Six Pillars of Community Development

With more than $7.5 million in grant funding provided since our inception, the Orange County Community Foundation, Inc. has assisted in programs in education, the arts, health and human services, civic and historical, recreation and youth. More recently, we have expanded grant programs to include community development and placemaking, leadership and more. The link below will take you to our open grant applications,. Currently being offered are Tri-County COVID-19 Response and Recovery grants and grants for the Orleans Community from the Simmons Unrestricted Fund and the Tegarden Unrestricted Fund. Sol Strauss grant cycle is also open, but to apply for grants for the Paoli Community from that fund, see specific instructions listed on the announcement on the Home Page.

Through the numerous scholarship funds created by local donors, OCCF has offered more than $759,000 in scholarship assistance since our beginnings in 2001. We have scholarship funds covering everything from agriculture to technical and mechanical fields. 

From all three school corporations in Orange County, students from grades 8 through 12 come together to form the OCCF Youth Council. These young people learn about philanthropy, perform service projects, collect charitable items for local non-profits, and teach philanthropy to the 4th grade students in each of the county's school systems. Since 2002, the Youth Council has continued to grow and to add to their own impact on Orange County, most notably through their annual grant cycle. The grants are made from the Youth Council's own endowment fund, and selections are made via online applications by the Youth Council members themselves. 

We have more than 20 organizations that operate with our assistance and with OCCF serving as their financial administrator. Through their efforts, and the efforts of their volunteers, Orange County has benefitted from over $1.2 million in charitable assistance for food, health screenings, and school clothing and supplies for elementary school students, assistance to cancer patients, health and wellness programs, and more.

A comprehensive list of local charitable and non-profit organizations and agencies with contact information. Download a copy from our DOWNLOADS page from the link below..

Too numerous to mention, the Foundation works with community partners in both charitable and economic development efforts to build a better Orange County.