2026 Available to Grant
- One $110,000 Grant
- Programs/projects must either have a total budget of $110,000 or if over $110,000 the other funding sources must be committed by August 31, 2026
Deadline and Notification
- Online application will be available for submission through June 1
- Virtual site visits, if needed, will be scheudled between July 1 and August 31
- Three finalists will present to a community panel the week of October 12
- The grantee will be announced immediately following the presentations
Who May Apply
- Nonprofit organizations that are qualified to receive tax-exempt contributions as defined by the IRS – in the vast majority of cases, applicants will be 501(c)(3) organizations, or a unit of local government as described in Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code except for the following:
- Fire companies and volunteer fire companies
- Previous awardees of a Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant that have incomplete/open grants or outstanding final evaluations
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status may work through another qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is willing to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor
- Nonprofits that do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation in their hiring, service provision, or board composition
- Applicants’ programs must benefit the residents of Lycoming County
Applicant Limitations
- Religious organizations may only apply for community-wide programs/projects
- School districts and school district foundations may only apply if collaborating with one or more districts
Ineligible Requests
- Annual campaigns
- Costs that were or will be incurred prior to the anticipated grant approval date
- Endowments
- General operating expenses such as salaries for current staff positions, rent, utilities, insurance
- Salaries for new staff may be considered
- Indirect costs: costs not directly related to carrying out the funded project
- Multi-year funding requests
- Operating deficits
- Political advocacy that supports or promotes the interests of any one political party or candidate
- Re-granting to another nonprofit organization
- Loans, scholarships, fellowships, honorary awards, or travel grants
- Requests from individuals
Grant cycles are highly competitive – there are always more dollars requested than available to grant. FCFP favors proposals that:
- Address community needs and/or opportunities in innovative and creative ways
- Result in attainable and measurable goals
- Illustrate financial strength to ensure long-term self-sustainability, especially when seeking start-up or seed funding
- Leverage or generate other funding sources and/or propose use of grant to attract matching funds
Preference will be given to nonprofits with programs/projects that:
- Impact a broad range and diverse group of people across the geographic region defined in this grant cycle
- Show collaboration with other nonprofits without duplicating efforts
