ECCF open grants available, due July 15

/in /by
The Elk County Development Fund awarded a $2,000 grant to the Elk County Conservation District for a Hydroponic Garden Systems project. The project provided for a 2-part workshop series, one for Elk County 7th grade classrooms and one for county residents, that would focus on hydroponics, a form of gardening that grows plants without soil.

Grants available at ECCF

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is accepting grant applications through July 15 from 501c3 organizations who wish to apply for funding from The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund or the Elk County Development Fund. 

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund awards grants to support worthy projects that provide services for our communities. Given this time in history, the Stackpole family is very concerned about our community’s nonprofit organizations and the effects of the pandemic. For the upcoming grant cycle, they will be inviting applications that focus on projects that address fulfilling/supporting basic human needs emerging from difficulty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including healthcare, safety, and mental health. They are also interested in projects that improve access to education and safe recreation for those who are marginalized and the most vulnerable of our community, specifically children, seniors, and individuals with special needs.

The Elk County Development Fund looks to support community development initiatives that will enhance the economic and community wellbeing of Elk County. Projects should include activities that are innovative and have a plan to sustain themselves.

Area organizations are encouraged to apply for a grant to support their worthy projects that benefit area residents. For instructions on how to apply for a grant call our office at 814-834-2125 or go to the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by partnering with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. ECCF brings together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support nonprofits in our communities through the establishment of charitable funds.

Grant awarded to St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group

/in /by
Dan Straub representing the James and Gloria Straub Memorial Fund and Lois Nedzinski, President, St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group.

The James and Gloria Straub Memorial Fund of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) awarded a grant for $500 to the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group towards the flowers that beautify our downtown area each summer. Dan Straub is the advisor for the Straub Memorial Fund and he had the opportunity to talk with the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group’s Board President, Lois Nedzinski after they hung the first batch of flowers for the season. The group is a 501-c-3 organization made up of a small committee of local citizens committed to the beautification of the St. Marys Historic District. Nedzinski said that the group is thankful for the many dedicated volunteers that water and care for the flowers all summer.

The James and Gloria Straub Memorial Fund, a donor advised fund, was one of three funds established by the Straub estate in 2018. One of the main benefits of a donor advised fund is that it allows individuals with philanthropic intent to have their charitable assets professionally managed and distributed to desired causes, while benefiting from the maximum tax deduction.

A donor advised fund allows the donor, or their designated representatives, to play a role in recommending grants over time to non-profit organizations to support causes that are meaningful to them. Based on their recommendations, grants are approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors and sent to qualifying nonprofits in the name of their fund.

ECCF works closely with donors to establish a charitable giving fund that best expresses their goals and their values. The Elk County Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that manages over 175 endowed funds established by donors to support area nonprofit organizations and scholarships. For more information, call the ECCF at 814- 834-2125 or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

St. Boniface receives over $103,000 from Sicheri grants

/in /by
Tom Jesberger ECCF President, Janet Dellaquila, SBS Teacher; Paula Fritz Eddy ECCF Executive Director and Fr. Ross Miceli, Pastor.  Students in front are Annaliese Doran and Chase Slaughenhaupt.

Recently, the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) leadership had the opportunity to visit the St. Boniface pre-school. The Community Foundation provided a $68,819 grant this year for the school and for tuition assistance for the students attending the Montessori based pre-school program. In addition, ECCF granted another $34,369 to St. Boniface Church for their Faith Formation programs. These grants were made from the Frank and Josephine Sicheri Family Fund, a designated fund administered by the Foundation. 

In 2017 ECCF received an estate gift from the Zita Sicheri. Zita donated a good portion of her assets to the Community Foundation to establish the fund, in honor of her parents. The fund was designated for the sole purpose of support to the St. Boniface Catholic Church and School in her community. This fund will provide an annual gift to the church and the school, along with a donation for tuition assistance for students attending the school. 

Zita was a very private person. The written announcement in the press of Zita’s passing was short but her life was long. In the quietness of dying, she gave herself and her possessions back to God. Her and her sisters’ years of labor and frugality will greatly impact catholic education for the St. Boniface parishioners and students whose lives will be touched by her generosity. Zita was born in Toby, the daughter of Frank and Josephine DiPre Sicheri.

The Elk County Community Foundation has been helping individuals and families realize their charitable goals for over 20 years. Through the Foundation, donors can create funds to support causes they care about. It’s like having your own private foundation – but a lot easier. Funds can be started with just a minimal donation. Most can be set up in just one meeting, and your gifts are tax deductible. To find out more, call the Elk County Community Foundation at 834-2125 or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Growing The Viola Fund

/in /by
Read more

ECCF open grant applications are due January 15

/in /by
Ridgway YMCA received a grant in 2020 from the Elk County Society for Special Services Fund to purchase Ipads for their preschool program

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is accepting grant applications through January 15, 2021 from 501c3 organizations who wish to apply for funding from The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, the Elk County Society for Special Services Fund, or the Elk County Development Fund and Fund of the Future. 

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund is an open grant that supports worthy projects that provide services for the residents of our communities. Their goal is to ensure that the Fund continues the good works that both Mr. & Mrs. Stackpole had done in our community during their lifetime and to support the philanthropic causes that were important to both of them.

The Elk County Society for Special Services fund is designated for any nonprofit agency which provides services for the purposes of providing Pre-K education. The application should improve programs that are already established or develop new programs. This fund will not cover direct operating expenses of an agency, rather it hopes to enhance already established programs.

The Elk County Development Fund and Fund of the Future generally look to support community development initiatives that will enhance the economic and community wellbeing of Elk County. Projects should include activities that are innovative and have a plan to sustain themselves.

For instructions on how to apply for a grant go to our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. Please call our office at 834-2125 with any questions. ECCF is a non-profit organization that strives to strengthen our region through development, stewardship and grant making as it works with donors to achieve their philanthropic goals.