points), diversified funding (5 points), measurable success and outcomes (10 points), and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (10 points). Applications that are student-led or break down access barriers for parents and other stakeholders are given special consideration. Contact details for inquiries or assistance include the Community Investment Team at grants@tfec.org or 717-236-5040. Key staff contacts include Yamit Friedman (yfriedman@tfec.org) and Teresa Gonzalez (tgonzalez@tfec.org). The Foundation’s main office is located at 200 N. 3rd Street, 8th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. TFEC emphasizes openness to questions at any stage of the grant process and encourages early engagement with potential applicants.

Applicants may request a draft review of their proposal up to two weeks before the deadline. TFEC encourages early engagement and provides tutorials to assist applicants.