WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC

Programs: Grant-making - the foundation operates a broad grants program to multiple grantees which is not limited to a single focus or cause or exclusively to the interests of a particular constituency. Each year we award some grants from discretionary resources, through an open and competitive process that seeks to address the changing and unmet needs of washington county. In addition to grant-making funds whose specific charitable purposes were defined by the donors at the time the funds were created, the foundation also manages three permanent pooled grant-making funds, with contributions received by multiple donors who share a common charitable interest. The arts fund makes grants for arts education as well as arts appreciation, and includes the performing, visual and creative arts, as well as cultural and historic projects. The mother's fund supports disadvantaged women and children. The acorn fund, the broadest of the three pooled funds, awards grants in all of the foundation's funding areas, and serves as the foundation's primary fund to support emerging and unmet needs in the community. The foundation manages three grant-making funds through the educational improvement tax credit program of the pennsylvania department of community & economic development. The eio fund awards grants for innovative educational programs at k-12 public schools; the eso fund awards scholarships to income-eligible families for students to attend non-public k-12 schools; the epk fund awards scholarships to income-eligible families for students to attend pre-approved preschool programs. And finally, the foundation accepts contributions under the opportunity scholarship program of the commonwealth. The eos fund awards scholarships to income-eligible families who live in the geographic area served by an underperforming school, as defined by the commonwealth, to attend another approved educational institution.

community leadership - the foundation works to identify and address community issues and opportunities and also serves as a leader and convener. The foundation provides individual technical assistance to area charities regarding management, fundraising, marketing, and other areas impacting non-profits and also hosts various educational programs for non- profits. Periodically, the foundation assembles and distributes, at its own expense, care packages to area charities which provide services to disadvantaged women. Since 2013 the foundation has hosted a county-wide day of giving for eligible charities serving washington county to secure unrestricted financial support. Contributions received on wccf gives day are increased by a percentage of a bonus pool of at least 100,000. The wccf does not charge any fees to the charities or to the donors to facilitate wccf gives. In 2014 the foundation began the rehabilitation of the samuel t. Brownlee house, which is on the national register of historic places and which was donated to the wccf in late 2013. Once the rehabilitation is complete the brownlee house will serve as a multipurpose facility - a scotch-irish house museum, a training facility, and for the wccf's offices. The first educational program of the house museum is the rehabilitation of the house itself. Photos and videos of the rehabilitation of each room have been posted to a dedicated section of our website, and is being followed by thousands of viewers. Photos and videos are also shared with the community via social media and by periodic newspaper articles.

donor services - the foundation works to educate and engage donors in identifying and addressing community issues and grant-making opportunities. We accept and administer a diversity of gift and fund types to meet the varied philanthropic objectives of our donors and the needs of washington county. Annually, we host a scholarship awards dinner to provide the opportunity for donors of permanent scholarship funds to meet and interact with student recipients. Also, we provide individual assistance and research services to donors regarding area non-profits. As a service to donors, we maintain on our website a searchable database of more than 100 registered 501(c)(3) charities providing services in washington county. Our website also provides the ability for donors to make charitable gifts electronically to these same charities. The foundation does not charge any fees for processing gifts received through the website. The foundation also facilitates the women of philanthropy giving circle to promote and facilitate local philanthropy in a coordinated and strategic manner to improve the quality of life in washington county with a particular emphasis on supporting disadvantaged women and children.