Berks County Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Over $8.4 million (based on 2024 expenses)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2-3 months)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $50,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Berks County, Pennsylvania

Contact Details

• Website: https://bccf.org
• Phone: (610) 685-2223
• Email: info@bccf.org (general)
• Address: 237 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601
• Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=BerksCF
• Environment Program Contact: Emily Smedley - emilys@bccf.org

Overview

Founded in 1994, Berks County Community Foundation manages over $135 million in assets and hundreds of charitable funds. The foundation distributes millions of dollars annually in scholarships and grants to support local students, nonprofit organizations, and causes throughout Berks County. Their mission is to "promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County." In Q1 2025 alone, BCCF granted over $1.1 million to community organizations, demonstrating their significant role as a philanthropic catalyst in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Innovation Fund: $1,000 - $15,000

• Focus: Environmental health and climate resiliency projects
• Application Period: January 1 - March 15
• Recent distribution: $102,500 to 10 projects (2025)

Power of the Purse Fund: Varies (recent grants $5,000 - $12,000)

• Focus: Breaking the cycle of poverty for women and girls
• Supports workforce entry and education programs
• Recent distribution: $55,400 to 8 organizations

Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund: $2,000 - $50,000 (currently paused)

• Focus: Renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Program-Related Investments: $25,000 - $500,000
• Note: Grant applications not being accepted until further notice

General Community Grants: Amounts vary

• Rolling basis through online portal
• Support for various community initiatives

Priority Areas

• Arts and Culture
• Environment and Energy
• Lifelong Learning
• Health and Human Services
• Neighborhoods and Economic Development

What They Don't Fund

• Individual requests (except scholarships)
• For-profit businesses (except through Program-Related Investments)
• Projects outside Berks County

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

• Kevin K. Murphy - President
• Frances A. Aitken - Treasurer
• Heidi Williamson - Chief Strategy Officer
• Emily Smedley - Environment and Energy Program Officer

The foundation operates with a donor-advised fund model, allowing donors to direct fund distribution and investment while supporting community needs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

• Online applications through Grant Interface portal
• Separate portals for scholarships and grants
• Pre-application consultation strongly recommended for Innovation Fund (contact Emily Smedley)
• Most funds operate on rolling basis with specific programs having set deadlines

Decision Timeline

• Innovation Fund: Decisions by May (for March 15 deadline)
• Other programs: Typically 2-3 months from submission
• Notification via email or portal update

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, though Innovation Fund recently funded 10 projects from applicant pool

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles. Contact program officers for specific guidance on strengthening applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and foundation priorities:

• Strong cross-sector collaboration and partnerships increase competitiveness
• Projects demonstrating measurable community impact preferred
• Innovation Fund specifically seeks projects that can be replicated or scaled
• Power of the Purse fund prioritizes programs with clear pathways to economic self-sufficiency
• Pre-application consultation with program officers highly recommended
• Applications should clearly align with one of five priority areas
• Environmental projects should address climate resiliency specifically for Berks County

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact program officers before applying - Emily Smedley specifically encourages pre-application discussions for environmental projects
• Focus on collaborative approaches with multiple community partners
• Emphasize local impact - foundation prioritizes Berks County residents exclusively
• Consider timing - Innovation Fund has fixed deadline (March 15) while others are rolling
• Leverage donor-advised funds - BCCF manages hundreds of funds with varying priorities
• Explore Program-Related Investments for larger initiatives, especially in sustainable energy
• Demonstrate how project aligns with foundation's mission to improve quality of life in Berks County

References

• Berks County Community Foundation Official Website (https://bccf.org) - Accessed January 2025
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Berks County Community Foundation IRS Form 990 Data - Accessed January 2025
• BCCF Innovation Fund Page (https://bccf.org/funds/the-innovation-fund/) - Accessed January 2025
• BCCF News - Q1 2025 Grant Announcements - Accessed January 2025
• Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Information (https://www.bccf.org/sustainable-energy-fund) - Accessed January 2025
• Power of the Purse Fund Article (https://bccf.org/power-of-the-purse) - Accessed January 2025