Announcing $317,200 in Grants Awarded Throughout Lancaster County

Lancaster County Community Foundation announced $317,200 in Cycle 1 grants awarded to support the work of 18 different community initiatives in 2025. These grants, ranging from $5,000 – $55,000, will fund a variety of projects including providing healthcare access for homebound geriatric neighbors, help connecting local gardeners to rural food pantries, improving early childhood education programs, sparking historical preservation, and more. 

Community benefit organizations working in Lancaster County transform grant money into tangible impact, improving quality of life across our region. Every year, the community’s endowment yields millions of dollars in grants to local organizations. These organizations are connecting individuals to critical services and growth opportunities, while strengthening existing systems to better meet the community’s needs.

The projects receiving grants are:

• Lancaster General Health Foundation – $32,000 – Supporting portable diagnostic tools and initiatives for homebound and wandering dementia patients.
• The Factory Ministries – $24,000 – Supporting the Adult Advocacy program that offers comprehensive support in areas like government program navigation, housing, financial planning, and community building.
• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank – $5,000 – Supporting Master Gardeners Adopt-a-Pantry Program, linking local pantries with gardeners trained to grow nutritious food in Eastern Lancaster County.
• VisionCorps – $10,000 – Supporting free eye screenings for preschool and kindergarten students to detect and address potential vision problems.
• Lancaster Recreation Commission – $10,000 – Supporting the enhancement of Early Childhood Education programs serving children from birth to age five.
• Fostering Hope – $5,000 – Supporting the establishment of a foster-share closet in Lancaster County, providing free resources such as diapers, car seats, and clothes for children who are experiencing the foster care system.
• Lancaster Education Foundation – $32,400 – Supporting access for middle school students to experience an immersive, overnight outdoor adventure and character development camp experience at NorthBay outdoor recreation center.
• National Network for Youth – $15,000 – Supporting a program that trains youth with lived experience of homelessness in advocacy, leadership, and systems-change skills.
• Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre – $5,000 – Supports a collaborative high school Shakespeare program in underserved schools.
• PRiMA Arts Inc. – $18,000 – Strengthening Prima’s community engagement initiatives ensuring that underserved youth, low-income families, resettled refugees, and those with physical and cognitive disabilities can experience the joy of artistic inspiration.
• Ephrata Performing Arts Center – $7,000 – Expanding outreach initiatives that work with local schools, colleges, and organizations working with individuals who may lack access to live theatre.
• Fulton Opera House Foundation – $7,000 – Supporting the Teen Lounge Program, which allows students to meet, interact, and learn from professional actors, directors, designers, and stage artists.
• Red Rose International Film Festival – $10,000 – Supporting the Red Rose Film Festival, which contributes to the local economy and arts scene through job creation, tourism, and by connecting emerging artists with audiences, industry leaders, and students.
• Millersville University Office of Visual & Performing Arts – $15,000 – In partnership with the Vietnamese Boat People and Lancaster Asian American/Pacific Islanders, multi-arts experience will immerse guests in a free community-building dialogue.
• Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development – $7,200 – Supporting the launch of an Artist in Training program to help clients embrace the visual arts as hobbies and ultimately career paths.
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design – $44,600 – For the installation of a sprinkler and fire-suppression safety system in a historical property known as “The Warehouse” on Prince Street.
• Rock Ford Foundation – $15,000 – For the continuation of an exterior painting and maintenance program at Historic Rock Ford.
• YWCA Lancaster – $55,000 – For door and window restoration in a 106-year-old building that provides essential resources to women and children.