The Field-of-Interest program is an annual grant opportunity made possible by Centre Foundation’s Field-of-Interest funds. Each Field-of-Interest fund is designed to support a particular cause, population, or geographic area, reflecting the passions or interests of the donor who created the fund. 

This year, $162,914 in Field-of-Interest grant funding is available for programs and projects that focus on education, health and social services, the arts, youth development, and more.

Eligibility

Applicants must be an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, school, or government entity. Unincorporated groups may apply through a 501(c)(3) public charity that acts as a fiscal sponsor. Funding must be used to support programs or projects in Centre County (unless otherwise stated) that comply with Centre Foundation’s Nondiscrimination Policy.

• New or ongoing programs, projects, and capacity building efforts are eligible.
• In 2023, grant awards ranged from $500 to $20,000. The average award was $3,400.

Process and Timeline

Grant applications open on August 6 and close on September 26. 

On the application, you will be required to identify which of the 20 Field-of-Interest funds for which you are applying. You may apply for any portion of the available grant amount listed for a particular fund. You may combine several funds together if multiple funds fit the scope of your proposal. Please choose only those funds which directly relate to your proposal, based on the funds’ stated purposes and service areas as outlined in the Grant Guidelines.

All applications will be reviewed by Centre Foundation staff and members of the Grants Committee. Notice of grant decisions will be communicated to all applicants on or before November 15.

If awarded, grant funds must be spent by recipient organizations by December 31, 2025. Recipients must submit a final report at the conclusion of the funded program/project or by January 31, 2026.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through Foundant, Centre Foundation’s online application portal. If this is your organization’s first application with Centre Foundation, you will need to create an account. To apply, you’ll login to the portal with your email and password.