1889 Foundation Grant Program

The 1889 Foundation Creative Health Impact Grant (CHIG) Awards are focused on fostering connections between the arts and the health and wellness of residents in Cambria and Somerset Counties.

The 1889 Foundation was founded on the principles of supporting innovative programs and initiatives to improve and transform the overall health and wellness of our region. The 1889 Foundation Creative Health Impact Grant (CHIG) has been created and funded to lead foundation efforts in Cambria and Somerset Counties. The grant funds will be used to support local non‐profit organizations that have demonstrated proven results and have had an impact on improving the needs within the community, specifically related to health and wellness. The 1889 Foundation believes in collaborative approaches with quality partners that have the same principles and beliefs to move the region forward, and has partnered with the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance to administer this new grant opportunity.

1889 Foundation Logo

The 1889 Foundation Creative Health Impact Grant offers opportunities for local non-profit organizations that have arts and health and wellness initiatives to apply for up to $6,000 in funding to support arts projects, performance activities, exhibitions, and other activities that relate to health and wellness.

Grant applicants apply directly to PRAA for these grant funds. The application is a fillable pdf document that is completed online, printed, and mailed to the PRAA office. The full grant application and complete grant guidelines are available by clicking on the links below.

To use the grant application, click on the link, then download the document to your computer and save it on your computer before writing on the form. You can save and reopen it as needed.

For the 2024-2025 Grant Year:

  • All funded events and project activities must take place between September 1 and August 31. The grant application and guidelines are now available. Scroll down for the links.
  • Submission deadline is Friday June 28, 2024
  • Any new applicant wishing to apply for this grant funding must schedule a meeting (in person or by phone) with PRAA’s Executive Director to discuss the scope of the program or project. This meeting must be held no less than 3 weeks before the grant deadline. There will be no exceptions to this date requirement.
  • Applicants that have previously applied are not required to have a pre-application meeting. They should notify PRAA’s Executive Director of their intent to apply for the current year.
  • An additional component this year is a brief presentation to the grant panel via a Zoom meeting. Each presentation should take no more than 15 minutes, and will be followed up by the panelists’ opportunity to ask questions. For the presentation a representative of the organization should give a brief summary of the project and be prepared to answer questions from the panel. You will be contacted to set up the date and time of the Zoom meeting which will take place in late July.

Have a question or need help? Contact us.

General Grant Guidelines
  • Funding will be used to support local non-profit organizations which have health and wellness initiatives that have demonstrated results and have had an impact on improving the needs within the community
  • Collaborative approaches with quality partners (individuals or other non-profit organizations) that have the same principles and beliefs are encouraged
  • Funded activities could include but are not limited to: exhibitions, performances, festivals, and continuing programs that relate to health and wellness
Eligibility
  • Any entity organized under section 501(c)3 or similar section of the tax code is eligible to apply
  • Fully accredited post-secondary educational institutions may apply
  • Projects supported by this grant must take place in Cambria and/or Somerset Counties
  • Multiple applications from one organization will be accepted if each application is distinctly different from the other
  • Both new programs and projects and well-established programs and projects are eligible
Help with Your 2024-2025 Grant Application

Any grant applicant is welcome to schedule a meeting with PRAA’s Executive Director to discuss the grant application. This meeting can be set up as a phone call or a Zoom conference call. PRAA’s Director can review your grant narrative and budget, offer suggestions, and answer questions about the process. Click here to set up a meeting.

Additional Grant Information – When Your Grant is Funded

How to Receive Your Grant Award

In order to receive a grant check each organization is required to complete and mail a grant award agreement. When the completed grant award agreement is received at the PRAA office the check will be issued.

If you received a grant for the 2023-2024 year you must also complete the Final Report for that project. A link for the Final Report is to the right of this text.

Click here for the Grant Award Agreement for the 2024-2025 year.

Final Reporting

At the completion of the grant project a final report is required. This report should be submitted 30 days after the project completion date, and must be completed no later than September 30.

The final report document summarizes the grant year project activities and financial summary. Support materials and evidence of appropriate crediting is also required.

Click here for the 2023-2024 Final Report.

Interim Report for Funded Grant Projects

New for the 2020-2021 year and going forward, organizations that are awarded grant funds are required to complete an interim report showing the progress of the funded grant project.  This brief report is designed to provide information on the status of the grant process. We recognize that there are changes that have or will take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes should be included in reporting.

Click here for the Interim Report form for the 2023-2024 year. Grant recipients were notified of the date that this report is due.

Have a question or need help? Contact us.

Language and Logos to Use for Crediting

CREDITING REQUIREMENTS:
1889 Foundation CHIG Award grantee agrees:
• To include an acknowledgement of the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance in all materials and announcements published and relating to the CHIG Awards’ funded activities. This statement must be included: “Funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance from the 1889 Foundation Creative Health Impact Grant.”
• To incorporate the PRAA logo in programs, promotional materials, education materials, posters and other materials relating to the CHIG funded activities and disseminated by the Grantee.

Click here for the PRAA Logo

Creative Health Impact Grant Recipients

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2023-2024 year click here.

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2022-2023 year click here.

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2021-2022 year click here.

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2020-2021 year click here.

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2019-2020 year click here.

To see a list of grant recipients for the 2018-2019 year click here.

Are you a lover of the arts? Do you believe in supporting local arts organizations and activities in rural Pennsylvania? If so, we’d love to have you as a member.