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The Washington County Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $225,000 in capacity-building grants to 13 organizations.

Capacity-building is defined as any activity that increases the nonprofit’s operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity. The grants, which were issued from a variety of component funds and ranged from $5,000 to $60,000, supported equipment purchases, program expansions, communications, financial process improvements, data management, and technology.

Equipment grants were issued to three charities. LeMoyne Community Center received $60,000 to purchase a new van to transport children participating in its Homework and More afterschool program and Camp Challenge summer program. Always B Smiling received $15,000 to purchase an adaptive bike that will help to serve more children and families with special needs and health challenges. Peters Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 received $5,000 to purchase specialized equipment that will improve its wildland firefighting capabilities.

Two program expansion grants were awarded. Bentworth School District received a grant of $35,000 to create a makerspace/STEM lab for Bentworth High School, ensuring students will have access to new learning opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Cornerstone Care received a grant of $35,000 for a mobile dental unit that will provide improved health care access to underserved and rural populations, specifically youth ages one to 17 in need of preventative care.

Communication grants of $10,000 each were issued to three charities: Harmony Life Center, Mon Valley Youth & Teen Association and Transitional Employment Consultants. Each one will use its award to develop a new cutting-edge, accessible website.

A financial process improvement grant of $10,000 was awarded to Clean and Tidy Our County to purchase accounting software and related equipment.

A data management grant of $15,000 was awarded to Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation to hire a part-time director to lead its data management and digitalization project.

Three technology grants were awarded. Church of the Covenant received an award of $10,000 for computers and printers for its preschool program. World Series Tournaments received $5,000 to upgrade the Wi-Fi capabilities at Lew Hayes PONY Field. United Way of Washington County received $5,000 for laptops, phones, and customer relationship management software.

“The Foundation’s capacity-building grants program has already made a significant impact on many local nonprofits, and we look forward to seeing the transformational changes of these 13 organizations once the awards from this cycle have been fully implemented,” remarked Betsie Trew, WCCF President & CEO. “There is still another opportunity for local nonprofits to secure a capacity-building grant in 2023. In particular, we are seeking to support financial improvement projects for local nonprofits including the purchase of accounting software and financial audits.”

Nonprofit organizations who would like to be considered for a capacity-building grant, and who did not receive a capacity-building grant in 2022 or 2023, may submit a preliminary request via the Foundation’s grant-management portal. Requests will be accepted from August 1 through October 1, and may range from $5,000 to $50,000. Additional information about the application process is available in the “For Grant Seekers” section of www.wccf.net.

In addition to capacity-building grants, the Foundation also provides program grants and unrestricted grants. In total more than $3.5 million in grants was awarded in 2022 to over 100 local nonprofits including public charities, school districts and other educational institutions, fire departments, municipalities, etc. The Foundation relies on contributions to provide its charitable services and welcomes gifts via its website or by contacting the Foundation at 724-222-6330.

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