A Field of Interest fund of the Williamsport-Lycoming
Community Foundation, established to benefit
Northumberland CountyAbout The Ralph and Josephine Smith Fund
The Ralph and Josephine Smith Fund was created to
provide scholarships to Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania residents and grants to selected agencies
in Northumberland County.
In 1995, Mrs. Smith established the Ralph and Josephine
Smith Fund with the Williamsport-Lycoming Community
Foundation to benefit four Northumberland County nonprofit organizations. It was
Josephine's wish to remain anonymous during her
lifetime, so, for five years, no one who benefited from
her generous donations knew who to thank for the gift.
They knew only that there was a "Northumberland Trust
Fund."
Mrs. Smith's death in May 2000 brought sadness to the
many who knew her, and astonishment to those who were
not aware that she was the kind and thoughtful donor who
had touched so many lives.
Today, The Ralph and Josephine Smith Fund has a
committee that makes recommendations on grants. This
committee, which meets annually to review grant
applications from the organizations designated to
receive funding from the Fund, consists of individuals representing organizations that
benefit from the fund as well as the region it serves.
Mrs. Smith created her fund with an initial gift of
$500,000. Because Northumberland County has no community
foundation of its own, Mrs. Smith established her fund
with the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation in
hopes that it would be the beginning of a community
endowment for Northumberland County. Her generous giving
assures the communities of Northumberland County a
strong and growing resource for key nonprofit and public
benefit programs. Currently, The Ralph and Josephine
Smith Fund benefits: Evangelical Community Hospital; Montgomery House/Warrior
Run Public Library; SUN Home Health Services, Inc.; Turbotville Community Hall; and the Warrior Run School
District's scholarship program.
General Criteria for Reviewing Requests
The grant review process is competitive--more funding is
always requested than available funding can meet. The
Foundation favors proposals that:
- Offer a creative response to the community's
most pressing needs and concerns
- Are preventative and farsighted rather than
remedial
- Maximize the impact of relatively modest grants
- May involve cooperation or collaboration among
program providers
Limitations
Generally, no grants will be provided for:
Grant Size
Grant requests should take into consideration the
amount The Ralph & Josephine Smith Fund has available to
award. The Fund will have $17,000 available to grant in
the Fall 2008 grant cycle.
Funding Request Process
- Applicants must be qualified to receive
tax-exempt contributions as defined by the IRS - in
the vast majority of cases, applicants will be
501(c)(3) organizations.
- Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may work
through another qualified 501(c)(3) organization
that is willing to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor for the
applicants (Fiscal Sponsor form attached).
- Applicants must serve residents in the Warrior
Run School District, if an applicant is located
outside of the Warrior Run School District, but
serves the residents of the Warrior Run School
District, it is extremely important that you
quantify how you serve the residents in the Warrior
Run School District.
- Applicants must submit 1 original and 6 copies
of the application and all required attachments.
Deadlines & Response Process
Deadline: October 1
- Applications must be postmarked no later than
October 1, 2008 to be considered. No drop-offs
or walk-ins will be accepted.
- Notification will be made late October-early
November.
Grant Application
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