First Chance Trust Fund Program
Overview: Act 44 of 2017 created the First Chance Trust Fund within PCCD for the purposes of establishing and operating a scholarship program for students, or providing grants to programs that benefit children, in those regions of this Commonwealth which have statistically higher high school dropout rates, incarceration rates or high crime rates as determined by PCCD. Funding is intended to provide at-risk youth with constructive opportunities and options. Please see PCCD's Statement of Policy on the First Chance Trust Fund for more information about the law and the agency's responsibilities under the Act.
The May 2023 First Chance Trust Fund Solicitation is now closed.
PCCD announced the availability of approximately $1.3 million in state funds in May 2023 to support the first iteration of the First Chance Trust Fund initiative. Funding was limited to those identified regions of the state that you can find in the Letter of Intent (LOI) document. Additional program specifics are also provided in the LOI. Click here to view the Letter of Intent document.
PCCD utilized a Survey Monkey initial request form to receive initial applications to determine approved applications. An application in Egrants was not required at this time.
Please note that applicants will be notified no later than July 2023 of their award status. If selected for an award, successful applicants will be expected to work directly with PCCD Staff to submit and finalize an application in PCCD's Egrants system. Please note that technical assistance will be provided to successful applicants to complete the Egrants process.
If you have any questions, please submit them to RA-PCCDPressOffice@pa.gov.
How is the Fund Supported? The Fund is supported by contributions from contractors that provide services to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) if the contract dollar threshold is expected to exceed $5 million annually. As part of the bidding process, contractors are expected to contribute the equivalent value of 1% of the annual contract amount to the Fund.
Other state agencies are eligible under the law to apply this contribution to their procurement process as well to support the Fund. Individuals are also eligible to make donations.
If you are interested in donating to the First Chance Trust Fund -- Click on the Payment Form - Business Partner Portal to submit a donation electronically (select Executive Offices for the appropriate agency).
Another option is to submit a check made out to the "Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency" with First Chance Trust Fund Donation in the memo line. Please mail the check to PCCD, P.O. Box 1167, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1167.
Contributions to the Fund began in FY22-23. Please sign up HERE to receive email notifications about updates. All other questions about the program can be referred to RA-PCCDPressOffice@pa.gov.