Community Partners Fund

The purpose of the Community Partners Fund is to provide resources for nonprofit organizations and partnerships to support southwestern Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations in the midst of rapidly changing federal policies and programs. The monies will be distributed directly to the organizations or to pooled funds created to support groups of nonprofits. Applicants must be current or past Endowments grantees, and these organizations can choose to partner with nonprofits that have not previously been grantees. 

Uses can include capacity building, technical assistance, legal needs, physical or data security needs, education and advocacy, communications and outreach, organizational change management, or scenario planning and risk analysis. 

Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until the funds are depleted, and there is no set application deadline. Sizes of the awards will vary, depending on Endowments staff’s evaluations of the proposals and the amount of money on hand. Funds are limited and we understand that community needs are significant, therefore, we will assess proposals based upon the following criteria: 

Urgency 

• Addresses an immediate need 
• Takes advantage of a time-sensitive opportunity 

Impact 

• Serves a large number of people 
• Has far-reaching or long-lasting implications (changes in policies, systems, etc.) 

Severity 

• Mitigates an extreme harm or potential harm 

Innovative Collaboration 

Pitches from three or more nonprofit organizations and/or governmental entities working in collaboration to: 

• Find creative ways to address service delivery gaps created by grant terminations orchanges to/eliminations of federal programs, policies or regulations. 
• Launch advocacy campaigns designed to protect vulnerable populations or critical programs, policies or regulations. 
• Explore a merger to seek operational and financial efficiencies.