(WEST CHESTER, PA – February 18, 2026): The Chester County Community Foundation once again partnered with the Honors Stewardship and Civic Engagement Class at West Chester University to review and recommend the nonprofit recipient of the 2026 Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund award. The class is taught by Dr. Gerardina L. Martin, Assistant Director for the Honors College at WCU, who also serves on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Students in the Honors Stewardship and Civic Engagement Class apply their knowledge of grant proposal writing and effective due diligence in the grant-making process to evaluate proposals submitted by qualifying nonprofit organizations. Throughout the semester, students also explore Benjamin Franklin’s accomplishments and core values, ensuring their grant recommendation reflects his enduring legacy of civic responsibility and practical philanthropy.
At the conclusion of the course, a student group presents its recommendation for the Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund grant to the Foundation’s Grants Committee. The mission and programs of the selected charitable organization must align with Benjamin Franklin’s core values and longstanding interests in education, civic engagement, and community improvement.
In his 1790 will, Benjamin Franklin left 1,000 pounds sterling to the city of Philadelphia. This gift became the Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund and was invested to grow in perpetuity. More than two centuries later, Franklin’s philanthropic vision remains a reality. In 1995, the Trust was allocated among several nonprofit entities, including regional community foundations. Each year, through the Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund, the Community Foundation awards grants that honor Franklin’s legacy by supporting initiatives such as libraries, educational programs, and community-based services.
This year’s student group members are Isabella Sasso, Greta Shkodra, Lisa Hedin, and Brynn Guido. For the 2026 grant cycle, 70 students carefully reviewed proposals from qualifying nonprofit organizations and developed structured guidelines and evaluation criteria to guide their decision-making process. After thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the class recommended a $1,400 grant to Girls Spark, an organization dedicated to empowering young girls through leadership development, mentorship, and educational programming.
The Chester County Community Foundation is proud of these students’ commitment to community engagement and their role in carrying forward a tradition of thoughtful, impactful philanthropy for generations to come.
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About the Chester County Community Foundation:
Headquartered in West Chester’s Lincoln Building, the Chester County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter so their legacy philanthropy makes a difference now and forever. The Community Foundation holds over $141 million in trust and annually awards $6.1+ million in grants and scholarships via more than 335 charitable legacy funds. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.chescocf.org
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