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Passion Grants

Passion Grants convert The Community Foundation’s donors’ passions into impact through supporting programming in a broad range of focus areas including: human services, the environment, restoring historical structures, clean water, human rights/inclusion, the arts, preschool child development, and projects in Eastern Lancaster County.

The John J. Snyder Fund is a specific type of passion grant meant for the preservation of historical buildings. This fund has a separate application and evaluation criteria.

View Examples from Past Years

THIS GRANT APPLICATION IS CLOSED.

Closed

Submit an application using our grant portal!

Zoom Office Hours

Have questions? Feel free to drop in for Zoom office hours with our Programs Team. The Zoom link and dates are listed below.

March 20, 10:00 – 11:00 am

April 18, 10:00 – 11:00 am

Eligibility Requirements & Resources

Before starting an application for any grant, review our eligibility requirements for funding. You can also access resources to help you meet our requirements.

 

Information Sheet

Get a snapshot of everything you need to know about Passion Grants, including application questions, evaluation criteria, and more.

These projects turn love of community into lasting change!

See if any of these grants might be right for your organization:

Man with a dog for vision corps

HUMAN SERVICES:

Ada F. Harr Fund:

$10,000 – $32,100

For home health or custodial care for people impacted by illness or disability.

Closed
Photo of farm

EASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY:

Anne C. & W. Franklin Ressler Fund:

$10,000 – $28,800

For community projects based in Eastern Lancaster County. Specifically Eastern Lancaster County (ELANCO), Pequea Valley, and Conestoga Valley School Districts.

Two individuals laugh together

HUMAN RIGHTS/INCLUSION:

Patrick Kenney, Jr. Memorial Education Fund & K.L. Shirk Memorial Fund:

$7,500 – $15,000

Supports programs that fight hate and bigotry while promoting social justice.

Two children dance at 2019 extra give

INFANT, TODDLER, AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN:

Better Lancaster Fund:

$10,000 – $25,100

Supports early childhood development from birth to age five

NEW in 2024

We have streamlined grantmaking through the Shaping Tomorrow Awards. Please consider the following changes as your organization creates its grant application strategy:

  • Dollars from the Lancaster Environmental Fund, the Sam & Verda Taylor Fund (Performing Arts), and Florence Starr Taylor, Lancaster Arts & Culture, and Eloise Aurand Funds (Visual Arts) will supplement the Shaping Tomorrow Awards, meaning we will be awarding MORE than $1,000,000 through this program! Applicants who normally seek funding through these Passion Grants are encouraged to submit their applications through the Shaping Tomorrow Awards process. The Our Planet category opens June 3. Learn More and Apply Here
  • Dollars from the Katherine K. Gaeth Fund, which focuses on housing, will now supplement grants offered by the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition, through its Homelessness Services Grants that will distribute a total of $1,590,000 throughout the county. Applications open annually in January and information will be available here.
Photo of river

ENVIRONMENT:

Lancaster Environmental Fund:

Supports environmental protection, conservation, and education.

man paints on large canvas

VISUAL ARTS:

Florence Starr Taylor Fund for the Visual Arts, Lancaster Arts and Culture Fund, & Eloise Award Fund:

Supports the visual arts.

Man drums

PERFORMING ARTS:

Sam and Verda Taylor Fund for the Performing Arts:

Supports the performing arts.

Eligibility Requirements

Before starting an application for any grant, review our general eligibility requirements.

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John J. Snyder Fund

The John J. Snyder Fund is a specific type of passion grant meant for the preservation of historical buildings in Lancaster or Cumberland County, and has its own separate application.