Announcing $332,950 in Grants Awarded Throughout Lancaster County

Lancaster County Community Foundation announced $332,950 in Passion Grants awarded to support the work of 13 different local initiatives in 2026. Through the generosity of donor advised fundholders and members of the wider community, an additional $5,950 was added to the $327,000 granting pool to support specific projects, increasing the impact of this grant cycle. These grants, ranging from $10,000 – $59,100, will fund a variety of initiatives including music therapy programming, resources for foster families, environmental learning opportunities, historic 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:

Health & Human Services

• Lancaster General Health Foundation – $19,500 – Supporting portable diagnostic tools and initiatives for homebound and wandering dementia patients to preserve dignity and care accessibility.

• Landis Communities – $16,900 – Supporting older adults in Lancaster City by providing nurse-led care navigation and in-home support.

• Conestoga Valley SEEDS – $30,000 – Supporting a partnership with Union Community Care to bridge a gap between vulnerable households and quality primary and behavioral healthcare.

• Fostering Hope – $10,000 – Supporting foster-share closets, which will provide free resources like diapers, clothes, and car seats to children in foster care.

• Lancaster County Chooses Love – $15,100 – Supporting the Inclusion Institute, providing practical trainings to help organizations create safer, more inclusive and affirming environments for the people they serve.

Youth & Education

• Hands-on House – $15,000 – Supporting Pop-Up Playschool, a two-generation, cohort-based program aligned to PA Early Learning Standards for children not attending preschool.

• Little Conestoga Creek Foundation – $33,500 – Supporting the creation of the Underwater World Up Close exhibit, a feature of a sensory trail walk along the Blue Green Connector.

Arts & Culture

• Red Rose International Film Festival – $22,300 – Supporting an annual film festival showcasing curated films from around the world while engaging local audiences through screenings, filmmaker discussions, and educational programming.

• Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development – $10,500 – Supporting the Modern Band program, which provides teens and young adults of all abilities the opportunity to connect, create, and belong together through music.

• Bench Mark Program – $27,500 – Supporting workshops and mentorship from local artists to engage historically underserved youth in music, podcasting, and visual arts so they can transform lived experience into creative works.

• Demuth Foundation – $15,000 – Supporting Augusta’s STEAM Academy, a project-based educational program for elementary school students focusing on kitchen chemistry, horticulture, and art.

Historic Preservation & Infrastructure

• First Reformed United Church of Christ of Lancaster – $59,100 – Supporting the restoration of the steeples and exterior wood features through targeted repairs and protective coatings to preserve the church’s historic presence at 40 E. Orange St. in downtown Lancaster.

• YWCA Lancaster – $58,550 – Supporting the restoration of the steeples and exterior wood features through targeted repairs and protective coatings to preserve the church’s historic presence at 40 E. Orange St. in downtown Lancaster.