Grants for Pre-K programs available until January 15

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Photo: The Ridgway YMCA received an Elk County Society for Special Services grant in 2024 to purchase additional iPads for their recently expanded preschool program.

Grants for Pre-K programs available at ECCF

Does your organization serve the Pre-K community in Elk County? The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is accepting grant applications through January 15 from non-profit organizations and schools that provide educational services for the Pre-K community. The grants are made available through the Elk County Society for Special Services Fund (ECSSS) which is administered by the Foundation.

The ECCSS fund was established to assist any nonprofit agency that provides services that offer Pre-K education. The purpose of the grant is to improve programs that are already established or to develop new programs. This fund does not cover direct operating expenses of an agency, rather it hopes to enhance an organization’s programs that serve young children.

For instructions on how to apply for a grant, go to the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. A link to the fund under Open Grants will connect you with our new online application process. Contact our office at 814-834-2125 to determine if your organization qualifies and for further instructions on how to proceed with the grant application.

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.

New Name: The Elk County Community Fund

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New Name: The Elk County Community Fund

The Elk County Community Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce a name change to its general granting fund. The Elk County Development Fund is now The Elk County Community Fund. This simple but meaningful name change is more than just a new title. It is a renewed commitment to the people, places, and potential that defines Elk County.

The Elk County Community Fund is a flexible charitable fund that supports the community’s most pressing and changing needs, as determined by the foundation’s board and staff. Unlike restricted funds for specific causes, unrestricted funds allow the foundation to provide grants for urgent issues, long-term solutions, and future opportunities that may not be anticipated when the fund is established. We evaluate all aspects of community well-being: arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization, and more. The next round of grants for this fund is now open. Applications are due January 15.

The support of our communities through their generous donations helps to grow the fund to continue to respond to requests from non-profit organizations for important programs that enhance the lives of our residents. Donations of any size are gratefully accepted at the Elk County Community Foundation, PO Box 934. St. Marys, PA, 15857.

ECCF, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, 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.

Women Who Care awards $47,000 in grant funding to local organizations

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Photo: Members of the Women Who Care (WWC) Steering Committee gathered to present grant checks to representatives of the eleven organizations chosen for 2025 grants by the members of WWC. Front row: Ann Bauer, Steering Committee member; Sarah Grunthaner, Johnsonburg Area School District; Steering Committee members, Paula Eddy, Kris Kronenwetter, Paula Micale, Beth Constable; and Tiffany Boschert, Elk County Community Foundation Executive Director. Middle row: Leslie Bauer and Elizabeth Erich, Elk County Humane Society; Mary Ann Glover and Deb Shaffer, Johnsonburg United Methodist Church. Back row: Jeff Smith and Bill Kraus, Crystal Fire Department; Tyler Bender, Bender Safety & Training. Recipients Missing from photo: Special Olympics – Elk & Cameron; Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys; St. Marys Public Library; St. Leo School; Community Education Center; and Elk County Catholic School System.

Women Who Care awards $40,000 in grant funding to local organizations

Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, granted a total of $47,000 to eleven nonprofit organizations at their Annual Business Meeting held on October 15 at the Johnsonburg Firehall. Along with video grant presentations, voting, and awarding of grants, the women enjoyed appetizers, a delicious meal, basket raffles, and a fun evening socializing with friends old and new.

Women Who Care is a donor advised fund held at the Elk County Community Foundation. The fund was established in 2009 by a group of community-minded women who have grown to over 260 members that continue to work together to address and support issues that are important to women and their families. This philanthropic women’s group has donated over $487,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Elk County.

Women Who Care members and their guests gather twice a year, in the spring for a social event, and in the fall for their Annual Business Meeting. It is an exceptional opportunity for the women to network, socialize, and make a huge impact in their community with a modest investment. WWC extends an invitation to all area women to join their organization. Members each donate $100 or more annually. All donations are pooled together each year to determine the amount available for granting that year. Detailed information on Women Who Care and how to become a member is available on our website, www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies. For more information contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125

Community Foundation’s Ridgway Charitable Fund awards $24,127 in grants

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From left: Jack Cleaver & Mark Yankovich, Footlighters; Leslie Gore & Pat Brennen, Trinity United Methodist Church;Norb Pontzer, Advisory Committee; Amy Goode, Community Education Center; Mike Handley, Ridgway Borough;Joe Bullers, Advisory Committee; Mel Corell, House to Home; Cortney Pahel & John Schlimm, Dickinson Center;Linda White & Derek Goode, Advisory Committee, and Tiffany Boschert, Elk County Community Foundation Executive Director. Missing from photo: Mary Jane Oknefski, Advisory Committee, and Family House representative.

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Community Foundation’s Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund awards $24,127 in grants

The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund, under the management of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF), recently awarded $24,127 in grants to seven non-profit organizations.

The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund, an endowed fund, was established from a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole. The purpose of the fund is to provide support to organizations that contribute to the quality of life of the residents of the Borough of Ridgway. An advisory committee made up of Ridgway community leaders and residents is appointed by the Board of Directors of ECCF to review grant applications and distribute grants each year.

The following organizations received grants during the 2025 granting cycle: Community Education Center for transportation costs from Ridgway to St. Marys and back for students; Dickinson Center, Inc. for expansion of Elk County Prison’s library with children’s books; Family House for nightly lodging expenses of eligible guests traveling from Ridgway Borough to Pittsburgh for medical care; Ridgway Borough for construction of canoe/kayak ramp at Ridgway Mills municipal campground; House to Home for Gift of Sleep program; Footlighters of Elk County for establishment of a website; and Trinity United Methodist Church for Second Harvest Food Bank project.

Donations to help grow the Ridgway Charitable Fund can be sent in care of the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA, 15857. For more information, visit the Foundation’s website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or contact ECCF at 814-834-2125. The Elk County Community Foundation is an affiliate of our parent company, the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

Community Foundation awards grants from the Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund

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Photos: Representatives from the Elk County Cruisers Car Club presented checks to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys and the St. Marys Area Municipal Airport Authority from their donor advised fund which is administered by the Elk County Community Foundation. These donations were made possible from funds raised at the Cruisers’ 15th Annual Car Show that was held at the American Spirit Aviation Festival in August.

 Top Photo: Andy Hoy, Treasurer; Tiffany Boschert, ECCF Executive Director; Joe Walker, President; Joe Jacob, Boys & Girls Club CEO; and Bob Gesin, Cruiser.

Bottom Photo: Tim Ruffner and Seth Hall, Airport Authority Members; Joe Walker, President; Andy Hoy, Treasurer; Tiffany Boschert, ECCF Executive Director; and Bob Gesin, Cruiser.

Community Foundation awards grants from the Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund

The Elk County Cruisers Club is made up of a group of friends that host local car events and activities in the area. In May of 2025, the Club created a donor advised fund at the Elk County Community Foundation with the goal of supporting their communities for years to come.

Recently, the Cruisers were pleased to award grants from this fund to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys and the St. Marys Area Municipal Airport Authority. The Club is actively working to increase their available granting dollars to continue to support community organizations. If you would like to support the Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund, donations can be made online at www.elkcountyfoundation.org by clicking on the Donate Now button, or checks can be mailed to the Foundation, PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857. Please put the fund name in the memo line.

The Elk County Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to accomplish their charitable wishes with their tax-deductible donations. Through our donors we provide grants that improve the quality of life in our communities.