Please Live Fund

The Please Live Fund is administered by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, a community foundation based in Pennsylvania that works to connect donors, nonprofits, and community initiatives to improve quality of life across the region. The foundation supports a wide range of philanthropic efforts including scholarships, nonprofit capacity building, and targeted community initiatives. The Please Live Fund was established with a focused mission to address mental health challenges, specifically aiming to reduce suicide through education and early intervention strategies. It reflects a growing recognition of the importance of proactive mental wellness programming, particularly among youth populations. The primary purpose of the Please Live Fund is to support nonprofit organizations that are actively working on mental wellness education and suicide prevention efforts. The fund prioritizes programs that serve students from kindergarten through college age, with a strong emphasis on early intervention. Projects are expected to center on education-based approaches that equip young people with the knowledge, resources, and support systems needed to improve mental health outcomes. Additionally, the fund gives special consideration to initiatives that empower students as leaders, encouraging them to take active roles in fostering mental wellness within their schools and communities. Funding through this program is limited to a maximum grant award of 10000 dollars per project. While specific allowable cost categories are not explicitly itemized, projects must clearly demonstrate alignment with mental wellness education and suicide prevention goals. The fund also considers initiatives that address systemic barriers to accessing mental health education, including programs that engage parents or caregivers of school-aged children. However, certain activities are explicitly excluded from funding, including advertising, capital campaigns, lobbying efforts, funding for individuals, retroactive projects, and religious programming for sectarian purposes. New staff positions must include a clear sustainability plan to be considered. Eligibility for the Please Live Fund is restricted to nonprofit organizations operating within specific geographic areas in Pennsylvania, including Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry counties, and the Dillsburg area of Northern York County. Additionally, nonprofit organizations located anywhere in Pennsylvania may apply if they meet the program criteria. Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations or must partner with a fiscal sponsor that holds 501(c)(3) status. Organizations must demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed activities and the fund’s mission, as well as the capacity to implement the proposed project effectively. The application process is conducted online and opens annually on June 1, with a submission deadline of September 1. Applicants may request a draft review of their application up to two weeks before the deadline by contacting the Community Investment Team. The application requires detailed information about the proposed project, including objectives, target audience, implementation plan, partnerships, and budget. Proposals are evaluated by the Please Live Committee based on a structured scoring system that assesses alignment with the fund’s mission, clarity of project design, defined roles and partnerships, financial sustainability, measurable outcomes, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applicants are notified of funding decisions by December 1, following a comprehensive review process that may include requests for additional information. Funded projects must be implemented within the designated grant year, which runs from January 1 through December 31 of the following year. Only projects scheduled within this timeframe are eligible for consideration. The program operates on an annual cycle, providing recurring opportunities for eligible organizations to apply. For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact the Community Investment Team via email at grants@tfec.org or by phone at 717-236-5040. Specific staff contacts are also available, including Teresa Gonzalez and Aubrie Wingert, who can provide guidance on the application process and program requirements. The foundation encourages prospective applicants to reach out with questions and to utilize available resources such as application tutorials and draft review services to strengthen their submissions.

Ensure strong alignment with mental wellness mission; clearly define measurable outcomes; demonstrate funding diversification; highlight student leadership involvement