Chester County grants. Found and managed.
From West Chester to Coatesville and Phoenixville, the community, county and health funders behind Chester County nonprofits.
Grants for Chester County nonprofits.
Chester County runs from the suburban corridors around Exton, Malvern and West Chester to farmland and small boroughs in the west and south. Nonprofits here serve very different places, including the City of Coatesville, the Phoenixville area in the north and rural townships near the Maryland and Delaware lines.
Local philanthropy has a strong county identity. The Chester County Community Foundation in West Chester pairs donor and field-of-interest funds with its own capacity building and operating grants, and Chester County United Way in Exton invests in programs for ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The county’s Department of Community Development combines federal CDBG and HOME funds with the county housing trust and takes online proposals for community services, affordable housing and nonprofit construction.
Some money is tied to a specific area, such as the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation’s service area of townships and boroughs around Phoenixville. Pursuit tracks these local programs alongside state and federal opportunities.
Where Chester County nonprofits find funding.
Foundations, local government and United Way programs that make grants here. Check each funder's site for current guidelines.
- Community foundation
Chester County Community Foundation
Based in West Chester, it funds nonprofits serving Chester County through capacity building grants, program and general operating grants, capital campaign support and proposals to its family and field-of-interest funds. Proposals are submitted online.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) - United Way
Chester County United Way
An Exton-based United Way serving Chester County. Its Community Impact and Innovation Grants support programs in financial security, youth opportunity and healthy communities, with a focus on ALICE households. Investments are guided by a Community Impact Council of volunteers and community partners.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) - County government
Chester County Department of Community Development
Distributes CDBG, HOME and county housing trust funds and supports homelessness services through its Continuum of Care program. It seeks proposals for community services, affordable housing, nonprofit construction and municipal construction, and accepts applications only through its online portal.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) - Private foundation
Phoenixville Community Health Foundation
Funds 501(c)(3) organizations serving the greater Phoenixville area, a defined group of townships and boroughs in northern Chester County and western Montgomery County. Its grant categories are healthcare, mental health and substance use services, housing, and food security.
Visit website (opens in a new tab)
What local funders support.
- 01
Housing and homelessness
The Department of Community Development funds affordable housing, emergency shelter and supportive services, and housing is one of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation’s four grant categories.
- 02
Financial stability for working families
Chester County United Way directs its Community Impact and Innovation Grants toward ALICE households, with financial security and youth opportunity among its priorities.
- 03
Nonprofit capacity
Chester County Community Foundation capacity building grants pay for projects that strengthen an organization’s leadership, infrastructure and resilience, rather than ongoing operations.
Apply for Chester County grants. Or award them.
Pursuit is for organizations that apply for grants. Granted is for the authorities, agencies and foundations that award them. Our team sets up either one around your programs.
Pursuit
Find it. Win it.
Pursuit tracks Chester County opportunities from funders like Chester County Community Foundation and Chester County United Way alongside Pennsylvania, federal and national foundation grants, ranked against your mission and eligibility.
- Matched opportunities
- Application pipeline & deadlines
- Team tasks & reviews
Granted
Manage every award.
Award grants in Chester County? Granted runs each round from a public application page through board review and voting, recorded decisions, payments and grantee reports, with every step on the record.
- Public application portal
- Board review & voting
- Awards, payments & reports
Neighboring grant guides.
- Delaware County, PAA local guide to Delaware County funders, from Media-based grantmakers to county housing dollars, from a team based in Glenolden.
- Montgomery County, PAA guide to Montgomery County’s community, health and county funders, from Norristown to the North Penn and Pottstown areas.
- New Castle County, DEThe city, county and foundation funders behind Wilmington and New Castle County nonprofits, and how each one takes applications.
- All of PennsylvaniaState agencies, statewide resources and every PA county we cover.
Chester County grant questions.
What grants does the Chester County Community Foundation offer?
Capacity building grants, program and general operating grants, capital campaign support and proposals to specific family and field-of-interest funds, all for nonprofits serving Chester County. Capacity building grants fund projects that strengthen an organization rather than day-to-day operations.
How do nonprofits apply for Chester County housing and community development funds?
The Department of Community Development issues a request for proposals covering community services, affordable housing, nonprofit construction and municipal construction. Applications are accepted only through its online portal.
Are there funders for specific parts of Chester County?
Yes. The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation funds organizations serving the greater Phoenixville area, which includes several northern Chester County townships and boroughs and part of western Montgomery County.
Does Pursuit account for a funder’s service area?
Pursuit matches grants to your mission, eligibility and region, and you can run applications to local funders you already know in the same pipeline as state and federal ones.
Grant software for Chester County nonprofits.
See how Pursuit and Granted would work for your programs in a short demo built around the grants you go after.
Funder details last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.