Pennsylvania Science and Technology Grants

The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is offered by Chester County to its municipalities and multi-municipal groups. Established in 1996, and revised in 2010 and 2019 to align with Landscapes and then Landscapes2 and Landscapes3, the program aims to improve planning efforts at the local level. This grant program is deeply aligned with Chester County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes3, by promoting consistency and implementation of its goals, objectives, recommendations, and map. The core mission of the VPP is to foster cooperation between local governments and the County to achieve impactful, lasting, and positive benefits through innovative municipal and multi-municipal planning. The VPP targets all Chester County municipalities that have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3, including single municipalities or multi-municipal groups. The program aims to achieve a variety of impact goals, such as advancing consistency with the county comprehensive plan, accomplishing positive benefits for municipalities through innovative planning, and addressing community concerns through new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies. The program prioritizes projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, and also includes "Planning Studies" for projects not adopted under the MPC. The VPP focuses on a broad range of eligible projects. These include comprehensive plans, open space, park, and recreation plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances and amendments (covering topics like agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, and traditional neighborhood development), official maps and ordinances, urban center revitalization plans, resource protection/stewardship plans, environmental and community sustainability/resilience plans, community design guides, village master plans, heritage interpretation plans, historic resource surveys, housing plans/studies, economic development studies, transportation corridor plans/studies, streetscape master plans, multimodal plans/studies, trail feasibility studies, and plans/ordinances that support the transition to renewable or alternative energy, as well as agricultural economic development plans. Expected outcomes of the VPP include the successful adoption of plans or ordinances, for which grants of $50,000 are provided, with an additional $10,000 for each additional municipality involved. For planning studies, the expected outcome is acceptance, with grants of $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. The strategic priorities of Chester County, as evidenced by the VPP, are to support local governments in developing robust planning programs that align with the county's comprehensive vision, ultimately leading to well-planned, sustainable communities. The theory of change is that by providing financial incentives and guidance, municipalities will be empowered to implement the principles of Landscapes3, resulting in tangible community improvements and a coordinated approach to regional development.

The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, powered by Innovation Works and funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is an annual competition designed to foster entrepreneurship with a lasting community impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This initiative creates cross-sector partnerships to tackle pressing community problems, aligning with a broader mission to promote social innovation through investment, grants, and educational assistance. Since its inception in 2015, the UpPrize Challenge has allocated over $3.1 million to local nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and other participants, demonstrating a commitment to empowering community-driven solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this challenge are nonprofits, businesses, and individuals who are based in and whose startup's impact is within one of the following Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland. The program specifically targets those who are 18 years or older and have not received $50,000 or more in previous UpPrize cycles. The core impact goal is to launch or expand startups that leverage technology to address social inequities, thereby creating a meaningful and lasting community impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The program's priorities and focus areas revolve around technology-driven solutions to social inequities. This is evidenced by the prize structure, which offers combined prize monies and accelerator assistance to the top three finalists to facilitate the launch or expansion of such startups. The challenge encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in areas that can demonstrate tangible benefits to the community through the application of new technologies and creative problem-solving. Expected outcomes include the successful launch or expansion of promising startups, leading to measurable improvements in social equity within the targeted counties. The challenge's structure, which awards significant prize money ($125,000 for first place, $100,000 for second, and $75,000 for third), incentivizes the development of impactful solutions. These investments are intended to translate into direct community benefits, fostering a more equitable and innovative environment in Southwestern Pennsylvania through the practical application of entrepreneurial endeavors.

The van Ameringen Foundation focuses on improving mental health services, particularly for those with limited financial means, within New York City and Philadelphia, and through national advocacy. Its mission is to increase accessibility to mental health services, offer preventive and early-intervention strategies, and advocate for systemic change. The foundation offers both general support and project-specific grants, aligning its funding directly with its core mission of fostering a more equitable and effective mental healthcare system for underserved populations. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are individuals and communities confronting significant mental illness, particularly those with limited financial means and opportunities. This includes people needing direct services like case management, counseling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric care, as well as those who benefit from systemic changes in law, public policy, and public perception. The impact goals are to enhance the mental health safety net, improve access to services, and create lasting, positive changes in mental healthcare delivery and perceptions. The foundation's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated into two main categories: Direct Service Grants and Non-Direct Service Grants. Direct Service Grants support programs that provide immediate and tangible assistance to individuals, such as housing, jobs, and various forms of mental health treatment. Non-Direct Service Grants encompass advocacy efforts to change policies, media/dissemination projects to share best practices and research, and training initiatives for mental health providers, advocates, and community members. The foundation explicitly does not fund programs for intellectual or physical disabilities, direct grants to individuals, endowment campaigns, capital projects, annual fundraising drives, or international activities. Expected outcomes include increased accessibility of mental health services, successful implementation of preventive and early-intervention strategies, and significant systemic changes with local or national impact. Measurable results could include the number of individuals served, improvements in patient outcomes, policy changes enacted, increased public awareness, and the number of mental health professionals trained. The foundation encourages innovative and practical proposals that demonstrate a clear path to achieving these outcomes. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on fostering innovation and practical solutions within the mental health sector. Its theory of change posits that by investing in direct services, advocating for policy reforms, disseminating knowledge, and building capacity through training, it can effectively address disparities in mental healthcare access and quality. This multi-pronged approach aims to create both immediate relief for individuals and long-term structural improvements in the mental health landscape, primarily within its specified geographic areas and at a national advocacy level.

This grant provides funding to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to improve aquatic habitats and recreational access in the Tulpehocken and Quittapahilla Creek watersheds in Pennsylvania.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Greater Philadelphia that provide engaging arts education programs for young people aged 5 to 18, fostering creativity and personal growth through partnerships with skilled teaching artists.

The McKean County Community Foundation (MCCF) awards grants through its McKean County Community Development Fund, an unrestricted fund aimed at enhancing the economic and community well-being of McKean County. This initiative aligns directly with the MCCF's mission to support community development, ensuring that vital resources are channeled to areas that will foster significant growth and improvement within the region. The grants are designed to be a catalyst for positive change, focusing on broad community benefit rather than specific individual needs. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit agencies operating within McKean County that are dedicated to community development initiatives. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen the economic and social fabric of the county by funding projects that address critical community needs and foster sustainable growth. While specific target populations within the county are not explicitly detailed, the focus is on initiatives that benefit the community as a whole, thereby elevating the quality of life for all residents. The MCCF prioritizes innovative projects that demonstrate a clear plan for long-term sustainability. The grants are not intended to cover an agency's direct operating expenses but rather to enhance existing programs or support the development of new, impactful initiatives. This strategic focus ensures that funding is used to build capacity and create lasting solutions, rather than simply maintaining the status quo. The foundation's theory of change emphasizes investment in creative solutions that have the potential for enduring community benefit. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of innovative community development projects that contribute to the economic vitality and overall well-being of McKean County. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on innovation and sustainability suggests that successful projects would demonstrate tangible improvements in community indicators relevant to economic and social development. Approximately $10,000 is available this year, with a maximum grant request of $2,000 per applicant, indicating a strategy to support multiple smaller, impactful projects across the county.

This program provides funding and support to small businesses in Pennsylvania that are historically disadvantaged, helping them access capital and improve their participation in public contracts.

This program provides free technical assistance to small Pennsylvania businesses to help them improve their operations and competitiveness by connecting them with expert resources and solutions for specific technical challenges.

The Upper Bucks Community Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the Palisades, Pennridge, and Quakertown School Districts of Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, supporting programs in visual, performing, and industrial arts, agricultural education, conservation of rural life, science, and technology.

This program provides funding for research aimed at improving peach and nectarine production for Pennsylvania growers who cultivate 500 or more trees for sale.

This program provides financial assistance to municipalities in Chester County, Pennsylvania, for improving and developing public parks and recreational trails.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and schools in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods for improving local football fields, ensuring safe and accessible play spaces for community youth.

This fund provides financial support to nonprofit organizations conducting innovative medical research, particularly those based in or around Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

This program provides funding to municipalities and organizations in Berks, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and York Counties for community infrastructure and economic development projects that enhance public welfare.

This program provides $2,000 in funding and consulting services to support creative entrepreneurs in specific Pennsylvania counties, with a focus on BIPOC individuals and those from low-income communities.

This program provides funding and support to young civic innovators in select U.S. cities to develop creative projects that improve public spaces and engage their communities.

This grant provides financial support for Penn State undergraduate students to pursue independent summer projects in various fields, fostering creativity and academic exploration.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia region to improve their arts and culture spaces, focusing on safety, accessibility, and inclusivity for diverse communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities, nonprofits, and public agencies in Bucks County to improve housing, infrastructure, and public services for low- and moderate-income residents.

This grant provides funding to Pennsylvania industrial facilities for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency, supporting both environmental sustainability and economic growth.