CCCF Grant Applications Available

Edited by Julie Rae Rickard

CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for their 2024 CCCF Community Grant Program.

Since its inception, the CCCF has awarded almost $300,000 to projects benefiting communities across all areas of Clearfield County, according to a press release.  

In 2023 alone, over $90,000 was awarded to projects in Clearfield, Curwensville, DuBois, Ramey, Osceola Mills and Winburne.    

Project categories considered for funding include those that enhance the community as a whole, projects that serve a specific group in need, projects that benefit children, the elderly or those with special needs, medical or food services, public safety projects, community learning and education along with projects that may help deal with ongoing societal problems facing communities in Clearfield County.

“The goal of the CCCF Community Grant Program is to identify projects that will make a significant impact in communities and for specific citizens,” said CCCF Grant Committee Chair Lisa Kovalick.

“The grant committee likes to see project applications that will serve a large number of citizens while solving existing problems or meeting specific needs. We look to fund viable projects that will make a positive impact on the daily lives of many citizens”.

Last year grants were given to cancer assistance funds, drug and mental health programs, police departments, parks, arts programs, historical societies, a medical clinic, youth programs, fire companies, pools, churches, and various school groups.

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors and the Grant Review Committee encourage any organizations that have a viable project to file an application and note that having a 501c3 designation is not a requirement to apply.   

Organizations that are not registered as a 501c3 charitable organization can consider partnering with their local government or another 501c3 organization. Non 501c3 organizations will be requested during the application review process, to submit additional information verifying their need, purpose and legitimacy.   

Organizations that received CCCF grant funding in prior years are reminded to file their grant completion reports for all prior funding before any new funding will be considered.

Applications will only be accepted via the online grant portal at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org through 4:00 p.m. on Friday September 20th.

Users who submitted applications in prior years should utilize the log in and password they set up using their email address. Users who forgot their password can click the “FORGOT PASSWORD” link and follow the instructions to reset it.   

Any organizations that did not file an application in prior years should set up a new account by clicking the “NEW APPLICANT” links and following the steps to establish an account for their organization.         

CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken stated, “We remind organizations they must utilize our online grant application portal to submit their project for funding consideration as no paper applications will be accepted.”

If anyone experiences any problems utilizing the online application software, they should email questions to cccfexecdir@outlook.com.  

Once all applications are filed online by the September 20th deadline, they will be forwarded to the CCCF Grant Review Committee who will make recommendations to the CCCF Board of Directors with the grant awards announced in late October.

Overall, 2023 was a banner year for the CCCF’s contributions to the community with a total of $373,030.20 distributed to organizations and people in Clearfield County. This includes $57,150 in scholarship awards, the $90,590 through the community grant program awards, $15,000 to community food banks through the Basic Needs Fund and $210,290.20 in annual distributions to the beneficiaries of various endowment funds.  

In spring of 2024, over $80,000 was given to students from around the area through various scholarship funds.

Online donations to any of the funds can be made on the website or by mailing checks to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830.  Please note checks should be made payable to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation with the name of the fund to receive the donation written on the MEMO line.

If you would like to support the annual grant program, you can donate to the CCCF Community Fund on the website or by check.

The CCCF welcomes inquiries from any individuals, families or organizations interested in establishing an endowment or scholarship fund to benefit communities in Clearfield County.  

You can follow the CCCF’s activities on Facebook. Information is also available on the CCCF website, by contacting them at 814-592-7331 or emailing McCracken at cccfexecdir@outlook.com.