The Centre PACT Grant Program, facilitated by Centre Foundation, empowers high school students in Centre County to engage in philanthropy by assessing local youth needs and distributing grants to nonprofit organizations. This initiative funds projects that have a direct positive impact on young people (Pre-K–12) in the community, focusing on areas such as mental health, access to extracurricular activities and essential goods, and educational equity. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status serving Centre County, Pennsylvania, are eligible to apply.

Applications for 2025 open on December 3, 2024, and must be submitted by January 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM through the Foundant online portal. The grant awards, ranging from $500 to $5,000, typically average $1,400 and are announced by April 30, 2025. Funding decisions are based on the potential impact of the proposed projects, alignment with Centre Foundation’s nondiscrimination policy, and the extent to which they address youth needs in the county.

Applicants must provide detailed information about their project, including its purpose, goals, expected outcomes, and budget. Projects should include clear descriptions of how funds will be used, specify other sources of revenue, and outline how results will be measured. In lieu of a traditional report, grantees are required to attend Centre PACT’s year-end celebration in June 2025 and provide an update on their projects at a fall meeting.

Youth involvement is a key component, with students driving the grantmaking process and engaging in decision-making. Applicants should also describe how their projects incorporate input from the young people they aim to serve. Applications will be evaluated by Centre PACT students, with select finalists invited to present their proposals before final funding decisions are made.

For assistance with the application or using the Foundant portal, applicants can contact Krista Williams, Grants and Scholarship Coordinator, at krista@centrefoundation.org or (814) 237-6229. The program emphasizes collaboration, community impact, and the importance of youth-focused initiatives in creating a supportive and thriving environment for Centre County’s young residents.