Pinnacle Grant

The US Wind Force Foundation is accepting applications through its Pinnacle Grant program for charitable projects and programs. The Foundation states that its Allocation Committee will use the information submitted in the application to evaluate each grant request and emphasizes that applicants must provide detailed and accurate information. For the 2026 cycle, the Foundation is renewing its commitment to "bricks and mortar" projects, meaning physical projects expected to continue providing community benefits for years. Applications meeting this physical-project criterion will receive priority. The source does not state a total program funding amount, minimum award, maximum award, expected number of awards, or a predetermined grant amount; instead, each applicant must state the amount requested and the total budget for the proposed project or program. Grant funds must be used only for the purposes for which an award is made. Applicants must explain how Foundation funds would be used, how the award would be administered, and who would administer it. They must also describe why the proposed project or program is necessary, identify who will be served and where, explain how the activity furthers the Foundation's charitable purpose, and describe how project or program success will be evaluated. Applicants are additionally required to identify other funding sources for the proposed project or program. If grant funds appear to be misused or diverted from their intended purpose, the Foundation reserves the right to withhold undistributed funds and/or recover funds. No cost-share or matching requirement is stated in the application. The application is directed to tax-exempt organizations. The required financial and organizational documentation includes the completed grant application, a project budget, financial statements consisting of a balance sheet and profit and loss statement, the organization's most recent Form 990 or other federal tax return, the Internal Revenue Service determination of tax-exempt status letter, and a current Board of Directors roster. The financial information section requests the budget and all sources of income for the proposed project and the most recently certified or audited financial statements if available. If audited statements are unavailable, the applicant may instead provide its most recent financial statements as approved by its governing body. The application also requires certification that the organization's tax-exempt status remains in effect and that the organization does not support or engage in terrorist activity or use grant proceeds for unlawful purposes. Applicants must provide general organizational information including legal name, mailing address, county, contact person, contact title, telephone number, email address, grant amount requested, proposed grant use, and application date. A narrative organizational history is required and should include the date the organization was founded as well as its experience and expertise in its field, with specific examples whenever possible. Grant-specific questions ask for the amount requested, the project's or program's total budget, other funding sources, the proposed use and administration of Foundation funds, the need for the project, the population and location to be served, the relationship to the Foundation's charitable purpose, and the applicant's method for evaluating success. Additional pages and supplemental information or materials may be included when helpful. A complete application may be submitted electronically to foundation@uswff.org or mailed to US Wind Force Foundation, 159 Lakewood Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. The Foundation prefers electronic submission because it avoids the need to scan hard-copy materials for distribution to the Allocation Committee, but hard copies are accepted when necessary. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than September 26, 2026. The form may be retyped or completed by hand; handwritten applications should use blue or black ink and be legible. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Past recipients that failed to provide required follow-up reports or comply with funding-letter requirements will also not be considered for funding. The application provides a general contact telephone number of 304-257-0770 in addition to the Foundation email address. The Foundation does not state an application opening date, pre-application or letter-of-intent requirement, award notification date, or fixed performance period in the supplied application. For funded projects or programs lasting more than 90 days, the recipient must submit periodic progress reports in the form prescribed by the Foundation, with the first report due no later than 90 days after the date of the grant award letter and additional reports due every 90 days thereafter until completion. Regardless of project duration, a final report in the Foundation's required form is due within 90 days after completion of the funded project or program. The source does not state that the Pinnacle Grant recurs annually or on another regular schedule, so recurrence and a future cycle are not assumed from the application alone.

Prioritize a bricks and mortar physical project that will provide community benefits for years because the Foundation states such applications will receive priority. Submit a complete application because incomplete applications will not be considered. Provide detailed accurate information and address every section or indicate when a question does not apply. Include all required financial tax-exemption and board documentation. Electronic submission to foundation@uswff.org is preferred. Ensure the application is emailed or mailed and postmarked no later than September 26 2026.