Educational, Environmental, Public Safety, and Redevelopment Grant Opportunities

PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: 

Scattergood Foundation (Advertised by Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs): REACH PA

Who May Apply: Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor, be led by a BIPOC, engaged with Pennsylvania’s most under-resourced neighborhoods, prioritizing rural and predominately BIPOC communities, show a commitment to addressing the root causes of social injustice, and be person-centered.

Use: Project funds may be used to implement harm reduction practices, offer services outside of regular business hours, work toward partnerships with local social and healthcare services to provide connections to care, offer compensation to program participants to help build programming and create connections to underserved groups.
Funds: Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to support the work of Pennsylvania’s community-based organizations in order to reduce the incidence of negative health effects and the number of fatal overdoses among BIPOC people who use drugs.

Application Deadline: October 30, 2023

More information: REACH PA

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program

Who May Apply: Applicant must be a nonprofit organization based in the Commonwealth designated as a 501(c)(3) and principally serve individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Hate Crime Statistics Publication under the Uniform Crime Reporting program. The categories include:

  • Race/ethnicity/ancestry;
  • Religion;
  • Sexual orientation;
  • Disability;
  • Gender; and
  • Gender identity.

Use: Act 83 contains a list of eligible security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth that is owned or operated by a nonprofit organization. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, safety and security planning, purchase of safety and security equipment, purchase of security related technology (metal detectors, protective lighting, deadbolts, etc.), safety and security training, upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security, and more.

Funds: $5 million has been appropriated by the General Assembly to the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund. Applicant requests must be between $5,000 and $150,000.

Application Deadline: October 30, 2023

More information: PCCD Website

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Resources for Gun Violence Victims Needs Assessment & Technical Assistance Initiative

Who May Apply: For-profit organizations, non-profit organizations with a 501c3 status, and institutions of higher education. Applicants must:

  1. Demonstrate subject matter expertise and significant experience in the field of mass violence/trauma-informed responses.
  2. Have significant and recent experience working with local, state, and federal agencies in conducting needs assessments and developing technical assistance, training and resources related to incidents of mass violence.
  3. Commit to performing work within PCCD-specified funding ranges and timelines.

Use: The primary purpose of this initiative is to assess the needs of gun violence victims/survivors in communities across Pennsylvania in order to develop and pilot a new strategy to coordinate outreach and service delivery in an area with chronic and/or increasing levels of gun violence.
Funds: Funding for this program comes from federal Byrne SCIP State Share funds and PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $1,000,000 over two years.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2023

More information: PCCD Website

Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program

Who May Apply: Museums that are in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person and that are not supported by other state agency funding programs and official County Historical Societies designated as the official historical society for the county.

Use: The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, salaries, benefits, insurance, food service, travel, professional development, marketing, and equipment.
Funds: Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000.

Application Deadline: November 7, 2023

More information: PHMC Website

Department of Transportation: Multimodal Transportation Fund

Who May Apply: Municipalities, Council of Governments, Business/Non-profit, economic development organization, public transportation agency, port or rail/freight entity.

Use: Projects that coordinate local land use with transportation assets, projects that improve connectivity or utilization of existing transportation assets, projects related to streetscapes, lighting, sidewalk enhancement, and pedestrian safety, or projects related to transit-oriented development.
Funds: Act 89 makes $40 million available to PennDOT annually to be awarded. Of that amount $35 million is allocated to highway and bridge related projects. The remaining $5 million is available for projects that propose improvements to any mode.

Application Deadline: November 13, 2023

More information: PennDOT website

Department of Environmental Protection: Environmental Education

Who May Apply: Public schools and school districts, incorporated private schools, incorporated conservation and education organizations, universities, colleges, county conservation districts, incorporated nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

Use: Grants will be awarded for the development of innovative formal and non-formal education projects that:

1) Address grant program priorities (funding priority is given to environmental education projects that engage people living, working, and/or attending school within environmental justice areas in topics related to climate change and/or water).

2) Provide opportunities to expand the public’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues.

3) Develop skills required to make informed decisions and take responsible action on behalf of the environment.

Funds: Funding is provided through the Environmental Education Fund, which is supported by five percent of the money collected from environmental fines and penalties. Three levels of grants may be awarded:

  1. Mini Grants (up to $5,000)
  2. General Grants Level 1 ($5,001 - $30,000)
  3. General Grants Level 2 ($30,001 - $65,000)

Application Deadline: November 15, 2023

More information: DEP Website

Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Statewide

Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government.

Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. See program guidelines for specific eligible uses of funds.

Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000.

Application Deadline: Thursday, November 30, 2023

More information: DCED Website