Chester County Community Foundation

  Let Your Legacy Make a Difference

The Marjorie L. and Arthur P. Miller, Jr. Fund

Mission Statement...
The sole purpose of this fund shall be for environmental protection efforts in the Chester County region.  This may include such activities as education, serving as a clearinghouse and providing support for short-term program needs, while enabling organizations to retain their autonomy.  The advisors prefer that their Fund not be used for recreational purposes, or permanent land or property acquisition.

Call for Proposals in 2011...

Marjorie L. and Arthur P. Miller Fund Requests Grant Proposals for Open Space and the Environment--Download the grant guidelines to get started

The Miller grant can be used to create parks, trails, and recreation areas.  The grant can also be used for environmental education, nonprofit research and publication about significant environmental issues, volunteer and leadership development, and demonstration projects with wide application.

Potential applicants should contact Beth Harper Briglia, Vice President of Donor Services and Grant Making, Chester County Community Foundation at 610-696-8045 or beth@chescocf.org.

The Millers established their fund at the Community Foundation to award an annual grant in perpetuity which encourages communities and nonprofits to preserve and protect natural resources such as their streams, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife areas.  The focus of the Fund’s grant is to provide nonprofits with the resources to complete a project that is specific, tangible in nature, and that provides “a measurable sense of accomplishment” for their efforts.  The Millers believe that seeing a project come to fruition substantiates an organization, its members and volunteers, their hard work, and provides evidence of tangible success.

Past grant recipients include Camphill Village-Kimberton Hills which cleared the pollution and debris from an overgrown tributary to French Creek and planted native vegetation to establish a free-flowing stream; Green Valleys Association for its Welkinweir Interpretive Trail and solar energy interpretive display; Maysie's Farm Conservation Center's sustainable agriculture program for its interns so they could visit and study about other local ventures; the Red Clay Valley Association to help complete the Red Clay Greenway Trail in Kennett Square, Community Gardens for new plantings at a Coatesville Habitat for Humanity site and the Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County for its new environmental programs.  The Miller Fund also awarded a grant to the Kennett Township Land Trust for the completion of its wildlife sanctuary; Maysie’s Farm/The Montgomery School for a joint project to plant vegetable gardens; the Jenkins Arboretum for its environmentally friendly educational center and Community Gardens for the 4^th grade community garden project at Exton Elementary School.  True to the donor’s charitable intent, projects funded in the past have been for specific, relevant and applicable ideas.

The Millers, who are the authors of seven books on environmental and historical topics, are also active on many area nonprofit boards and in local community groups.  Marge served many years on the Chester County Parks and Recreation Board, Chester County 2020, and Maysie’s Farm and still serves on the boards of the American Red Cross Retiree Association and the Main Line Symphony Orchestra, to name just a few.  Art has served on the board of Delaware County Press Club and serves as secretary of the Bryn Mawr Mainliners barbershop chorus.  They are also frequent lecturers at Elderhostels, speaking on Trails Across America, the national scenic and historic trail system, and they lead hikes around the Delaware Valley for the Main Line School Night Hiking Club.

Grant proposal guidelines.

Upcoming Fund Activities and Events

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