Good Neighbor Fund | Utility Assistance Through Nonprofit Organizations
The Good Neighbor Fund was established in 2024 by the PPL Foundation in recognition of the financial hardships being faced by many families to meet the costs of basic residential energy costs. This fund will administer grants through an application process set up to provide funding support to nonprofit organizations with existing utility assistance programs. Utility assistance programs must specifically provide support to counties within PPL Electric’s territory in eastern and central Pennsylvania and prioritize households experiencing hardships paying for home energy costs.
Eligibility
• Be a nonprofit organization that operates an existing utility assistance program which serves one or more of the 29 counties in PPL Electric’s Service Territory.
• Distribute financial assistance to households for home energy bills (including, but not limited to, electric, fuel, oil, and wood pellets.)
Grant Awards
Grant Awards will range from $5,000 – $30,000 per nonprofit utility assistance program. Nonprofits will be allotted 15% of the grant award as an Administrative Fee to support program costs, including but not limited to staffing, administrative, and direct program costs (such as credit card surcharges and postage costs for mailing payments).
Organizations who receive a Good Neighbor Fund grant will be expected to:
• Ensure grants are dispersed to households with income that does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.
• Prioritize funding energy and electric bills for households who are experiencing extenuating circumstances and hardships.
• Cap funding support from Good Neighbor Fund at $1,000 per household.
• Ensure households meet the terms and conditions of your utility assistance program.
• Spend down funds within 6 months.
• Submit a final report which demonstrates how funds were spent down.
Key Dates 2025-26 (Grant Cycle Three)
— Application Opens: Monday, March 2nd, 2026
— Application Closes: Friday, April 9th, at 11:59 p.m. 2026
— Grant Notifications announced: May 2026
— Grants issued to organizations: June 2026
— Final Reports due: December 2026
How to Apply
Applicants must apply through Foundant, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s online portal system, which you can access HERE. For Foundant guidance, please click here.
Questions about the application process or grant opportunity should be directed to Mary Mancino, Program Associate, at: mary@lvcfoundation.org.