The Centre County Federation of Public Libraries functions primarily as a passthrough funding vehicle for public library operations in Centre County, directing large disbursements to the county library system and the Schlow Centre Region Library. Its grants are operational in nature (state funding distribution) and are tightly focused on maintaining local public library services rather than a broad mix of philanthropic activities. Funding appears locally concentrated and mission-specific to library access and infrastructure.
Highly concentrated, small number of very large passthrough grants; repeat funding to the same local public library institutions rather than broad, varied grantmaking.
The most distinctive feature of Centre County Federation of Public Libraries’ recent grantmaking is how closely it tracks public library operations in Centre County. The two largest grants on file go to Centre County Library in Bellefonte and Schlow Centre Region Library in State College, both labeled pass-through state funding, which points to a funding role centered on sustaining local library service rather than a broad, open-ended grant portfolio. That pattern fits the foundation’s public-facing grant programs as well. Alongside nonprofit grants, it lists artist grants, scholarships for students, and a Public Media Fund, showing a small set of local funding channels tied to education, arts, community access, and information services. The foundation’s support for artists and arts projects is explicitly framed around benefit to the Centre County community, while its student programs are designed for students from Centre County. Its Giving Circle also pools donor gifts and awards grants to local nonprofits. Across these activities, the foundation’s work is locally focused and mission-specific, with public libraries remaining the clearest throughline in the grant record.
Public library support is the clearest thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2024, it awarded $608,437 to Centre County Library in Bellefonte for pass through state funding, and in 2024 it also gave $423,003 to Schlow Centre Region Library in State College for the same purpose. Beyond library operations, the foundation administers artist-focused support. Its Grants for Artists and Artist Grants programs are described as funding artists and arts projects that benefit the Centre County community, with emphasis on creative projects and local cultural activity. It also runs scholarship and student award programs for students from Centre County, linking its education support to local residents rather than a broad regional pool. Another targeted channel is the Public Media Fund, which was established to support public media efforts, including support connected to WPSU. The foundation also offers general grants for nonprofits across areas such as education, arts, community development, and human services.
$1.1M
$162K
$1.2M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $418K and $586K, with a median of $501K.
25th Percentile
$418K
Median
$501K
75th Percentile
$586K
LISA RIVES COLLENS
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Notable grantees: CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY, SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY
Centre County Federation of Public Libraries’ grant sizes are large and tightly clustered: p25 is $418,252, median is $500,888, and p75 is $586,189. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including Centre County Library in 2023 and 2024 and Schlow Centre Region Library in 2023 and 2024. That repeated pattern fits a pass-through and operational funding model rather than one-off competitive awards. The foundation is not described as funding individuals, and the grant listings indicate unsolicited applications are not accepted for several of its programs.
Grantmaking is entirely local and fully in Pennsylvania: 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is PA. Recent awards land in Bellefonte and State College, both in Centre County. The named recipient locations show a county-centered pattern rather than a statewide or national one. The grant programs also reference Centre County, PA as the operating geography for artists, students, and nonprofits.
Its public grant programs point to libraries, arts, scholarships, nonprofits, and public media. The recent grant record is dominated by pass-through state funding for Centre County Library and Schlow Centre Region Library, while the program listings also include Grants for Artists, student scholarships, general nonprofit grants, and a Public Media Fund.
No. Libraries are the clearest focus in the recent grant record, but the foundation also lists artist grants, scholarship and student award programs, general grants for nonprofits, and a Public Media Fund. Those programs extend support to arts projects, students from Centre County, local nonprofits, and public media efforts.
The grant record suggests a repeat, operational funding pattern. The same two library recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, and the awards are labeled pass through state funding. The typical grant size is also substantial, with a median of $500,888.
The grants are local and Pennsylvania-based. All recorded grants go to recipients in PA, with recent awards to Bellefonte and State College in Centre County. The program pages also define several funding areas as serving Centre County, PA.
The foundation does not fund individuals. Its program listings focus on organizations, students through scholarship programs, artists through designated grants, and local nonprofits through grant programs and the Giving Circle.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Centre County Federation of Public Libraries that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and units of local government that serve Centre County and select surrounding counties are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: The listing states an opening date of September 29, 2026 and closing date of November 12, 2026.
Who can apply: Applicants must be an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, school, or government entity. Programs or projects must serve youth in Centre County and comply with Centre Foundation’s nondiscrimination policy. Ongoing and new programs, projects, and capacity-building efforts are eligible.
Deadline: Applications open November 24, 2026 and close January 7, 2027. Decisions are communicated by the end of April 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY | BELLEFONTE, PA | $631,565 | 2026 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $424,272 | 2026 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY | BELLEFONTE, PA | $621,940 | 2025 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $443,062 | 2025 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY | BELLEFONTE, PA | $608,437 | 2024 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $423,003 | 2024 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY | BELLEFONTE, PA | $578,773 | 2023 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
| SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $403,998 | 2023 | PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING |
CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY
$631,565PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY
$424,272PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY
$621,940PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY
$443,062PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY
$608,437PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY
$423,003PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
CENTRE COUNTY LIBRARY
$578,773PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
SCHLOW CENTRE REGION LIBRARY
$403,998PASS THROUGH STATE FUNDING
