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

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

Up to $50,000 per grant; 12-month grant period; typical awards scaled to organization size.

Flexible quarterly grants for Erie County nonprofits to build organizational capacity, infrastructure, and program impact.

Pre-application meeting required before accessing the application; only one award per 12 months per organization.

--- ## Description The Helping Today grant program, offered by the Erie Community Foundation, is designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations serving Erie County, Pennsylvania. This is the Foundation’s most frequently utilized grant, supporting a broad spectrum of projects—including capital purchases, facility improvements, programming support, capacity building, and advocacy/public policy initiatives—that align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in economic growth, education, health, neighborhood and community development, and regional vitality. Helping Today grants are intended to build long-term organizational health and capacity, enabling nonprofits to improve systems, infrastructure, planning, and financial sustainability. Applicants are expected to demonstrate measurable outputs and short-term outcomes within a 12-month grant period and must use community input or data to inform their proposals. --- ## Due Dates - May 1, 2026: Helping Today full application submission deadline - July 30, 2026: Helping Today full application submission deadline - October 15, 2026: Helping Today full application submission deadline - January 29, 2027: Helping Today full application submission deadline _All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates._ --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum request: **Up to $50,000** per grant. - Grant period: **12 months**; all funds must be spent within this timeframe. - Typical award size is scaled to organizational budget: - Organizations with budgets under $100,000: up to $15,000 (capacity building focus recommended) - Budgets $100,000–$250,000: up to $25,000 - Larger requests (above $35,000) are generally for established organizations with a proven track record. - Capital purchases (including vehicles and technology hardware) require a **1:1 match** (Helping Today will fund up to 50% of the total cost). --- ## Eligibility - Must be an **IRS-designated 501(c)(3)** organization, or in limited cases, another federally recognized 501(c) nonprofit serving a charitable purpose. - Must be **located in or serving residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania**. - Organizations must **not have received a Helping Today grant in the past 12 months** (measured from award date); all prior grant reporting must be complete. - Fiscal sponsorship is permitted if the sponsor is a 501(c)(3) and does not receive direct financial benefit from the grant. - Strongly recommended: organizations should have held 501(c)(3) status for at least three years. - Not eligible: individuals, for-profit businesses, start-up/seed funding, singular events, endowment campaigns, religious activities, deficit reduction, or physical improvements on property not owned by the applicant. --- ## Application Process 1. **Review Eligibility:** Ensure your organization meets all requirements. 2. **Pre-Application Meeting:** Schedule and attend a required pre-application meeting with the Community Impact Team. This step is mandatory to access the application link. - [Schedule a pre-application meeting](https://calendly.com/ecf-community-impact/helping-today-pre-application-meeting) 3. **Application Access:** If eligible, you’ll receive a personalized application link for the online portal (GoApply). 4. **Prepare Application:** Complete all required sections, including organizational documents, financials, and supporting documentation (e.g., bids/estimates for capital or facilities projects). 5. **Submit by Deadline:** Applications must be submitted by the quarterly deadline. 6. **Review & Notification:** Proposals are reviewed by staff and an advisory committee, with final decisions made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Notification typically occurs ~2 months after submission. 7. **Post-Grant Reporting:** Grantees must participate in a post-grant meeting and submit a final budget report. --- ## Additional Information - Only one Helping Today grant can be awarded per organization every 12 months. - Pre-application meetings fill quickly; if slots are full and your project is not time-sensitive, apply in the next cycle. - For time-sensitive projects, contact the Community Impact Team directly at [ci@eriecommunityfoundation.org](mailto:ci@eriecommunityfoundation.org). - Capital purchases and technology/vehicle requests require price quotes and a 1:1 funding match. - Projects must demonstrate measurable outputs and short-term outcomes within 12 months. - Not all organizations will be funded due to high demand and limited resources. - Organizations declined for funding may reapply in the next quarter. --- ## External Links - [Helping Today Grants Program Page](https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities/helping-today-grants) - [Helping Today Applicant Guide (PDF)](https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Helping-Today-Applicant-Guide.pdf) - [Grant Opportunities Overview](https://eriecommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities/#grantchart) - [Schedule Pre-Application Meeting](https://calendly.com/ecf-community-impact/helping-today-pre-application-meeting) - [Contact the Community Impact Team](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/contact) --- ## Contact Information | Department/Contact | Email | Phone | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------| | Community Impact Team | [ci@eriecommunityfoundation.org](mailto:ci@eriecommunityfoundation.org) | (814) 454-0843 | | Kelly Patterson, Community Impact Associate | [kpatterson@eriecommunityfoundation.org](mailto:kpatterson@eriecommunityfoundation.org) | | | General Foundation Contact | [Contact Form](https://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/contact) | (814) 454-0843 |

Helping Today

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