The Adams County Community Foundation announced that starting in 2022 their Adams County Grants program will award grants in two cycles each year rather than one. Adams County Grants are made possible by The Fund for Adams County, a permanent, growing endowment dedicated to addressing the evolving needs of Adams County.

Offering their Adams County Grants twice annually allows the Community Foundation to be responsive to emerging issues and community needs throughout the year. In addition to adding a second grant cycle, the Community Foundation asks that nonprofits begin the application process by submitting a brief letter of intent. If the intent aligns with its priorities, the Community Foundation will request a full grant proposal from the nonprofit.
The deadline for applying for the first cycle is coming soon: Nonprofits wishing to apply must submit their letter of intent by January 13, 2022 for a grant award in April. The letter of intent deadline for an October grant is July 6. Requirements for the letter of intent and all the steps for applying are described in detail on the Community Foundation’s website here: AdamsCountyCF.org/grants-scholarships/grants.

In 2021 the Community Foundation awarded $221,834 in Adams County Grants to 11 nonprofits. Adams County Grants focus on three priorities:
• Strengthening nonprofits that help Adams County’s most vulnerable residents,
• Helping low-income people move toward self-sufficiency, and
• Encouraging collaboration toward significant common goals.

The Fund for Adams County is fueled by donors who created their own charitable funds to be used by the Community Foundation to address the evolving needs of Adams County. These generous supporters include Thomas E. & Florence B. Metz, Jack & Bobbie Phillips, John S. & Kimberly L. Phillips, Eric & Suzanne Flynn, Thomas P. & Roberta C. Henninger, Fred & Rita Diehl, Donald H. & Mildred C. Hershey, M.C. Jones, Sharon Trew Cline Magraw, Charles Ritter Family, James D. & Eleanor B. Sheen, George & Roberta Wood, and the legacy of founding father Ben Franklin.

The Adams County Grants program represents a growing portion of all grants distributed annually by the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation provides a home for a variety of funds created by donors including endowments directed to a specific organization or purpose, scholarship funds, and donor-advised funds, which may make distributions anywhere in Pennsylvania or across the country.

The Adams County Community Foundation was created to promote and facilitate charitable giving and to build a permanent civic endowment for Adams County. More information is available here