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First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania

Annual Giving
$5.6M
Grant Range
$4K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
40%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.6 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $167.5 million
  • Grant Range: $3,500 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: North central Pennsylvania (Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Potter, Sullivan, and Tioga counties)
  • Grants Distributed: 716 grants (2024)
  • Total Donors: 8,219

Contact Details

Address: 201 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (570) 321-1500
Website: www.fcfpartnership.org
Grants Contact: Betty Gilmour, Director of Grantmaking (BettyG@fcfpartnership.org)
Online Application Portal: https://www.grantrequest.com/Login.aspx

Overview

The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP), established in 1916, is Pennsylvania's first community foundation, serving north central Pennsylvania for over a century. With total assets of $167.5 million across nearly 400 charitable funds, FCFP distributed $5.6 million in grants and scholarships to 375 recipient organizations in 2024. The foundation works to improve quality of life through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact, and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. FCFP has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability. Since 2015, the foundation has awarded 1,480 individual grants totaling $35,049,484, supporting diverse causes from arts and culture to health and human services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

FCFP administers 11 different competitive grant programs, each with specific focus areas and deadlines:

Century Fund for Strong Neighborhoods (Deadline: October 1)

  • Focus: Health and human service programs
  • Supports organizations serving Lycoming County residents

Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant Programs

  • Rolling basis
  • Supports nonprofits across multiple sectors including arts, education, health, human services, environment, and economic development

Pearls with a Passion Fund (Deadline: March 1)

  • Variable annual focus areas
  • Recent focus: Crisis intervention for children and youth

Greater Susquehanna Valley Competitive Grant Program

  • Serves Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, and Columbia counties
  • Supports arts, culture, education, health, human services, youth, environment, and economic development

Field of Interest Grants

  • Established by donors to address specific community needs
  • Reviewed by advisory committees made up of community members
  • Recent distributions: $809,841 (2024), $420,965 (2025)

Grant amounts typically range from $3,500 to $50,000, with an average award of approximately $26,000 based on 2023 data. Recent awards include grants of $6,987 to $50,000 to organizations across the region.

Priority Areas

FCFP supports projects that enhance:

  • Arts and Culture: Supporting cultural institutions and arts programming
  • Education: Educational programs and initiatives
  • Health and Human Services: Healthcare access, mental health services, support for individuals experiencing poverty or homelessness
  • Youth Development: Programs serving children and young people
  • Environmental Stewardship: Conservation and environmental initiatives
  • Economic Development: Community economic initiatives
  • Civic Engagement: Community building and civic programs
  • Recreation: Parks, pools, and recreational facilities

Recent grant cycles have emphasized programs addressing "dignity — basic human needs; making a house a home; and supporting individuals' ability to thrive rather than just exist."

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating expenses: Salaries for current staff positions, rent, utilities, insurance, office equipment and supplies (though salaries for new staff positions may be considered if sustainability is well-presented)
  • Indirect costs: Costs not directly related to carrying out the funded program/project
  • Over-leveraged budgets: Requests where alternate pending funding sources equal more than 25% of the proposed program/project budget
  • Religious organizations: May only apply through a secular qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for community-wide programs/projects

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Jennifer D. Wilson

Jennifer Wilson has led FCFP for many years and is known for her commitment to transparent grantmaking. She has stated: "I cannot imagine a better way to kick off the first year of the Foundation's second century," reflecting on the foundation's continued growth. Wilson has also noted: "We typically receive two to three times the number of requests than we have dollars available to grant," highlighting the competitive nature of their funding. She credits the foundation's success to "FCFP's strong board governance [which] provides the platform that allows the staff to work with donors and nonprofits."

Director of Grantmaking: Betty Gilmour (BettyG@fcfpartnership.org)

Betty Gilmour oversees the foundation's competitive grant application process. She has emphasized accessibility in the foundation's programs, noting about their Regional Scholarship: "You don't need anything other than a pen and paper to apply. And asking harder questions gives us a pulse on what's happening with this generation."

Board Structure: The foundation is governed by a board of trustees with representation from across the region. The board includes professionals from various sectors including legal, banking, real estate, and nonprofit management. More than 230 volunteers serve the foundation through various committees and advisory roles.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through FCFP's grant portal at https://www.grantrequest.com/Login.aspx. Applicants can easily apply for any of their grants in one place through this centralized system.

Application Process:

  1. Review specific grant program guidelines on the FCFP website
  2. Create an account in the online application portal
  3. Complete the online application for the relevant grant program
  4. Submit proposals by the specific program deadline

Pre-Application Support:

  • FCFP offers free grantmaking workshops (scheduled periodically throughout the year)
  • Foundation provides access to Candid's Foundation Directory for nonprofits
  • Contact Lorna Zajack (LornaZ@fcfpartnership.org) for workshop information
  • Contact Betty Gilmour for grant-specific questions

Decision Timeline

Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by advisory committees made up of community members. Each grant program operates on its own review cycle:

  • Century Fund for Strong Neighborhoods: October 1 deadline
  • Pearls with a Passion Fund: March 1 deadline
  • Other Programs: Vary by fund; some operate on rolling basis

Grant announcements typically occur several months after application deadlines. Recent announcements have been made in July, October, and December.

Success Rates

In recent grant cycles, FCFP has received applications from over 100 organizations across eight counties. According to President & CEO Jennifer Wilson, "We typically receive two to three times the number of requests than we have dollars available to grant," suggesting an approximate success rate of 33-50%. In 2024, FCFP approved 716 grants from a significantly larger applicant pool, demonstrating the competitive nature of their funding.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply in subsequent grant cycles. The foundation values persistence and program refinement. Organizations may apply to multiple grant programs if their project aligns with different fund priorities.

Application Success Factors

Based on FCFP's publicly stated priorities and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Community Impact and Dignity Focus Recent grant cycles have prioritized programs addressing "dignity — basic human needs; making a house a home; and supporting individuals' ability to thrive rather than just exist." Applications should articulate how projects move beyond basic survival to enable thriving.

2. Strong Regional Alignment FCFP serves specific counties in north central Pennsylvania. Projects must clearly demonstrate benefit to residents of Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Potter, Sullivan, or Tioga counties. Geographic focus varies by specific fund.

3. Financial Sustainability While general operating expenses are generally excluded, the foundation will consider salaries for new staff if "the sustainability of the position is well-presented and feasible." Applications should demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond grant funding.

4. Reasonable Budget Leverage Avoid over-leveraging budgets with pending funding. Requests where alternate pending funding sources equal more than 25% of the proposed budget are not funded. This suggests FCFP values projects with diverse, confirmed funding sources.

5. Specific, Measurable Outcomes Review funded projects show preference for initiatives with clear deliverables: specific equipment purchases (robotic pool vacuum, football uniforms), defined programs (Summer Recreation Program), or measurable initiatives (Safe to Care Initiative).

6. Examples of Recent Funded Projects:

  • Williamsport Lycoming Arts Council: $25,000 for Susquehanna River School of the Arts
  • Evangelical Community Hospital: $40,000 for Safe to Care Initiative
  • Community Action Program: $10,000 for Summer Recreation Program
  • Muncy Area Pool Association: $50,000 for concrete work, heat system, and lane lines
  • Girls on the Run Mid State PA: $1,687 for participant scholarships
  • American Rescue Workers: $6,987 for general operating support

7. Sector-Specific Considerations The foundation funds across all sectors but shows particular strength in health and human services, youth programs, arts and culture, and community infrastructure. Applications should align with one or more of these established priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High competition: With 2-3 times more requests than available funds, applications must be exceptionally well-crafted and clearly aligned with fund priorities
  • Attend workshops: FCFP offers free grantmaking workshops that provide insights into their review process and priorities
  • Match fund priorities precisely: With 11 different grant programs, take time to identify the best fit rather than submitting a generic application
  • Focus on dignity and thriving: Recent language emphasizes helping individuals "thrive rather than just exist" — frame your impact in these terms
  • Demonstrate sustainability: Even for project grants, show how the initiative will continue or how the organization will sustain any new positions created
  • Build relationships: With over 400 funds and community advisory committees, connecting with community leaders who serve on advisory committees can provide valuable perspective
  • Geographic specificity matters: Clearly articulate which counties you serve and how your project benefits those specific communities
  • Consider modest asks for first-time funding: With grants ranging from $3,500 to $50,000, consider a strategic initial request that demonstrates success and builds a track record with the foundation

References

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