Grantmakers’ program aids nonprofits
WAYNESBURG – A meet-and-greet forum will put Greene County’s nonprofits in the same room with a few of the major grantmakers from across the region.
This is the fourth time in eight years the Community Foundation of Greene County has hosted such a forum – the last time was in 2012 – and foundation Director Bettie Stammerjohn said it’s an important opportunity for non-profits to learn what grant options are available.
“We can’t fund everything through the Community Foundation, so where can nonprofits go?” she said. “When I talk to grantmakers, they don’t get a lot of applications from Greene County organizations, so how do we fund things down here? Who are the non-profits, and what might match up with them?”
The Community Foundation is working closely with the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania to jointly sponsor the “Meet the Grantmakers” forum next month. The program will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. June 9 on the third floor of Waynesburg University’s Stover Campus Center, with a reception to follow.
In addition to Stammerjohn and the Community Foundation, other grantmakers will include representatives from EQT Foundation, Chevron and Staunton Farm Foundation.
Stammerjohn hopes numerous nonprofits organizations from Greene County, including schools and volunteer fire departments, would take the opportunity to learn what grant options are at their disposal.
“What are the things you support, and what’s important to do in the application process?” Stammerjohn said, alluding to some of the typical questions that are asked at the sessions. “It’s building non-profit capacity.”
A conference in 2008 was “highly successful,” Stammerjohn said, and the Community Foundation held similar meet-and-greet sessions in 2011 and 2012. She hopes another meeting will jumpstart more grant applications from local nonprofits.
“Let’s have a conversation about potential projects where you can set up a meeting,” she said.
There is no fee to attend the “Meet the Grantmakers” session, but space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, call 724-627-2010 or email cfgcpa@gmail.com.