78:I[245983,["$2","$3","$1a","$1b","$1c","$1d","$1e","$1f","$9","$20","$21","$22","$23","$a","$24","$25","$26","$27","$28","$29","$49","$4a","$4b","$4c","$4d","$4e","$4f","$50","$51","$52","$53","$54"],"default"] 79:T412,Acorn Grants, offered by Erie Community Foundation as part of its Community Impact Grant Programs, support organizational development for emerging nonprofits. The program helps these organizations strengthen their operations, develop leadership capacity, and establish sustainable foundations for future impact. Its emphasis is on building the organizational capacity that allows nonprofits to sustain their community contributions over time, with long-term community impact as the central goal. The program sits within a broader grantmaking effort that supports programs, projects, and initiatives responding to community-identified needs and advancing the Foundation’s strategic goals. That work is guided by a vision of a united, vibrant, and thriving region for all. General areas of support across the Community Impact programs include health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, and regional vitality. Within this framework, Acorn Grants focus on strengthening the organizations behind community work.7a:Tde5,

[Erie Community Foundation](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org)

October 15, 2026 (Application) | January 29, 2027 (Application) | May 1, 2027 (Application) | July 30, 2027 (Application)

Up to $10,000 per grant

Acorn Grants help emerging nonprofits strengthen operations, develop leadership, and build sustainable foundations for long-term community impact.

Applications are by invitation only.

--- ## Description Acorn Grants are part of Erie Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grant Programs. The program supports emerging nonprofit organizations through organizational development, helping them strengthen operations, develop leadership capacity, and establish sustainable foundations for future impact. Its focus includes new 501(c)(3) organizations—generally less than five years old—and organizations with annual budgets under $150,000. The Foundation’s broader Community Impact grantmaking supports programs, projects, and initiatives that respond to community-identified needs and advance its strategic goals, with a vision of a united, vibrant, and thriving region for all. Its general areas of support include health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, and regional vitality. Acorn Grants emphasize the organizational capacity that enables nonprofits to sustain their community contributions over time. --- ## Due Dates - October 15, 2026: Application deadline - January 29, 2027: Application deadline - May 1, 2027: Application deadline - July 30, 2027: Application deadline --- ## Funding Amount Grants provide up to $10,000. Funding needs often exceed available grant dollars. --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants must: - Be a tax-exempt Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or apply through a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. - Be located in Erie County, Pennsylvania, or support a sizable population within Erie County. - Fit the program’s emerging-nonprofit focus, including: - New 501(c)(3) organizations generally less than five years old. - Organizations with annual budgets under $150,000. - Receive an invitation to apply. --- ## Application Process - **Access:** Applications are by invitation only. - **Program information:** See the [grant opportunities page](https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities#login) for Acorn Grant details. - **Contact:** Direct inquiries to the [Erie Community Foundation](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/contact) at (814) 454-0843. --- ## Additional Information The Foundation generally does not issue grants for: - Individuals - Scholarship funds - Fundraising events - Deficit reduction - Endowment campaigns - Sectarian religious activities - Reimbursement for expenses already incurred Recent Acorn grantees include Compton’s Table, Taylor’s Hope, Future Focused Academy, and Herberle’s Heartstrings. --- ## External Links - [Acorn Grants and grant opportunities](https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities#login) - [About Erie Community Foundation](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/about) - [Contact Erie Community Foundation](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/contact) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Webpage | |---|---|---|---| | Erie Community Foundation | | (814) 454-0843 | [Contact page](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/contact) |7b:T425,## Grant Eligibility Requirements ### Organization Type - Applicants must be tax-exempt Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations under the Internal Revenue Code. - Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply using a 501(c)(3) organization as a fiscal sponsor. - Only organizations may apply — the Foundation generally does not issue grants to individuals. ### Geographic/Institutional - The applicant organization must be located in Erie County, Pennsylvania, OR demonstrate that it supports a sizable population within Erie County. (Note: this is about where the organization is based or whom it serves, not where the researcher is located.) ### Prior Funding / Proposal Limits - The organization must have an annual budget under $150,000. ### Other Eligibility Requirements - This grant is invitation-only. Applications are by invitation only; an organization must receive an invitation to apply. - The organization must fit the program's "emerging nonprofit" focus, including being a new 501(c)(3) organization generally less than five years old.7c:T779,Funder: Erie Community Foundation Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (Application) | January 29, 2027 (Application) | May 1, 2027 (Application) | July 30, 2027 (Application) Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 per grant Summary: Acorn Grants help emerging nonprofits strengthen operations, develop leadership, and build sustainable foundations for long-term community impact. Key Information: Applications are by invitation only. --- ## Description Acorn Grants are part of Erie Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grant Programs. The program supports emerging nonprofit organizations through organizational development, helping them strengthen operations, develop leadership capacity, and establish sustainable foundations for future impact. Its focus includes new 501(c)(3) organizations—generally less than five years old—and organizations with annual budgets under $150,000. The Foundation’s broader Community Impact grantmaking supports programs, projects, and initiatives that respond to community-identified needs and advance its strategic goals, with a vision of a united, vibrant, and thriving region for all. Its general areas of support include health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, and regional vitality. Acorn Grants emphasize the organizational capacity that enables nonprofits to sustain their community contributions over time. --- --- ## Funding Amount Grants provide up to $10,000. Funding needs often exceed available grant dollars. --- ## Eligibility Fit the program’s emerging-nonprofit focus, including: - New 501(c)(3) organizations generally less than five years old. - Organizations with annual budgets under $150,000. - Receive an invitation to apply. --- ## Application Process - **Access:** Applications are by invitation only. --- ## Additional Information The Foundation generally does not issue grants for: - Individuals45:[null,["$","$L78",null,{"grant":{"id":"3bddbeff-0b7a-4fe5-a9d8-4611a2a4deab","created_at":"2026-03-17T08:23:00.918877+00:00","updated_at":"2026-10-05T16:34:18.895005+00:00","title":"Acorn Grants","description":"$79","summary":"Acorn Grants support emerging nonprofits with organizational development that strengthens operations, builds leadership capacity, and lays sustainable foundations for long-term community impact.","funder_id":"2c9c5972-72cd-4363-a6c9-fc38980b9cd9","url":"https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities#login","slug":"acorn-grants-erie-community-foundation","legacy_opportunity_id":null,"primary_sources_id":"702dd024-2b93-4e19-a514-7463f5ccb586","questions":["Does my nonprofit qualify if it is a newer 501(c)(3), has an annual budget under $150,000, and serves Erie County?","What are the Acorn Grants application deadlines, and are the listed dates tied to a specific year?","What is the maximum award amount, and does the opportunity specify how long funds may be used?","How can an organization access the application when applications are available by invitation only?","Can grant funds support organizational operations and leadership development, and which research or community activities align with the program’s purpose?"],"opportunity_number":null,"grants3_pages":[{"id":"113fd343-84eb-4d8f-b7f5-28cf7283c288","markdown":"$7a","created_at":"2026-10-05T16:33:59.603967+00:00","grants3_id":"3bddbeff-0b7a-4fe5-a9d8-4611a2a4deab","updated_at":"2026-10-05T16:34:25.741083+00:00","eligibility":"$7b","fit_summary":"$7c","update_summary":"The listed deadlines are now October 15, 2026, January 29, 2027 (previously January 28), May 1, 2027, and July 30, 2027. 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Acorn Grants

Acorn Grants

Shaping Tomorrow Grants

Capital Grants

Generous Acts Grants

Community Impact Mini-Grants

Emerging Erie Fund Grant

Shaping Tomorrow Grants

Capital Grants

Generous Acts Grants

Community Impact Mini-Grants

Emerging Erie Fund Grant