Clinton County Community Foundation announces $302,708 in competitive grants to nonprofits, emergency first responders, betterment and cultural programs and events
LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Community Foundation board of directors has approved competitive grants totaling $302,708 after receiving 72 grant applications collectively seeking more than $950,000 in funds for 2026.
At its annual meeting on Wednesday, the board spent hours discussing and assessing individual grant applications submitted by dozens of nonprofits and municipalities.
From life-saving equipment to helping to grow good citizens; from supporting food banks to providing boots, shoes and socks to children and families in need; from helping victims of home fires to public park upgrades; from celebrating America’s 250th birthday to caring for animals; from beautifying Lock Haven and so much more, the Foundation’s competitive grants will impact a significant number of people.
Collectively, the applicants sought an estimated $950,000 in grant funds to address needs related to housing, homelessness, mental illness, emergency response, food insecurity, dental care, leadership training cultural and entertainment events and more.
“Awarding grants this year was very, very challenging. We received over 70 requests and the needs outlined in each application clearly reflected the significant needs in the county,” Foundation board President Mark Weaver explained.
“We wish we could fully fund all of the grants, but the amounts requested far exceeded the amount of funds we had available to provide. In fact, the amounts requested were triple the amount of funds we had available to provide.
“We had to make some difficult decisions,” Weaver added. “The amounts requested from repeat grant applicants significantly increased, making it difficult to fund them completely. We also received more applications seeking $25,000 or more. There are grants that are partially funded as we tried to spread the dollars as far as we could.”
Importantly, the awarded grants will leverage thousands of dollars in additional investment by recipients to complete a wide range of services and projects serving Clinton Countians.
Each competitive grant recipient will receive an agreement letter in the mail to acknowledge and sign before grants are dispersed. Each recipient also is required to submit an evaluative report by Dec. 1, 2026, to explain and verify how the grant funds were spent.
Forthcoming will be an announcement of more than $230,000 in committed or designated gifts to numerous organizations, thanks to the Foundation’s generous donors.
And in late spring, the Foundation will announce thousands of dollars in educational scholarships in concert with local secondary schools.
Meanwhile, here is the list of competitive grant recipients for 2026:
CRITICAL NEED
A Woman’s Concern Pregnancy Resource Clinic Medical Supplies, $5,000
American Red Cross Home Fires Campaign, $5,000
Boxes of Hope Care Packages, $1,500
Boxes of Hope Pink Warrior Day, $1,000
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, $10,000
Chapman Township Vol. Fire Co. Rescue ATV, $5,000
CCEP Leadership Clinton County Training, $7,500
Clinton County Healthy Comm. Dental Clinic Outreach Supplies, $4,000
Clinton County Housing Coalition Appliances, $6,741
Clinton County SPCA Trap Neuter Return, $6,000
Covenant United Methodist Church Backpack Program, $1,000
Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Co. Radio Upgrade, $3,850
Goodwill Hose Co. Ambulance Assn. Ventilator, $12,500
Haneyville Vol. Fire Co. Boiler, $9,500
Horses of Hope Training, $2,000
Jersey Shore Care & Share Refrigeration Unit, $2,157
Lock Haven Area Shoe Bank Shoes, Boots, Socks and More, $10,000
Lock Haven Emergency Medical Services Stryker System, $18,000
Nittany Valley Vol. Fire Co. Thermal Imaging Camera, $6,980
Salvation Army of Lock Haven Food Pantry, $10,000
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Beds for Kids, $8,400
St. Paul’s Food Pantry, $4,000
Sugar Valley Community Fire Co. Equipment, $13,575.92
Sugar Valley Lions Food Pantry, $4,000
Wayne Township Vol. Fire Co. Rescue Equipment, $4,350
BETTERMENT
- Halenbake Ross Library McNaughton Books, $1,893
- Halenbake Ross Library Traveling Library, $2,193
Clinton County CleanScapes Trees, $3,480
Clinton County Fair Association Infrastructure, $32,000
Clinton County Police Camp Cadet, $10,000
Clinton County Police Camp Cadet Lacy Day, $2,000
Dogwood Circle Garden Club Beautification, $1,250
Downtown Lock Haven Inc. Black Box Graphic, $1,400
Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, $4,170
Keystone Central School District Summer Recreation, $2,500
Lock Haven Univ. Kent’s Fest, $7,000
Renovo Area Public Library Handicap Access, $14,900
Western Clinton County Recreation Authority Humidity Control, $1,966.20
Woolrich Community Center Gardens, $1,000
CULTURAL
Artpost Awareness, $985
City of Lock Haven Summer Beach, $2,500
City of Lock Haven Concert Series, $5,000
Clinton County Arts Council LH Jams, $7,650
Greater Renovo Heritage Park Concert Series, $3,000
Greater Renovo Heritage Park Magic in the Air, $2,100
Millbrook Playhouse Seniors-Veterans, $6,000
Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival, $5,000
Piper Aviation Museum Lighting Upgrade, $3,500
MUNICIPAL
Avis Borough Kephart Field, $4,000
Lamar Township Long Run Recreation Area Restroom, $13,000
Renovo Borough Playground Equipment, $2,166
To learn how you can support a cause, service or program you care about, contact the Foundation at 570.220.1038; send an email to cccf@clintoncountyfoundation.org, or for more information, visit www.clintoncountyfoundation.org.
