Erie Insurance Foundation Grants

Erie Insurance Foundation Grants is sponsored by Erie Insurance Foundation. Supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits and accredited educational institutions in areas served by Erie Insurance, focusing on community building, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Funding Guidelines | Erie Insurance Giving Network Funding Request Guidelines Erie Insurance believes in the value of a strong community. Our Erie Insurance Giving Network supports this belief through our annual giving to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and to non-501(c)3 municipalities for various services and programs. You’re bound to have questions about how the application process works.

Here is an overview of some of details that you will be asked to share with us as part of your funding request. Any organization within our geographic footprint —including accredited educational institutions, nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and non-501(c)3 municipalities—may submit a request annually for funding. Requests may take 8 to 12 weeks or more for processing.

As we review your application, we'll contact you if additional details are needed. Review our frequently asked questions below for more information. Requests from organizations outside of Erie County, Pennsylvania, will be evaluated in collaboration with our nearest field office location.

Frequently Asked Questions Is my organization eligible to apply? Erie Insurance considers charitable contributions to: Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Accredited educational institutions Non-501(c)3 municipalities Select organizations holding charitable community events Are there organizations that ERIE does not fund?

The Erie Insurance Giving Network does not fund: Athletic programs, scholarships, events, booster clubs or facilities. Churches and religious organizations. Note that programs affiliated with faith-based organizations are eligible for funding as long as the programming serves the whole community, regardless of religious affiliation.

(Examples include food banks and shelter services.) Elementary, middle and high schools. Political and labor organizations.

National organizations (local chapters of national organizations may be considered when funding is expected to support the local community). Entities or activities which do not align with our commitment to inclusion and belonging. Endowments, trusts or similar organizations, including charitable remainder trusts, donor advised funds, private or family foundations or family trusts.

Donations that provide a direct benefit to the donor, the donor’s family or any other specified individual, including: Tuition payments, student fees, book fees or subscriptions. Donations to scholarship funds where the scholarship recipient is designated by the donor.

Donations that in themselves, or in combination with Erie Insurance Group’s matching gift, lead to the donor’s receiving benefits of more than nominal value, such as receipt of athletic spectator tickets or the option to purchase such tickets. Membership dues for alumni groups, social groups or athletic or other clubs. Church-related pledges, tithes or financial commitments.

Priority will be given to organizations that demonstrate commitment to their communities by ensuring their governing bodies include representatives from within the communities they serve. In 2020, ERIE improved functionality for our Grant Making Program and began a partnership with Benevity . The improvements include an online funding application that replaced the Request Funds PDF.

Nonprofit 501(c)3 Organizations If you’re a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization requesting funds for a program, project or event sponsorship, you will need to register within the Benevity Causes Portal before completing ERIE’s Request Funds application. Please see the Benevity Causes Portal and Nonprofit Support information below.

Non-501(c)3 Municipalities If you’re a non-501(c)3 municipality requesting funds for various services and programs, you do not need to register within Benevity’s Causes Portal. You can apply by completing and submitting a Request Funds Application . Please allow 8 to 12 weeks for processing requests.

Benevity Causes Portal and Charity Support The Benevity Causes Portal is where 501(c)3 nonprofits will be vetted against ERIE’s Giving Network Charitable Giving Guidelines and can provide a cause profile, preferred payment information and can include impact stories for potential funders.

By registering your nonprofit on the Benevity Causes Portal , you will be able to receive funds from all of Benevity’s clients, export donation details each month, and add information on your nonprofit’s mission and impact. Follow the “Register Your Charity” guide to setup your nonprofit profile in the Causes Portal.

If you have any questions regarding Benevity and the Causes Portal, or need any support, please visit the Benevity Resource Hub or reach out to the Charity Relations Team at causes@benevity. com . Once your 501(c)3 nonprofit is registered within Benevity’s Causes Portal, you can apply for funding by completing and submitting a Request Funds Application .

If you’re requesting sponsorship for a nonprofit event, you’ll need to provide your organization’s IRS W-9 Form , which can uploaded when completed the funding application. Requests may take 8 to 12 weeks or more for processing. As we review your application, we'll contact you if additional details are needed.

Do you accept requests by fax, U.S. mail or phone? Please submit a Request for Funds Application for the most expedited process. When should we submit a funding request?

Is there a deadline? You can submit a funding request under $10,000 for consideration at any time.

The deadlines to submit funding requests of $10,000 or more: October 31, 2025 (Note: All EITC funding requests for 2026 must be submitted by this date in order to be reviewed) January 23, 2026 (Note: All NAP funding requests for the 2026-2027 NAP cycle must be submitted by this date in order to be reviewed) Why does ERIE require organizations to submit one funding request for all activities within a calendar year?

By asking nonprofits to submit one request annually, we can gain a better understanding of your organization’s overall efforts. Additionally, it provides us with the opportunity to review how your request aligns with our three giving focus areas: Community Building, Safety and Environmental Responsibility. Your organization also could receive the maximum contribution.

If you’re requesting funds for more than one program, project or sponsorship, please complete and submit a separate request funds application for each. When will we be notified of a decision? Requests may take 8 to 12 weeks or more for processing.

As we review your application, we'll contact you if additional details are needed. Erie Insurance has always supported our organization with a donation whenever we have asked. Why not this year?

Each year, we receive hundreds of funding requests from many worthwhile organizations across our footprint. We carefully consider each request and make decisions based on our fiscal year budget and the overall sponsorship or charitable efforts. We will not support organizations that submit requests for ERIE to be its exclusive funding source.

Do I need to apply to the Erie Insurance Foundation? The Erie Insurance Foundation has its own set of guidelines and limitations, but uses the same application form. If you use the application below, your application will automatically be shared with the Foundation to ensure the best possible alignment.

Please visit the Foundation for details on their programs and guidelines . Information That You Will Need to Provide To complete a funding request, you will need to provide details about your organization such as: Year founded, mission, history and annual budget. How your organization is different from other organizations working on the same issue.

Number of employees and volunteers. Will your organization or the project provide volunteer opportunities for Erie Insurance employees, agents or customers? Has Erie Insurance been involved with your organization in any way?

Provide names of any Erie Insurance employees or agents who serve as volunteers or board members of your organization. You’ll also need to provide information about your project such as: Detailed project description, including its purpose, goals and why funding is needed. Project budget, budget worksheet and the amount you’re requesting.

Project dates, including when the funds are needed. Describe your audience or population who will be served or impacted. How many will directly benefit from this project per year?

Which of Erie Insurance’s community focus areas (Safety, Community Building and Environmental Responsibility) does this program support? What are the measurable results on this project? Briefly describe your plan for evaluating its success.

List specific media opportunities or ways that Erie Insurance will be recognized. List community partners you will work with and describe the partnership and each partners role. Does this program qualify under any tax credit program?

Provide details about all other sources of funding that you have received. In 2020, ERIE improved functionality for our Grant Making Program and began a partnership with Benevity . The improvements include an online funding application that replaced the Request Funds PDF.

Nonprofit 501(c)3 Organizations If you’re a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization requesting funds for a program, project or event sponsorship, you will need to register within the Benevity Causes Portal before completing ERIE’s Request Funds Application. Please see the Benevity Causes Portal and Nonprofit Support information below.

Non-501(c)3 Municipalities If you’re a non-501(c)3 municipality requesting funds for various services and programs, you do not need to register within Benevity’s Causes Portal. You can apply by completing and submitting a Request Funds Application . Requests may take 8 to 12 weeks or more for processing.

As we review your application, we'll contact you if additional details are needed. Benevity Causes Portal and Charity Support The Benevity Causes Portal is where 501(c)3 nonprofits will be vetted against ERIE’s Giving Network Charitable Giving Guidelines and can provide a cause profile, preferred payment information and can include impact stories for potential funders.

By registering your non-profit on the Benevity Causes Portal , you will be able to receive funds from all of Benevity’s clients, export donation details each month, and add information on your nonprofit’s mission and impact. Follow the “Register Your Charity” guide to setup your nonprofit profile in the Causes Portal.

If you have any questions regarding Benevity and the Causes Portal, or need any support, please visit the Benevity Resource Hub or reach out to the Charity Relations Team at causes@benevity. com . Once your 501(c)3 nonprofit is registered within Benevity’s Causes Portal, you can apply for funding by completing and submitting a Request Funds Application .

If you’re requesting sponsorship for a nonprofit event, you’ll need to provide your organization’s IRS W-9 Form , which can uploaded when completed the funding application. Requests of $10,000 or more For requests of $10,000 or more, you will be required to upload budget information and a logic model during the application process. Only submissions using the provided templates will be accepted.

If funding is approved, you will need to commit to a grant agreement , which will be sent to you for signature, and then complete an Outcomes Report. You will be notified regarding your Outcomes Report due date, which is generally 30 days following your project completion. Refer to the Outcomes Toolkit for resources to assist you with your logic model and outcomes report.

You can submit a funding request under $10,000 for consideration at any time.

The deadlines to submit funding requests of $10,000 or more are: October 31, 2025 (Note: All EITC funding requests for 2026 must be submitted by this date in order to be reviewed) January 23, 2026 (Note: All NAP funding requests for the 2026-2027 NAP cycle must be submitted by this date in order to be reviewed) We want to help you make a difference in people’s lives. Ready to get started?