
Who We Are
First Nonprofit Foundation is a Pennsylvania-based, private grant-making organization that focuses on bolstering the nonprofit sector in the United States. We originally started as an extension of the First Nonprofit Insurance Company. The company decided to use funds from substantial investment returns for philanthropy. The Foundation was established with an initial contribution in 2003.
In the beginning, we awarded few grants as our initial focus was solely on educational causes that helped the nonprofit community. We’ve since focused our scope, awarding more grants to programs and organizations with a wider range of interests and funding projects that meet Our Mission.
A Letter from the Executive
Arguably, the present is by almost any measure the most challenging time for charitable nonprofits. The government is cutting back on grant money. Corporations are challenged by the business climate while trying to meet the profit forecasts. Many individuals that once donated generously to charities are now turning to those charities for services.
I am amazed that at such a difficult time charities continue to step up to meet the challenge. The resiliency of charities is commendable. The innovation, stamina and loyalty to the communities where they operate are unmatched.
The notion on the part of doubters that charities are inefficient, ineffective and overgrown is misplaced. Charities have been told to shape up and become more like for-profit businesses. Many of those identified as role models are mediocre and their message is wrong. Charities do need to step up to develop better leadership, adopt successful business practices and find ways to make programs replicable.
This theory becomes the platform to determine funding by the First Nonprofit Foundation. We are looking for charities that are innovative and moving in the right direction for sustainability.
As the sector that makes this country better than anywhere else in the world we need to stand together in our push for excellence.

Joe Geiger
Joe brings more than forty-two years of experience in the fields of education, human resources and nonprofit and association management.
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