Community Grants

The PPL Foundation contributes millions of dollars annually, partnering with nonprofit organizations to strengthen the communities we serve.

Our focus areas

Community Vitality

housing stability, food security, energy assistance, arts & culture

Access to Opportunities

economic development, inclusive skill-building or entrepreneurship training,

workforce development

Resilience & Sustainability

environmental stewardship, neighborhood revitalization, emergency preparedness, disaster relief

Education

STEM programs, literacy, career pathways, college readiness

Grant Programs

We accept grant applicants for up to $20,000 twice a year – in the spring and fall. Eligible nonprofit organizations working in the focus areas described above can apply during the open application periods in the spring and fall. Only one grant will be awarded per organization annually.

Applying for a grant? Follow these steps:

  1. Determine eligiblity – review our list of eligiblity guidelines to determine if your organization qualifies.
  2. Review alignment areas – Understand how your grant proposal aligns with the PPL Foundation’s focus areas.
  3. Contact Us – Reach out to your local Foundation representative with information on your grant proposal and its focus area alignment.
  4. Submit your application – After determining your eligibility with your area’s contact, use our electronic grant application to file your grant request. Review the complete FAQ for additional guidance.
  5. Grant Review – Once your grant is submitted, our team will review your application. The review process may take up to three months or more for a decision to be made on your application.
Learn more about Pennsylvania Grants
Learn more about Rhode Island Grants

Grants Timeline

Grant Cycle

Spring

Fall

Applications Open

February 1 – March 15

August 1- September 15

Review Period

April – May

October – November

Grants Awarded

June

December

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
  • Community revitalization
  • Workforce development

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.

Our goal is to be a catalyst for change by supporting nonprofits working in the areas of education and development of sustainable communities. The PPL Foundation contributes millions annually to organizations in three focus areas:

  • Education
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Sustainable Communities

Major grants should focus on major expansion of programming. Capital expenditures will be considered where it will assist with the expanded capacity to serve.

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 major grant will be approved per organization per year, and only one proposal can be submitted per organization per grant cycle. But a sustaining grant recipient may also apply for a sustaining grant.

  • 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.

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. (example: women’s shelter)

The PPL Foundation contributes millions annually to organizations in four focus areas:

  • Community Vitality
  • Access to Opportunities
  • Resilience & Sustainability
  • Education

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 community vitality; access to opportunities; resilience & sustainability; and education.
  • 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 $3 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.

Applications for Major Grants will be accepted from Aug. 1- Sept. 15. Decisions will be made by December. Please see our Grant Timeline on this page for more info.

  • Click here to access the portal to apply.
  • During a grant cycle, a link for the application portal will be available under one of the PPL Foundation grants.
  • First-time users in our application portal will need to complete a profile and create a password.
  • Click Start a New Major 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.

Decisions on major grants will be made in December of each year. 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.

Still have questions? Contact us to learn more.