The Centre Foundation is a highly local funder focused on strengthening State College/Centre County institutions across civic life, with repeat multi-year support for health & human services, education/scholarships, and community infrastructure. They routinely fund frontline nonprofit services (medical clinic, food/housing security, domestic violence shelter), local schools and scholarship programs, and community amenities like the public library, downtown improvement, and arts organizations. The foundation favors sustaining core local partners rather than one-off national initiatives.
Centre Foundation Inc. concentrates its giving in Centre County, and its recent records show a strong preference for sustaining the same local institutions over time. The largest recent grant in the file went to Congregation Brit Shalom in State College for general support, while Centre Volunteers In Medicine appears repeatedly with three separate awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs ongoing community infrastructure rather than short-term, one-off projects. The foundation’s recent grants also connect to several everyday needs in the county: medical access, food security, housing, domestic violence services, arts and downtown vitality, libraries, environmental stewardship, and scholarships for regional students. State College organizations account for most of the named recipients in the recent grants list, including 3 Dots Downtown, Schlow Library Foundation Inc, State College Food Bank, Centre Safe, and ClearWater Conservancy. Penn State University- Outside Scholarships and other higher-education recipients show that education support is part of the portfolio as well. Overall, Centre Foundation Inc. reads as a local institutional funder with recurring operating support at its core, especially for organizations serving residents of State College and the surrounding county.
Health and human services are a clear priority. Centre Volunteers In Medicine received $181,211 in 2023, $172,752 in 2024, and $161,142 in 2025, showing sustained support for local primary care. In safety-net work, the foundation also gave $134,294 to Food Bank of the State College Area in 2023 and $112,824 to State College Food Bank in 2025. Education funding includes both scholarships and student support. Penn State University- Outside Scholarships received $139,258 in 2025, following earlier awards of $121,694 in 2023 and $103,590 in 2024. The foundation also made a $90,000 general-support grant to Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Community life and place-based institutions appear throughout the file. 3 Dots Downtown received $157,583 in 2025 for general support, Schlow Library Foundation Inc received $153,508 in 2025, and Downtown State College Improvement District Inc received $130,000 in 2025. Environmental and animal-welfare groups also appear, including ClearWater Conservancy and Centre County PAWS.
$5.1M
$83.4M
$8.4M
$7.3M
Most grants fall between $9K and $31K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$31K
MOLLY KUNKEL
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Concentrated, place-based giving with frequent repeat grants to the same local organizations; generally mid-sized awards spread across a portfolio of core community nonprofits (three grants to many grantees), mixing program support and scholarships rather than large one-off capital gifts.
Notable grantees: Congregation Brit Shalom, Centre Volunteers In Medicine, Centre Safe, Penn State University – Outside Scholarships, Schlow Library Foundation
Typical grant size sits at a median of $15,000, with the middle half of awards ranging from $8,601 at the 25th percentile to $31,218 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows a mix of smaller recurring awards and much larger multi-year operating grants, which suggests a portfolio that includes both broad community support and anchor funding for key local organizations. Recipients often appear across multiple years. Centre Volunteers In Medicine, Centre County PAWS, Centre Safe, ClearWater Conservancy, Schlow Library Foundation Inc, State College Food Bank, and Penn State University- Outside Scholarships all show repeated awards. The foundation does not fund individuals directly, and the active program listings point to grants for nonprofits and scholarships rather than program-related investments.
Grantmaking is tightly concentrated in Pennsylvania: 92% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. State College dominates the named recipient cities, with University Park also appearing for Penn State University- Outside Scholarships. Other Pennsylvania locations in the recent grants list include Dallas and Reedsville. The broader program pages also point to Centre County as the main service area for community grants and donor-directed funds.
The recent grants list shows consistent support for local nonprofits and educational institutions in Centre County. Recipients include health clinics, food banks, housing and domestic violence services, libraries, downtown and arts organizations, environmental groups, and scholarship administrators such as Penn State University- Outside Scholarships.
Yes. Scholarship support appears in the recent grants list through Penn State University- Outside Scholarships, which received $139,258 in 2025, $121,694 in 2023, and $103,590 in 2024. The foundation also has active program pages for students and scholarships.
Recurring support is common. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Centre Volunteers In Medicine, Centre Safe, Centre County PAWS, ClearWater Conservancy, Schlow Library Foundation Inc, State College Food Bank, and Penn State University- Outside Scholarships. That pattern suggests ongoing support for core local partners.
The median grant size is $15,000. The middle half of grants falls between $8,601 at the 25th percentile and $31,218 at the 75th percentile, though some awards are much larger for major operating support or recurring institutional grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Centre Foundation 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: Open August 4, 2026; close September 24, 2026.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and units of local government that serve Centre County and select surrounding counties.
Deadline: Open Date: September 29, 2026; Close Date: November 12, 2026
Who can apply: Applicants must be an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, school, or government entity. Funding must support programs or projects in Centre County that comply with Centre Foundation's nondiscrimination policy. Ongoing or new programs, projects, and capacity-building efforts are eligible.
Deadline: Open November 24, 2026; close January 7, 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congregation Brit Shalom | State College, PA | $575,867 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre Volunteers In Medicine | State College, PA | $161,142 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 3 Dots Downtown | State College, PA | $157,583 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Schlow Library Foundation Inc | State College, PA | $153,508 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Penn State University- Outside Scholarships | University Park, PA | $139,258 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| Downtown State College Improvement District Inc | State College, PA | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre County PAWS | State College, PA | $118,914 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State College Food Bank | State College, PA | $112,824 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ClearWater Conservancy | State College, PA | $107,908 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre Safe | State College, PA | $103,916 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State College Area Meals on Wheels | State College, PA | $85,689 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Boy Scouts Of America Juniata Valley Council | Reedsville, PA | $76,227 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Discovery Space | State College, PA | $70,042 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Housing Transitions Inc | State College, PA | $62,786 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Park Forest Preschool | State College, PA | $62,179 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Strawberry Fields Inc | State College, PA | $61,732 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania | Lemont, PA | $61,273 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| South Hills School of Business and Technology | State College, PA | $60,309 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| Centre LifeLink Emergency Medical Services Inc | State College, PA | $56,581 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State College Area School District | State College, PA | $55,602 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre County Youth Service Bureau | State College, PA | $54,248 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Nittany Valley Symphony Inc | State College, PA | $53,660 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre Wildlife Care | Lemont, PA | $52,796 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| North Central Sight Services Inc | Williamsport, PA | $50,490 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Interfaith Human Services | State College, PA | $49,483 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Mount Nittany Health Foundation | State College, PA | $49,045 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Schlow Centre Region Library | State College, PA | $45,248 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Foxdale Village | State College, PA | $44,612 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Pets Come First Inc | Centre Hall, PA | $44,020 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Penns Valley Youth Center | Spring Mills, PA | $43,484 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State College Choral Society | State College, PA | $41,801 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Paul's United Methodist Church | State College, PA | $40,534 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State College Community Land Trust | State College, PA | $40,222 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Shippensburg University Foundation | Shippensburg, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| The Bible Baptist Church of Warriors Mark | Tyrone, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Red Cross Mid Central Pennsylvania Chapter | State College, PA | $39,435 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts | State College, PA | $38,796 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| State Theatre Inc | State College, PA | $38,654 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA Of Centre County | Bellefonte, PA | $38,226 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Tides Inc | State College, PA | $36,308 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Andrew's Episcopal Church | State College, PA | $36,245 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jana Marie Foundation | State College, PA | $35,710 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York, NY | $32,192 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Cancer Society Inc | Hagerstown, MD | $31,999 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Mid-State Literacy Council Inc | State College, PA | $31,467 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra | State College, PA | $31,071 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Centre County Historical Society | State College, PA | $31,032 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FaithCentre Food Bank | Bellefonte, PA | $30,913 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Paul Lutheran Church-Cemetery | Pine Grove Mills, PA | $30,749 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport, PA | $30,656 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
Congregation Brit Shalom
$575,867GENERAL SUPPORT
3 Dots Downtown
$157,583GENERAL SUPPORT
Schlow Library Foundation Inc
$153,508GENERAL SUPPORT
Penn State University- Outside Scholarships
$139,258SCHOLARSHIPS
Downtown State College Improvement District Inc
$130,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Centre County PAWS
$118,914GENERAL SUPPORT
State College Area Meals on Wheels
$85,689GENERAL SUPPORT
Boy Scouts Of America Juniata Valley Council
$76,227GENERAL SUPPORT
Park Forest Preschool
$62,179GENERAL SUPPORT
Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania
$61,273GENERAL SUPPORT
South Hills School of Business and Technology
$60,309SCHOLARSHIPS
Centre LifeLink Emergency Medical Services Inc
$56,581GENERAL SUPPORT
State College Area School District
$55,602GENERAL SUPPORT
Centre County Youth Service Bureau
$54,248GENERAL SUPPORT
Nittany Valley Symphony Inc
$53,660GENERAL SUPPORT
Centre Wildlife Care
$52,796GENERAL SUPPORT
Interfaith Human Services
$49,483GENERAL SUPPORT
Mount Nittany Health Foundation
$49,045GENERAL SUPPORT
Schlow Centre Region Library
$45,248GENERAL SUPPORT
Foxdale Village
$44,612GENERAL SUPPORT
Pets Come First Inc
$44,020GENERAL SUPPORT
Penns Valley Youth Center
$43,484GENERAL SUPPORT
State College Choral Society
$41,801GENERAL SUPPORT
St Paul's United Methodist Church
$40,534GENERAL SUPPORT
State College Community Land Trust
$40,222GENERAL SUPPORT
The Bible Baptist Church of Warriors Mark
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
$38,796GENERAL SUPPORT
State Theatre Inc
$38,654GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA Of Centre County
$38,226GENERAL SUPPORT
Tides Inc
$36,308GENERAL SUPPORT
St Andrew's Episcopal Church
$36,245GENERAL SUPPORT
Jana Marie Foundation
$35,710GENERAL SUPPORT
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
$32,192GENERAL SUPPORT
Mid-State Literacy Council Inc
$31,467GENERAL SUPPORT
Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra
$31,071GENERAL SUPPORT
Centre County Historical Society
$31,032GENERAL SUPPORT
FaithCentre Food Bank
$30,913GENERAL SUPPORT
St Paul Lutheran Church-Cemetery
$30,749GENERAL SUPPORT
Pennsylvania College of Technology
$30,656SCHOLARSHIPS
