Who We Support
Eligibility for LVCF Funds
Applying for a Grant
Grant Application Schedule
The Ben Franklin Fund
The Erwin J. and Gertrude K. Neusch Fund
Recent Foundation Grantmaking
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation exists to improve the quality of life for people in the Lehigh Valley, now and in the future. In partnership with donors and grantees, it seeks to build on community assets and meet community needs through responsible stewardship of funds and effective grantmaking. The Foundation reflects the special responsibility of a community foundation to support a broad set of activities that, together, strengthen the fabric of the community. The Foundation's goal in grantmaking is to strike a balance in strengthening the community's assets and meeting the community's needs for the good of the people of the Lehigh Valley.
The Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations in the Lehigh Valley in six areas of interest: Arts, Culture and Heritage, Community Development, Education, Environment and Science, Health, and Human Services. Since the Foundation assumed a Valley-wide mandate in 1992, it has sought to ensure that its grantmaking addresses needs in all parts of both Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Special grantmaking programs also serve parts of Monroe and Bucks Counties with the Ben Franklin Fund and the Erwin Neusch Fund, respectively.
- Eligibility is limited to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations serving citizens in Pennsylvania's Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Organizations in Monroe County are welcome to apply for grants from the Ben Franklin Fund. Organizations in Upper Bucks County are welcome to apply for grants from the Neusch Fund.
- The Foundation does not provide grants to organizations intending to re-grant the funds to others.
- The Foundation's relatively limited grants dollars, coupled with its legal obligation to serve diverse community needs and opportunities, make it necessary to place some restrictions on ongoing funding.
- The Foundation's discretionary grants are not provided for: annual campaigns, sectarian or religious purposes, operating or maintenance needs, or scholarships. These areas may, however, be supported with donor-directed funds.
The Foundation expects ...
- Grantees to use their grants for the purposes described in the grant applications, and to notify the Foundation, as soon as possible, if their needs or circumstances have changed.
- Fulfillment of the Foundation's administrative requirements, including availability for site visits and submission of written reports regarding use of the grant and status of the funded project.
- Successful grant recipients to inform the Foundation regarding the specifics of how they will announce and publicize their grants. These may include but are not limited to: announcements in newsletters and/or annual reports, presentation of grants at organizational board meetings, recognition of the Foundation at special events.
A cover letter signed by the chief professional officer and the chief volunteer officer must accompany the application. Applications may be completed using the applicant's own word processing program, as long as the application format is followed. Questions on the application must be answered in their entirety, in the order in which they appear, and in approximately the same space. Applications will not be accepted via e-mail. The Grants Committee's recommendations are final. After the grants process has been concluded, the Foundation will not provide explanations as to why grants were made or not made. To obtain an application, contact the Foundation.
In 1789, Benjamin Franklin bequeathed $5,000 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with instructions that the funds be used after 200 years to benefit the residents of the Commonwealth and the City of Philadelphia. In 1991, the legislature determined that Pennsylvania's community foundations should be entrusted with distribution of the $2,000,000 that had accumulated in the Fund. For the purposes of this fund, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation accepts applications from Monroe County as part of its annual discretionary grantmaking process.
The Erwin J. and Gertrude K. Neusch Fund
The Erwin J. and Gertrude K. Neusch Fund was established by Bucks County artist Erwin Neusch. The Fund provides grants for charitable programs — primarily, but not exclusively, in Arts, Education, and Rural Life — which benefit residents of Upper Bucks County, specifically those served by the Palisades and Quakertown School Districts. Applications for grants from the Neusch Fund are available from the Foundation and must be submitted to the Foundation by September 1st.
Recent Foundation Grantmaking
The 2009 Discretionary Grants List
Allentown Symphony Association
ArtsQuest
Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Community Bike Works
Community Music School
Community Services for Children
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
DeSales University
Lehigh County Historical Society
Muhlenberg College
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra
ProJeCt of Easton, Inc.
Satori
The Baum School of Art
The LV Charter High School for the Performing Arts
Weller Health Education Center