Emergency Assistance to Nonprofit Organizations in Pennsylvania

The Erie Community Foundation’s Urgent Grant program is designed to offer emergency financial support to nonprofit organizations located in Erie County that are facing unexpected crises. The program’s main objective is to address unforeseen, unbudgeted situations that disrupt ongoing operations or significantly hinder the delivery of services or programming. It provides a rapid-response funding mechanism to ensure that vital nonprofit work can continue during periods of critical need. Nonprofits applying for this grant can request up to $15,000 in funding. It is important to note that awarded funds must be fully expended within 30 days of receipt. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the grant program will remain open as long as there are available funds. The program is structured to respond to immediate and urgent needs, which means that situations that can wait for consideration under the Foundation’s regular Helping Today grant cycle are not eligible. To qualify for an Urgent Grant, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. The applicant must be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service, or operate under a fiscal sponsorship arrangement as outlined by the Foundation. The organization must be located in or serve a significant population within Erie County. Additionally, organizations that have received an Urgent Grant in the past twelve months or those that have not fulfilled the reporting requirements of a previous Urgent Grant are not eligible. Ineligible applicants include individuals, for-profit businesses, and projects related to budget shortfalls, gap funding, deferred maintenance, or physical improvements to property not owned by the nonprofit. The application process is not open to the general public and is by invitation only. Interested applicants must first review the eligibility criteria to ensure they qualify. They are then required to email a brief description of their urgent situation to Rachel Cacchione for initial review. If the situation meets the criteria, the applicant will receive a private access link to the application through the GoApply platform. Supporting documents such as quotes, bids, or estimates for equipment purchases or contracted services should be included with the submission. Applications are typically reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, with funding decisions made within a few weeks. Applicants are encouraged to provide clear, concise information about their urgent situation in the initial email. If the situation qualifies, they will proceed to the application phase, which requires them to detail the urgency and expected use of funds. The evaluation process centers on the urgency and impact of the request, specifically its ability to address a situation that would otherwise disrupt services or programming. The Foundation provides a GoApply User Guide to assist applicants with registration and submission. For additional information or to initiate the application process, organizations should contact Rachel Cacchione of the Community Impact Team by email. The Erie Community Foundation is located at 459 West 6th Street, Erie, PA 16507, and can be reached by phone at 814-454-0843. The grant opportunity remains open on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted; therefore, applicants are encouraged to act promptly if they encounter a qualifying urgent need.

Submit applications as soon as possible and ensure all required supporting documents are included.