2025 Application Guidelines
Additional details forthcoming.
Our Guidelines
PBF’s guidelines are an important part of the partnership we seek to achieve with applicants. We offer these guidelines as a way to help organizations determine whether their request is the right fit for our funding priorities, and to offer insight into the application process.
EMPOWERMENT GRANTS
The Empowerment Grant Guidelines document is forthcoming.
PBF's Empowerment Grants provide flexible funding support for two years for programs, projects, or initiatives that align with at least one of our newly revised funding priority areas and demonstrate community enhancement and meaningful impact over the grant term.
Grants will be awarded to eligible organizations in the range of $5,000-$10,000 per year for two years for organizations with operating budgets between $50,000-$1 million per year, and in the range of $10,000-$25,000 per year for two years for organizations with operating budgets between $1 million-$15 million per year.
Application Window: April 1–30 | Grant Notification: ~July 31 |
PBF Review and Assessment: May 1–July 15 | Grant Term: August 1, 2025–July 31, 2027 |
SIGNATURE GRANTS
We are pausing the Signature Grant Program in 2025 to focus on the launch of the Empowerment Grant Program.
Eligibility
Empowerment Grants
Organization’s Operating Budget |
$50,000–$1 million |
$1 million–$15 million |
2025 Budget Allocation |
$100,000 |
$400,000 |
Grant Range |
$5,000–$10,000/year |
$10,000–$25,000/year |
Grant Term |
2 years |
2 years |
Eligibility |
501(c)3 AND 509(a)1 or 509(a)22+ operating yearsForm 990 / 990-EZ (NO 990-N!)Not in an active grantServes at least one community where there is a Bank branch, or a community contiguous to a branch |
501(c)3 AND 509(a)1 or 509(a)22+ operating yearsAudited/reviewed financial statementsForm 990 / 990-EZ (NO 990-N!)Not in an active grantServes at least one community where there is a Bank branch, or a community contiguous to a branch |
Application |
Single-stage |
Single-stage |
Required Documents |
Current FY budgetForm 990/990-EZProgram budget/narrative (expenses + revenues)Current fundersBOD list w/affiliations |
Current FY budgetAudited/reviewed financial statementsForm 990/990-EZProgram budget/narrative (expenses + revenues)Current fundersBOD list w/affiliations |
- Organizations seeking a grant from PBF must be certified as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as “not a private foundation” under Section 509(a)1 or 509(a)2. We recommend checking your organization’s status at www.guidestar.org.
- Applicants must serve or demonstrate impact in at least one community where Provident Bank has a physical presence.
- Requests will not be accepted from organizations in an active grant term or with outstanding progress reports.
Additional eligibility criteria can be found in the grant guidelines document (forthcoming). Requests that do not meet these requirements will be declined.
Applying in 2025
Organizations applying for an Empowerment Grant will complete a single-stage application with supporting documentation, as detailed in the guidelines document (forthcoming).
All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).