Arts-, culture-, entertainment-, heritage-, and recreation-based nonprofits that improve Erie's economy and quality-of-place.

A maximum of $1million to be granted in the 2018 funding cycle.

Special events promote a sense of community and inclusiveness, and often generate an influx of dollars from outside Erie County resulting in local economic growth and improved quality of place for Erie residents.

In 2011, ECGRA named and made its initial investments in the Erie County Lead Assets—nine place-shaping culture-, heritage-, and recreation-based nonprofits: Erie Art Museum, Erie Arts & Culture, Erie County Historical Society, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Zoological Society, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Flagship Niagara League, and the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture.