GRANTS &
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Foundation provides funding to charitable organizations for projects which benefit the North East community. We prefer funding requests for specific, tangible items or projects in which the funds provided by the Foundation will have a substantive impact.
Grant Types
Our grants are awarded to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If your organization is not a 501(c)(3), you can still apply if another tax-exempt organization acts as your fiscal agent.
We do not normally provide funding for:
- program advertising
- fundraising events
- normal operating expenses
- deficit reduction efforts
- sectarian religious activities
- replacement of government or other funding
- organization startups
Timetables and Process
The Foundation Board normally considers grant applications on a quarterly basis at its regular monthly meetings in February, May, August, and November. To ensure consideration of an application at a particular monthly meeting, applications should be received by the Foundation by the following deadlines.
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Deadline |
Monthly Meeting |
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January 1 |
February |
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April 1 |
May |
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July 1 |
August |
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October 1 |
November |
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In addition, certain funds administered by the Foundation are specifically restricted to youth activities. To ensure that all applications seeking funding for youth activities are considered together, the Foundation asks that applications for the funding of youth activities for a particular calendar year be submitted no later than January 1 of the year.
The foregoing deadlines are not intended to preclude the receipt and consideration of applications outside such time frames. However, absent unusual circumstances, the Foundation would normally expect to process applications in accordance with this schedule.
Application Instructions
To submit a grant request, please fill out and return the attached form to Info@NECommunityFoundation.org.
Questions and Additional Info
Additional information about grants is available here.
If you have questions regarding the application process or would like additional information regarding The Foundation, please contact us by email.
Completed applications should be sent to:
The North East Community Foundation
P.O. Box 327
North East, PA 16428
Scholarships
Through the generosity of members of the community, The North East Community Foundation has been helping make students’ dreams come true. Scholarships are awarded annually, in varying amounts.
A complete list of North East based scholarships are listed below.
Please note the application process differs by scholarship. Some may be complete online and submitted directly to us for review. Others are only available through the North East High School Guidance Office.
Scholarships offered by the Erie Community Foundation and open to applicants from throughout Erie County or the region can be found here.
Donors interested in creating a scholarship fund should contact Steve Weiser, vice president of philanthropic services at The Erie Community Foundation at 814.413.7345.
Charles Barton Scholarship Fund
The Charles Barton Scholarship was established by the late Chuck Barton in memory of his wife, Judy Barton, who worked as a registered nurse in the North East School District.
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from North East High School.
- Must be pursuing a degree in the healthcare field.
- Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply:
Contact the North East High School guidance office or download the application below.
Download the application: Barton Scholarship Application
Dorothy Bertges-Thornton Scholarship
In early 1997, the Foundation received $136,005 from the estate of Dorothy Bertges-Thornton, with the income being designated for use by six local organizations. To date, more than $30,000 has been awarded to those organizations from the Bertges-Thornton Fund.
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 30
Eligibility:
- Must be a 2019 graduating senior planning to continue your education.
- Must have financial need as determined by your PELL Grant eligibility.
How to Apply:
Please call your High School Counseling Office
DefIANt Scholars Program
The DefIANt Scholars Program provides scholarships that help students with disabilities attend college. Founded by Ian Malesiewski, a North East native and athlete who sustained a spinal cord injury and is now attending Harvard Law School, this program aims to support students and make the transition to college less difficult. Our mission is to help aid people with disabilities to break down barriers, stereotypes, and misconceptions inside and outside of the classroom.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 1
Eligibility:
- Must have a physical or intellectual disability.
- Must be pursuing college or another higher education opportunity.
- First preference will be given to individuals from Erie County.
How to Apply:
Visit The Erie Community Foundation website to apply
If you need assistance with the application process, please email Ian Malesiewski.
Gunther Edelmann Scholarship
The Edelmann family established this scholarship in honor of their dad, who dedicated his life to education and service.
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from North East High School.
- This scholarship is intended for NEHS seniors who plan to continue their education at a college or university.
- Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply:
Thayer Fonda Scholarship
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Benefits a deserving senior of North East High School.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Will support the pursuit of post-secondary education in the field of music.
How to Apply:
Contact the North East High School guidance office for an application.
Robert Whitney Erie County Farm Bureau Agricultural Scholarship
Amount: Determined annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- This scholarship is intended to benefit the children and grandchildren of Erie County Farm Bureau regular or associate members in good standing. To be eligible, members must have consistently paid the Farm Bureau’s dues for a minimum of two consecutive years.
- Must be pursuing post-secondary education, which includes vocational school. While all candidates are eligible, preference will be given to those students whose primary major or field is agriculturally related.
How to Apply:
Richard Gorzynski Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established in honor of Richard Gorzynski, a North East resident, triathlete, fierce competitor, and highly intelligent leader who was stricken with cancer at age 48.
Amount: $250
Deadline: There is no deadline.
Eligibility:
- Awarded to senior athletes from North East High School.
Ethan Kalosky Scholarship Fund
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a current or former member of North East, PA Scout Troop 57 who have achieved Eagle Scout designation.
- Award is for post-secondary education at any college, university, or vocational school.
- Candidate must demonstrate leadership, intellectual curiosity, and love of community.
How to Apply:
James R. Meehl Memorial Scholarship
James Meehl was a lifelong resident of North East, owner of Eureka Electrical Products, and a founding member of Lakeview Country Club. He excelled in academics and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Amount: Determined annually; renewable for four years
Deadline: April 17
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating North East High School senior pursuing a post-secondary degree at a four-year college or university.
- Must be a member of the NEHS National Honor Society.
- Must be a member of a varsity sport.
How to Apply:
- Contact the North East High School guidance office for an application.
The Miller Family Scholarship
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from North East, PA school district or a resident of the Borough or Township of North East, PA.
- This renewable scholarship is intended for college, university, or vocational education.
- Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply:
The Lenora Jane Perdue Scholarship
Amount: Determined annually
Deadline: May 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from Westfield Academy & Central School (Westfield, NY); Ripley Central School (Ripley, NY); or North East High School.
- Must be pursuing a degree in the education field.
- Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
How to Apply:
Susan Elizabeth Valone, MD Memorial Scholarship
Susan started her life here in North East but ended up as an infectious disease specialist in Colorado. Along the way, she went to the University of Pittsburgh for her undergraduate degree, Temple University for her medical degree, Johns Hopkins for residency, and then Case Western Reserve and UCLA for fellowships to take her to her goal in infectious diseases. She married, had a child, and started a practice at Boulder Community Hospital in Colorado before being overcome by pancreatic cancer.
In her honor, the Estate of Charles and Alice Valone has established a scholarship for a North East High School graduate who is seeking a career in healthcare through collegiate or vocational education.
Amount: $1,000 annually for one year
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from North East High School.
- Must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale during last three years of high school.
- Must be pursuing a degree in the healthcare field.
How to Apply:
Requirements
- Give the name of an educational institution where degree or training is to be pursued and to which the student has been accepted.
- Write one original essay — must be at least one typed page in length. It must discuss why the student has chosen this career path and why this award will be impactful.
- Provide at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, supervisor or pastor.
- Completed application form.
Apply
- Contact the North East High School guidance office.
The Jane Novak Zavasky Scholarship
Amount: Determined Annually
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating senior from North East High School.
- Must be pursuing a degree in the education field.
- First preference will be given to students who attended North East Middle School for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.
- Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply: