Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.1 million (FY 2023-24)
• Total Assets: $120 million
• Decision Time: Varies by program
• Grant Range: $480 - $10,000+ (varies by fund)
• Geographic Focus: Lehigh Valley region (Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe counties; some Upper Bucks)
• Total Funds Managed: 300+ charitable funds

Contact Details

Main Office: 840 West Hamilton Street, Suite 310 Allentown, PA 18101

Phone: 610-351-5353

Grants Contact: Megan Barnes Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments Phone: 610-351-5353 Ext. 121 Email: megan@lvcfoundation.org

Website: https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org Grants Portal: https://lvcfgrants.org

Overview

Founded in 1967 as the Bethlehem Area Foundation and regionalized in 1992, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has been a leader in charitable giving in the region for over 57 years. The foundation manages $120 million in total assets across more than 300 charitable funds. In fiscal year 2023-24, LVCF distributed $8.1 million in grants and community support through 873 individual grants supporting more than 432 nonprofit organizations, with over 85% of funding staying in the Lehigh Valley. The foundation emphasizes trust-based philanthropy, distributing general operating grants to strengthen nonprofit sustainability. LVCF focuses on three strategic priorities: Capacity Building, Early Childhood Education, and Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, while maintaining flexibility to respond to emerging community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Foundation-Directed Leadership Grantmaking:

• Capacity Building Grants: Including the CORE Fellowship, a two-year equity-focused leadership program for nonprofit leaders; also includes general operating grants for BIPOC-led organizations
• Early Childhood Crisis Grants: Approximately $200,000 annually in general operating grants; recently distributed over $175,500 to improve childcare access
• Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy: Creative Sector Flex Fund providing $5,000 grants to arts organizations

Support Grantmaking:

• Upper Bucks Community Fund: $2,000 - $5,000 grants (2024 total: $38,780 to 11 organizations)
• Area-of-Interest Funds: Typically $480 - $2,000 one-time grants
• Named Funds: Including Barbara & Maxwell Davison Fund for Alzheimer's Care, Gene & Joan Witiak Fund, Lehigh River Fund, Lehigh Valley Homeless Veterans Fund, Margaret Haas Rotunno Memorial Fund for Local No Kill Shelters
• Good Neighbor Fund: Utility assistance grants in partnership with PPL Foundation
• Donor-Advised Funds: Donor-directed grantmaking
• Scholarship Programs: School/community-coordinated and LVCF-coordinated scholarships

Application methods vary by program; some funds operate on rolling basis, others have fixed application windows. Most recent programs use the Foundant online portal.

Priority Areas

• Nonprofit capacity building and organizational effectiveness
• Early childhood education and childcare access
• Arts, culture, and creative economy
• Youth empowerment and services for youth and families
• General operating support (unrestricted grants)
• BIPOC-led organizations providing culturally-responsive services
• Equity-centered leadership development
• Place-based philanthropy keeping resources local

The foundation distributed $375,000 in general operating funding over the last two fiscal years to support Lehigh Valley's youth and their families, reflecting their belief that unrestricted funding achieves greatest impact.

What They Don't Fund

• Pre-K through 12 public, private, and parochial schools including all charter schools (specifically for Creative Sector Flex Fund; other restrictions may vary by fund)

Note: Detailed exclusions are not comprehensively published online. Specific eligibility requirements are available through individual fund guidelines in the Foundant grants portal.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Erika Riddle Petrozelli

Vice President of Community Investments: Megan Barnes Briggs

Board of Governors:

• Vice Chair: Kerry Wrobel, President of Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Inc.
• Secretary: Sybil Stershic, President of Quality Service Marketing
• Treasurer: Thomas Groves, Founder, President, and Partner of Equinox Benefits Consulting
• Members: Anne Baum (President, Lehigh Valley Hospital – Reilly Children's Hospital), Monica Brooks (Senior Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Accolade, Inc.), Kathryn Brown (Principal and Founder of Morton Brown Family Wealth), Veronica Gonzalez (CEO of Valley Health Partners), Kevin Greene (COO of Faces International), Charlotte Hartmann-Hansen (Retired from Hartmann-Hansen Financial Services), Nicholas Hindle (President of HindlePower, Inc.), Jennifer L. Mann (Founder and President of JL Mann Consulting, LLC), Elizabeth Marcon (Attorney, Partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli Tipton & Taylor LLC)

Board of Associates: Formed in March 2018 with more than 150 members who meet twice annually to discuss issues important to the Foundation and the Lehigh Valley.

Leadership Quotes:

"Place-based philanthropy is essential to addressing the unique needs of our communities, ensuring that resources stay local and drive sustainable impact where they are needed most." - Erika Riddle Petrozelli

"The potential impact is truly transformative. Here in the Lehigh Valley, if our residents committed just 5% of the projected transfer of wealth, it could mean millions in additional funding each year to support local nonprofits and vital community initiatives." - Erika Riddle Petrozelli

"The Power of Philanthropy—The fiscal year 2023-24 has been a testament to the incredible power of philanthropy and the enduring impact we can achieve when we come together as a community." - From 2023-24 Annual Report

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

LVCF uses Foundant, an online grants management portal, for most grant applications. Organizations must:

1. Create an account at https://lvcfgrants.org
2. Complete an Organizational Profile Form prior to submitting any application
3. Explore current and upcoming funding cycles through the portal
4. Submit applications with all required documentation

Different funds have different application cycles—some operate on rolling basis, others have fixed deadlines posted in the Foundant portal.

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary by specific grant program and fund. Application windows and decision notifications are posted in the Foundant portal for each funding opportunity. For example, the Trusted Response Fund notified applicants in February following the application close date.

Success Rates

Based on available data from Instrumentl database:

• 2024: 137 awards
• 2023: 144 awards
• 2022: 125 awards

In FY 2023-24, 873 grants were made to 432+ nonprofits, indicating that many organizations receive multiple grants from different funds managed by LVCF. The average grant size was approximately $8,600, though individual awards vary significantly by program.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply to multiple funds and reapply in subsequent cycles. Specific reapplication policies vary by fund and are outlined in individual program guidelines within the Foundant portal.

Application Success Factors

Emphasis on General Operating Support: LVCF has shifted toward trust-based philanthropy, believing "the greatest impact is achieved by distributing general operating funding." Applications for unrestricted/general operating grants align well with the foundation's current philosophy.

Focus on Equity: The foundation prioritizes BIPOC-led organizations and has integrated trust-based philanthropy values across culture, structures, practices, and leadership. Applications demonstrating commitment to equity and culturally-responsive services are well-positioned.

Capacity Building Alignment: Organizations seeking to strengthen their infrastructure, develop leadership, or improve organizational effectiveness should highlight these elements. The foundation values long-term sustainability and organizational development.

Community Collaboration: LVCF led efforts that helped Allentown become one of only six communities nationwide to receive federal Recompete grant funding. The foundation values collaborative approaches and partnerships that address systemic community challenges.

Recent Grant Examples (2024):

• Creative Sector Flex Fund: 23 arts and culture organizations received $5,000 each
• Upper Bucks Community Fund: Durham Historical Society received funding for an Archaeological Dig program
• Good Neighbor Fund: Multiple organizations received utility assistance grants including 4 Girls on A Mission, Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc., Family Promise of Berks County, Lehigh Conference of Churches, The Open Link, Third Street Alliance for Women & Children, and Valley Youth House
• Early Childcare Access: Over $175,500 distributed to local nonprofits

Strategic Alignment: Organizations should align proposals with LVCF's three main strategic priorities: Capacity Building, Early Childhood Crisis, or Arts/Culture/Creative Economy. However, the foundation maintains flexibility and has Area-of-Interest funds for other community needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Unrestricted funding preferred: LVCF actively seeks to provide general operating grants rather than project-specific funding, embracing trust-based philanthropy principles
• Multiple opportunities: With 300+ funds managed, organizations may be eligible for several different grant programs—explore all options in Foundant portal
• Local focus matters: Over 85% of grants stay in Lehigh Valley; demonstrate deep community connections and local impact
• Complete organizational profile first: Required before any application submission; ensure this is thorough and up-to-date
• Equity lens is valued: BIPOC-led organizations and equity-centered approaches receive priority consideration, particularly in capacity building
• Modest grant sizes: Most grants range from $500-$10,000, though some programs award larger amounts; don't expect six-figure awards from most funds
• Relationship building: Consider engaging with Board of Associates meetings (150+ members) to build visibility in the philanthropic community

References

1. Lehigh Valley Community Foundation official website - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org - Accessed January 2026
2. LVCF Grants Portal - https://lvcfgrants.org - Accessed January 2026
3. LVCF Community Investments page - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/community-investments/ - Accessed January 2026
4. LVCF Annual Report FY 2023-24 - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/lvcf-annual-report/ - Accessed January 2026
5. LVCF History, Mission, and Vision - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/history-mission-and-vision/ - Accessed January 2026
6. Instrumentl 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/lehigh-valley-community-foundation - Accessed January 2026
7. Cause IQ Profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lehigh-valley-community-foundation,231686634/ - Accessed January 2026
8. "LVCF Joins PA Giving Pledge Campaign" - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/lehigh-valley-community-foundation-joins-pa-giving-pledge-campaign/ - Accessed January 2026
9. "Shifting To Unrestricted Grants" - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/shifting-to-unrestricted-grants/ - Accessed January 2026
10. LVCF Board of Governors - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/board-of-governors/ - Accessed January 2026
11. LVCF Staff - https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/lvcf-staff/ - Accessed January 2026
12. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/231686634 - Accessed January 2026