Receiving > Margaret E. Waldron

About the Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Trust Fund

The Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Trust Fund salutes the memory of a civic-minded visionary and philanthropist whose legacy primarily benefits residents of Muncy, Pennsylvania. Margaret Waldron was nearly 100 years old at the time of her death in 1977, but her personal achievements and community-minded endeavors will far outlive even her advanced years. In her will, Waldron noted that the three organizations of greatest interest to her at the time were Muncy Baptist Church, Muncy Public Library and Muncy Valley Hospital. These three have grown to many more as her legacy embraces a wide range of programs serving the greater Muncy area.

Born to Charles Waldron, a former president of the (then) Sprout-Waldron company, Margaret Waldron herself eventually became a member of the company's Board of Directors. Her life embodied a career of community service, beginning with her first position as a math teacher at Lock Haven High School in 1921 and culminating in her retirement from Bloomsburg University in 1956, where she was Assistant Dean of Women. Her volunteer career continued for another forty years in the community where she was highly regarded as well-educated, well-mannered and very dignified.

In 1976, Margaret Waldron set forth provisions in her will for the establishment of a Trust to "support charitable, educational, religious, or health care purposes in and around the Borough of Muncy."

Today, a three-member committee recommends funding decisions: Edward Hannan, chairman, and president of the Keystone Friction Hinge Company; Richard Lloyd, retired banking executive; and Betty Baker, cousin of Margaret Waldron. All are residents of Muncy and are familiar with the community's needs.

Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Trust Fund Grant Application & Guidelines

General Criteria for Reviewing Requests

The grant/loan review process is competitive. There are always more funding requests than there is available funding. The Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Trust Fund favors proposals that:

• Address priority community needs and/or opportunities in innovative ways that enhance the quality of life within the Muncy area.
• Show evidence of qualified leadership to complete project and responsibly administer grant funds.
• Clearly articulate a need/opportunity, demonstrate an effective focusing of human & financial resources, and hold potential for successfully impacting the identified need/opportunity.
• Demonstrate a stable funding base from other sources and/or the ability to achieve long-term self-sustainability, especially when seeking start-up or seed funding.
• Use volunteers and in-kind support to reduce and complement financial support.
• Demonstrate potential for Waldron trust funds to leverage funding from other sources and/or propose use of a Waldron grant/loan to attract matching funds.
• Does not duplicate other programs or projects serving the region.
• Stimulate cooperation and collaboration among agencies and/or between the public & private sectors where possible.

Limitations

Generally no grants or loans will be provided for:

• Nonprofit programs located outside of the Muncy area, unless a major function of the program or project is to serve the Muncy area
• Endowments (unless created within the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation)
• Ongoing operational support (except for selected agencies designated by Margaret Waldron)
• Annual campaigns and event sponsorships (except for selected agencies designated by Margaret Waldron)
• Grants or loans to individuals
• Research grants of a highly technical or specialized nature

Grant Size

Waldron grants range from $250 to more than $50,000, with the typical grant range of $1,000-$25,000. The Margaret E. Waldron Trust Fund prefers not to fund more than 30% of a capital project.

Funding Request Process

Applicants must be qualified to receive tax-exempt contributions as defined by the IRS-in the vast majority of cases, applicants will be 501(c)(3) organizations. Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may work through another qualified 501(c)(3) organization that is willing to serve as a fiscal agent for the applicant. All applicants must complete a Foundation Grant/Loan Application and include all materials listed on the checklist on page two of the application. All applicants must submit 1 original and 5 complete copies of the application and attachments.

Deadlines & Response Process

The committee's next meeting to review grant requests will be in the spring of 2008. Applicants for the spring 2008 grant cycle are encouraged to submit their requests by March 1, 2008. The committee will review grant applications in the spring, and

the Board of Directors of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania will then act on the recommendations proposed by the committee.

Grant Application

Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Trust Fund Grant Application
(213KB PDF)