FirstBank Charitable Foundation
Better Giving for Greater Impact Summit & EXPO
- Date: Wednesday May 20th 2026
- Place: Chester County History Center | 225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380
About the Summit
Now entering its third year, the Better Giving for Greater Impact Summit has become one of the region’s most anticipated gatherings for changemakers. This free, high energy event brings together nonprofit leaders, donors, foundations, and corporate partners who are shaping the future of community investment. Attendees will gain fresh insights from expert speakers, connect with mission driven organizations at the Nonprofit EXPO, and discover new ways to amplify their impact across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With nearly 200 participants representing tens of thousands of lives touched, the Summit has evolved into a powerful catalyst for collaboration and a place where bold ideas turn into real, measurable change.
FirstBank Charitable Foundation
Creating Positive Change in Our Communities
The FirstBank Charitable Foundation (FBCF) is a community-focused 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization established in 2008. The foundation has awarded more than a million dollars in grants to nonprofits serving tens of thousands of individuals in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Our mission is to support charities and organizations within our communities that contribute to the betterment of their citizens and seek to create a strong fabric for the neighborhoods they serve.
We are dedicated to furthering our outreach to assist charities and organizations within our communities. FBCF focuses on building partnerships with these charitable organizations to have a positive impact on the essential needs within our neighborhoods.
Focus Areas
- Health and Wellness
- Housing
- Education
- Improving the quality of life within our communities
Grant Eligibility
We consider requests from nonprofits 501(c)(3) that can demonstrate a mission alignment with one or more of the Foundation’s funding focuses and who have a significant level of service impact within First Bank Charitable Foundation’s New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida footprint.
General Grant Request Procedure
Start a grant application through our online portal, get more detailed information and and see our current grant cycles in the link below to learn when your application will be considered.
Application Process:
- Submit your grant application through our online portal and complete the eligibility quiz.
- You’ll need to submit the organization's EIN (Tax ID#) and the nonprofit must be in good standing with the IRS. If you’re not sure, you can check IRS.gov or Guidestar.
- Applications should include a list of board members, an annual operating budget, a program budget (if applicable to a specific request), the most recent audited financials, and/or the most recent 990 tax return.
In addition, some grant programs might have additional eligibility requirements. We cannot provide funding for the following:
- Organizations with IRS Code Section 509(a)(3) status
- Athletic teams, athletic events, or sports leagues
- Individuals
- Organizations that are not compliant with the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Florida’s charitable registration requirements
- Political organizations or campaigns or organizations designed primarily to lobby
- Programs operated by religious organizations for religious purposes
- Research
- Travel and related expenses including student trips and tours
- Any organization that discriminates based on race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry citizenship, veteran, or disability status or espouses hate
Grant Cycle
Decisions on grant requests are made at Quarterly FBCF Board meetings. To be considered at any of the FBCF Board meetings, requests must be submitted by the 1st of the month of each Board meeting month.
2025 Meeting Dates
- November 20
2026 Meeting Dates
- January 22
- April 23
- July 23
- October 22
Funding Decisions
The total number of grants awarded will depend on the number of applicants and funds available. We consider factors including but not limited to: available resources, a request alignment with the Foundation’s stated funding priorities and geographic footprint, organizational capacity and good financial health, a track record of success in providing programs and services that positively impact on community needs, and a solid plan for measuring impact/success.
We recommend you apply early in the Foundation’s fiscal year which runs from October thru September, as grants are offered until the budget is fully allocated. Please remember that demand typically exceeds the resources available to support the hundreds of nonprofits across our footprint.
