Fall 2020 Education Grant Awards

The Catholic Foundation awarded $38,794 through its 2020 fall grant cycle. The Foundation recognizes that Catholic education is inclusive of all types of religious education and ministry formation which is offered to the faithful in many ways. In 2020, there was a particular need for improved technology in both Catholic schools and parishes so that learning and faith formation could continue. The pandemic required a more targeted effort to reach students and parish communities using technology. Many of the grants awarded in this cycle are in response to the current situation faced by parishes and schools due to COVID-19. Grant funds are helping these organizations continue to instruct and catechize the faithful in northwest Pennsylvania.

Competitive grants are opportunities for parishes and Catholic schools to seek financial assistance with their outreach and educational initiatives. Eight grants were awarded in the fall 2020 cycle to parishes and Catholic schools representing the three vicariates of the 13 county Diocese of Erie. All will have a positive impact on our Catholic community – now and in the future.

Saint Francis Xavier Parish, McKean
Saint Francis Xavier Parish

Irene Schneider, Director of Evangelization at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in McKean, applied for an Education Grant for the first time in the fall of 2020 and was very happy to receive funding for their project. Describing her experience, Irene said, “Applying for a grant with the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania was so easy. The links and everything you need to apply are all easily accessible. We used our grant money to purchase FORMED and a companion kiosk for books and materials related to FORMED. We were able to roll out FORMED before Christmas to our parishioners as a gift to them. We will be using it again for Lent and we are using it for our faith formation program also.”

Other Education Grant awards include funding to support Venango Region Catholic School’s (Oil City) purchase of Chromebooks for students in Kindergarten through grade 12 and Saint Leo Magnus Parish’s (Ridgway) efforts to upgrade technology in their religious education classrooms. Click the following link to read the complete list of Fall 2020 Education grantees.

The Catholic Foundation is pleased to announce the 2021 Education and Faith Formation Grant Cycles

2021 Spring Education Grant applications will be accepted January 25, 2021 through March 5, 2021

2021 Faith Formation Grant applications will be accepted February 8, 2021 through March 19, 2021

2021 Fall Education Grant applications will be accepted August 16, 2021 through September 24, 2021

Be the spark!

Education grants are made possible through the Education Endowment of the Catholic Foundation. Donations in any amount designated for the Education Endowment increase our capacity to award grants for impactful Catholic education needs throughout northwest Pennsylvania today and for future generations.

Faith Formation grants are made possible through the Evangelization Endowment of the Catholic Foundation. Donations in any amount designated for the Evangelization Endowment increase our capacity to award grants for creative and impactful life-long faith formation programs and projects throughout northwest Pennsylvania today and for future generations.

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