The Chester County Community Foundation connects people who care with the causes that matter, so their philanthropy makes a difference now and forever.
A defining feature of Chester County Community Foundation’s grantmaking is its mix of unrestricted nonprofit support, capacity-building awards, and donor-advised scholarship funds. Across recent grants, the foundation backs organizations that provide direct services, operate community institutions, and serve students through education and scholarship support. The largest recent grant in the list went to LCH Health & Community Services in Kennett Square for human services, followed by major awards to Kennett Area Community Service and Kennett Library. Those grants show a pattern of sizeable local support for frontline nonprofits and anchor institutions in Chester County. The foundation also funds specific community assets through named or designated funds. Recent examples include grants to the Community Volunteers in Medicine for health care services, to the Wharton Esherick Museum for arts and culture, and to Bishop Shanahan High School for education and library support. The presence of scholarship funding, general operating support, and capacity-building grants points to a grantmaker that supports both immediate service delivery and organizational strength. Its geographic reach is local, with most grants staying in Pennsylvania and a high share going to recipients in the home state.
Human services is a major theme in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $519,100 to Kennett Area Community Service for human services and $120,000 to County of Chester for human services, showing support for both nonprofit and public-sector service delivery. Education and library work is another visible area. Chester County Community Foundation gave $483,447 to Kennett Library for education and library services and $350,000 to Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware for education and library support. It also awarded $214,570 to Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown for education and library work. Arts and culture appear through institutions with place-based roles. The foundation gave $148,700 to Kennett Library for arts and culture and $142,392 to Wharton Esherick Museum in Long Beach for arts and culture. Health also appears in recent support, including $126,765 to Community Volunteers in Medicine in West Chester for health services.
$5.2M
$136.2M
$21.1M
$8.9M
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$25K
KAREN SIMMONS
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Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $8,464, a median of $13,481, and a p75 of $25,000, which indicates many grants are relatively modest even though some awards are much larger. The recent list also shows recurring support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Kennett Library, Community Volunteers in Medicine, Wharton Esherick Museum, and County of Chester. That pattern aligns with a mixed community foundation structure: grantmaking comes from charitable funds held under its umbrella, including direct-service, general operating, capacity-building, scholarship, and designated-fund support. Several pathways accept unsolicited proposals.
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, with 80% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Recent awards cluster in Chester County communities such as Kennett Square, West Chester, Downingtown, Coatesville, and Exton. The list also includes nearby Pennsylvania recipients in Paoli and Blue Bell, plus a small number of out-of-state or regional awards such as Hockessin, Delaware; Hudson, Ohio; and Lynchburg, Virginia. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports nonprofits, schools, scholarship recipients, and community institutions. Recent grant categories include human services, education and library services, health, arts and culture, religion, and scholarship support. It also funds capacity-building work for nonprofits serving Chester County.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $8,464, median $13,481, and p75 $25,000. That suggests many awards are in the low-to-mid five-figure range, with some much larger grants in the recent list.
Yes. The foundation’s capacity-building grants and program/general operating grants both accept unsolicited proposals. Its apply-for-grants guidance also routes nonprofits toward direct service, general operations, and capacity-building pathways.
Yes. Chester County Community Foundation administers donor-funded scholarship funds for eligible students, typically graduating high school students from Chester County or students pursuing post-secondary education. Scholarship support is one of its listed focus areas.
Most grants go to Pennsylvania recipients, and 80% of grants are made to organizations in the foundation’s home state. Recent recipients are concentrated in Chester County communities such as Kennett Square, West Chester, Downingtown, Coatesville, and Exton.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Chester County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be charitable, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Funding cannot be awarded to individuals. The program is designed for nonprofits serving Chester County.
Deadline: Proposals are accepted year-round; the page also states all grant proposals are due September 18 in calendar year 2026.
Who can apply: Applicants must be charitable, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Funding cannot be awarded to individuals. The Foundation notes that proposals are considered through multiple charitable funds and donors choose which organizations to support.
Deadline: Proposals are encouraged throughout the year; all grant proposals due September 18 in calendar year 2026.
Who can apply: Grants can be awarded to nonprofit charities and municipalities, but not individuals or businesses. Applicants must attach a 501(c)(3) letter if applicable. Projects should include a Dare to Declare reading or related Declaration of Independence commemoration.
Deadline: Decisions are made on the 25th of each month; no fixed closing deadline is stated.
Who can apply: Applicants must be charitable, tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Priority to nonprofits located in and serving Chester County. (Guidance notes nonprofit budgets must be $500,000 or less for certain programs—see capacity-building program.)
Deadline: No deadline — proposals accepted all year (no deadline)
Who can apply: Grants can be awarded to nonprofit charities and municipalities, but not individuals or businesses. Applicants must attach a 501(c)(3) letter if applicable. Projects must relate to America250/Declaration of Independence commemoration.
Deadline: Decisions are made on the 25th of each month; no fixed closing deadline is stated.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content.
Deadline: No deadline specified in the provided content.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content.
Deadline: No deadline specified in the provided content.
Who can apply: Applicants must be charitable, tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) certification. Nonprofits are encouraged to submit one proposal annually.
Deadline: No deadline; decisions are made on a monthly basis. Proposals are accepted throughout the year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation | Hudson, OH | $1,012,650 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Arts Holding Hands & Hearts | Kennett Square, PA | $168,995 | 2026 | Arts & Culture |
| Community Volunteers in Medicine | West Chester, PA | $155,848 | 2026 | Health |
| Wharton Esherick Museum | Paoli, PA | $151,455 | 2026 | Arts & Culture |
| Chester County Hospital Foundation | West Chester, PA | $105,579 | 2026 | Health |
| Wissahickon Valley Public Library | Blue Bell, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| North Wales Area Library | North Wales, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Fund for Women and Girls | West Chester, PA | $89,514 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Chester County Food Bank | Exton, PA | $86,380 | 2026 | Human Services |
| RSVP | King of Prussia, PA | $75,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| West Chester Area Senior Center | West Chester, PA | $71,345 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Kennett Area Community Service | Kennett Square, PA | $69,500 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Safe Harbor of Chester County | West Chester, PA | $68,811 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Quarryville Library | Quarryville, PA | $64,680 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Historic Sugartown | Malvern, PA | $62,840 | 2026 | Arts & Culture |
| Manna on Main Street | Lansdale, PA | $59,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Pennsylvania Home of the Sparrow | Exton, PA | $52,763 | 2026 | Human Services |
| West Chester University Foundation | West Chester, PA | $52,621 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| YMCA of Greater Brandywine | West Chester, PA | $52,076 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Chester County History Center | West Chester, PA | $50,500 | 2026 | Arts & Culture |
| Lundale Farm | Kimberton, PA | $50,500 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
| Patrician Society | Norristown, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association | Kempton, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
| Trustees of The University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $49,096 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Foundation for the HorseAssoc of Equine Practitio | Lexington, KY | $47,015 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
| Willowdale Chapel | Kennett Sq, PA | $45,000 | 2026 | Religion |
| West Chester Food Cupboard | West Chester, PA | $44,365 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center | Oxford, PA | $43,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Chester County Futures | Coateville, PA | $42,771 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Care Center Foundation | West Chester, PA | $42,600 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Pottstown Regional Community Foundation | Pottstown, PA | $42,401 | 2026 | Health |
| Petra Community Housing | Spring City, PA | $41,725 | 2026 | Human Services |
| LCH Health & Community Services | Kennett Square, PA | $40,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Brandywine Valley Active Aging | Coatesville, PA | $36,500 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Habitat for Humanity of Chester County | Phoenixville, PA | $35,987 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Historical Society of Montgomery County | Norristown, PA | $33,000 | 2026 | Arts & Culture |
| Friends of Marshall Square Park | West Chester, PA | $31,835 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
| Chester County 2020 | Malvern, PA | $31,206 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
| M28 Ministries | Camp Hill, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | Religion |
| Family Promise of Southern Chester County | Kennett Sq, PA | $29,950 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Friends Association for the Care & Protection of C | West Chester, PA | $28,500 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Community Warehouse Project of Chester County | West Chester, PA | $26,800 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Riddle HealthCare Foundation | Media, PA | $26,342 | 2026 | Health |
| Easttown Library Foundation | Berwyn, PA | $26,001 | 2026 | Education & Library |
| Young Moms | Kennett Square, PA | $26,000 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Chester County United Way | Exton, PA | $25,900 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Bournelyf Special Camp | West Chester, PA | $25,595 | 2026 | Human Services |
| West Chester Downtown Foundation | West Chester, PA | $25,492 | 2026 | Human Services |
| Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue | Avondale, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | Environment & Animals |
Arts Holding Hands & Hearts
$168,995Arts & Culture
Wissahickon Valley Public Library
Education & Library
Elizabethtown College
$100,000Education & Library
North Wales Area Library
$100,000Education & Library
RSVP
$75,000Human Services
West Chester Area Senior Center
$71,345Human Services
Quarryville Library
$64,680Education & Library
Historic Sugartown
$62,840Arts & Culture
Chester County History Center
$50,500Arts & Culture
Lundale Farm
$50,500Environment & Animals
Patrician Society
$50,000Human Services
Willowdale Chapel
$45,000Religion
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center
$43,000Human Services
Care Center Foundation
$42,600Human Services
Pottstown Regional Community Foundation
$42,401Health
Petra Community Housing
$41,725Human Services
Brandywine Valley Active Aging
$36,500Human Services
Habitat for Humanity of Chester County
$35,987Human Services
Historical Society of Montgomery County
$33,000Arts & Culture
Friends of Marshall Square Park
$31,835Environment & Animals
Chester County 2020
$31,206Environment & Animals
M28 Ministries
$30,000Religion
Community Warehouse Project of Chester County
$26,800Human Services
Riddle HealthCare Foundation
$26,342Health
Easttown Library Foundation
$26,001Education & Library
Bournelyf Special Camp
$25,595Human Services
West Chester Downtown Foundation
$25,492Human Services
Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue
$25,000Environment & Animals