Strengthening our communities.
PPL Foundation’s grant programs help organizations inspire students to explore career opportunities, facilitate community conversations to foster more inclusion, encourage environmental conservation for generations to come and so much more. See how we can help your community thrive too.
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Making an impact
Grant funding helps further the work of nonprofits making a difference in the communities we serve.
100+
nonprofit organizations
100+
communities supported
~$1M
in grants awarded annually
“We want to see the communities where we live and work remain vibrant, healthy and strong. The PPL Foundation allows us to give back to the community in ways that improve the lives and well-being of residents.”
Alana Roberts, Community Relations Manager, PPL Electric Utilities
Jan. 11, 2024
PPL Foundation – Pennsylvania Grant Overview.
PPL Foundation hosted a webcast to provide an update on grant programs in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Grant Opportunities
The PPL Foundation’s grant programs provide grants to support education, workforce development and community revitalization initiatives.
Powering Equity Grants
Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through programs such as:
- Diversity education and advocacy programs
- Programs focused on protecting underrepresented residents (ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and veterans)
Timeline:
Jan. 1-Feb. 15 – Grant applications accepted online
March – Applications reviewed and approved
May – Winners notified and grants dispersed
Empowering Communities Grants
Enriching the overall vitality of the community through programs that protect the environment and improve people’s lives, these grants support programs focused on:
- Environmental stewardship and education
- Economic development
- Workforce development
Timeline:
May 1 / June 15 – Grant applications accepted online
June – Applications reviewed and approved
Aug – Winners notified and grants dispersed
Energizing Education Grants
Supporting equitable and engaging high-quality educational opportunities for all students, these grants fund programs focused on:
- STEM (with a focus on programs that inspires students to pursue careers in the energy industry)
- Literacy and summer learning
- College and career readiness
Timeline:
Aug. 1-Sept. 15 – Grant applications accepted online
November – Applications reviewed and approved
December – Winners notified and grants dispersed
EITC Grants
In addition to grants funded by the Foundation, PPL also supports additional funding opportunities for eligible organizations. The Education Improvement Tax Credit grants allow PPL to invest in projects that improve and enhance educational opportunities for students. PPL Electric Utilities provides support to eligible Education Improvement Organizations and Pre-K Scholarship Organizations. We do not participate in the Scholarship category of this program.
Timeline:
June 1 – July 15 – Grant applications accepted online
August – Applications reviewed and approved
Fall – Winners notified and grants dispersed, pending state approval
Frequently asked questions
Don’t see your question below? Connect with us.
Any nonprofit organization (501c3) working to improve the community through initiatives focused on:
- Education
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Sustainable communities
Municipalities, churches, schools and chambers of commerce are not eligible. Applicants should be located in a region served by PPL Electric Utilities.
Grant requests from organizations located outside the PPL Electric Utilities region may be considered, but the organization should prove that its activities benefit the PPL Electric Utilities region in addition to other areas.
PPL is committed to building healthy communities through financial support to nonprofits working in the areas of education and development of sustainable communities. Grant funding can be used for day-to-day program management not for operational expenses.
Our objective is to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve, with a particular focus on the 29 Pennsylvania counties served by PPL Electric Utilities. We serve the following regions in PA:
- Berks
- Bucks
- Carbon
- Chester
- Clinton
- Columbia
- Cumberland
- Dauphin
- Juniata
- Lackawanna
- Lancaster
- Lebanon
- Lehigh
- Luzerne
- Lycoming
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Montour
- Northampton
- Northumberland
- Perry
- Pike
- Schuylkill
- Snyder
- Susquehanna
- Union
- Wayne
- Wyoming
- York
Only one proposal can be submitted per organization per grant cycle.
PPL will not be the sole contributor to capital campaign requests.
No multi year commitments will be made.
Requests from political, labor, religious groups, individuals or small groups of individuals, will not be considered.
Requests for scholarship funding will not be considered. Please see our scholarship page.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
- All recipients of grants, sponsorship dollars and in-kind support from any of PPL’s giving programs must not discriminate in their hiring practices or delivery of services on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, age, pregnancy, genetic information, or service in the uniformed services. Specific exclusions necessary to the essential operation of a program(s) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The PPL Foundation contributes millions annually to organizations in three focus areas:
- Education
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Sustainable Communities
All applications will be reviewed by regional committees of local PPL employees and the officers and board of the PPL Foundation.
All applications will undergo the same review process, with a focus on whether projects:
- Align with the PPL Foundation’s core mission and focus areas of education; diversity, equity and inclusion; and sustainable communities.
- Address an urgent need in the community.
- Target underserved populations.
- Fill a unique niche or complement other ongoing efforts in the community.
The regional committees are made up of employees who live and work in the communities they serve to ensure local consideration of each grant application.
The PPL Foundation expects to award more than $5 million annually through all its grants and scholarships, including funding for United Way.
PPL Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization. Funded solely by PPL Corporation, the foundation was formed to support community initiatives in the areas served by PPL Corporation’s utilities.
When a grant cycle is open, the application for that grant will be available in the portal.
First-time users in our application portal will need to complete a profile and create a password.
Click Start a New Grant Application to begin. You will need to provide the following:
- Contact info
- Organizational profile
- A summary of your request
- Uploads of any relevant documents (Ex: annual budget, program budget, annual reports, brochures, etc.)
Yes. You can save a draft. You can also print a copy of the application if needed.
You will be able to review your application before submitting. Once submitted, applications are no longer open for editing. If you run into technical issues, contact our technical support by clicking on the Need Support? Link at the bottom of each page.
Please see the grant timelines on this page for more information. Grant applicants will receive written notification of the grant award decision. Applicants will be able to view the status of their requests in the Foundation’s online portal.
Grant Recipient Spotlight
Find out more about the organizations that have received a Sustaining Grant from the PPL Foundation.