Dear Kristyn,

A reflection for today: “Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn life around." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Please continue to keep us informed of what's happening with you in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The information here comes from you, with links to our website for more complete information and resources. Send your events and updates to Kristyn: [email protected]. Thank you!

Warmly,

Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director

Payal Mohan, Associate Director

Board of Directors

B-JEDI Metrics Part I

Belonging - Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Rescheduled Date: February 27!

B-JEDI Metrics Part II

March 5, 10:00am-12:00pm, Zoom

During this session, we will ask and answer:

How can my organization get started with the tools shared on February 27? What are key steps to implement B-JEDI plans?

If you're feeling stuck at the start or are unsure of how to apply limited time and resources, this session will help guide you. The path forward will look different for all of us, but we can learn from key, core steps together.

Registration includes a question field, with your questions and needs helping to inform this session; all information will be kept confidential.

Wellness Session for You and Your Team!

March 6, 10:30am-12:00pm, Zoom

Sponsored by: VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn

Facilitated by: Hive & Thrive

Explore Meaning and Achievement, specifically the ideas of Visualization and Hope Theory.

Our time together will include a guide for gentle movement to promote agency and clear blockages and limiting beliefs.

Participants will receive guided prompts to support post-session individual wellness and team building. 

Entrepreneurial Growth For Non-Profits: Succession Planning Made Simple

Free Recorded Webinar & Toolkit!

Presented by: Mike Martin

Learn more here!

Trauma 103: Recognizing Vicarious and Secondary Trauma for Caregivers

March 27, 2-4pm, Zoom

Facilitated by: Melissa Groden and Shushma Patel

Open and free to all members

Share the flyer

2024 Voter Engagement and Education Initiative

Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

February 27th, 2024, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Voting is often the first step to greater civic participation. By encouraging the people you serve to register to vote, you send an important message that they matter. Leading up to the 2024 election, the Housing Alliance of PA is excited to continue their work in supporting organizations to begin or expand voter registration and engagement efforts with the people and communities they serve.

Join their webinar on Tuesday, February 27th to learn about:

• Resources and support your organization can be provided by partnering with the Housing Alliance

• Who can engage in this work and why it is important 

• Remaining nonpartisan as a 501(c)3 organization, and

• Strategies and tips to educate and engage clients and the community on upcoming elections.

Register here

Join PA Youth Vote for their Growing the PA Youth Voter Movement webinar series for adults working with young people!

In this series, they’ll share timely nonpartisan resources and strategies for youth voter and civic engagement leading up to the PA Primary Elections.

Hiring a Community Liaison

Mercy LIFE

Shift: Typical work schedule is Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm with occasional evening or weekend hours required. 

Status: Full time

​Location: Mercy LIFE Norristown, Philadelphia, PA

Incentives: $5,000 Sign on Bonus AND 1st Day Benefits

Mercy LIFE is looking for a compassionate and sales minded Community Liaison to join their Trinity Health PACE team at the Mercy LIFE Norristown facility in Philadelphia, PA. Mercy LIFE Norristown ministers exclusively to the elderly through a coordinated PACE care model which provides preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services designed to assist older individuals to live as independently as possible while continuing to live within their community. Many PACE participants get most of their care from staff employed by the PACE organization in the PACE center.

What they offer:

• Warm and supportive environment with a truly patient-centered focus

• Competitive salary and benefit package, including 1st Day Benefit coverage and Daily Pay

• Career paths and professional development 

• Learn the industry's best, easy-to-use, advanced technology 

• Ability to earn incentives through our Employee Referral program

What you will do:

• Develop relationships with community referral sources, agencies, healthcare/human services professionals, and families to provide understanding of the PACE Organization and secure referrals/enrollments for the PACE program.

• Work collaboratively to enhance PACE Organization brand in the community to identify sales opportunities and establish relationships with referral sources.

• Implement sales strategies to meet sales and growth objectives in coordination with management.

• Provide in-services and presentations to the community as requested.

• Use CRM system to track all referral information.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of sales or marketing experience preferred (high school diploma or equivalent required)

• A combination of education and experience may be acceptable.

• Experience partnering with senior community resources such as hospitals, senior living communities, home care companies, long/short-term care and/or rehabilitation facilities preferred.

• Valid Driver’s license.

• Proficiency with Microsoft product suite (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.); basic knowledge/experience with email and calendaring systems.

• Superior written, verbal and presentation skills appropriate for audience comprehension. Able to communicate effectively with individuals and groups representing diverse perspectives. 

• Must be action-oriented, manage conflict well, be customer focused, have high decision quality, flexibility to adapt to ongoing change and have organizational agility.

• Position requires frequent kneeling, crouching, reaching, lifting, sitting, walking, bending, and lifting.

• Must be able to push, pull, move and or lift a minimum of 20 pounds if applicable.

Visit their website

What are Governor Josh Shapiro’s priorities for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania this year?

Learn more about the proposed 24-25 budget.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Whether you're working on a hyper-local issue or getting ready for a new legislative session, learn how to grab the attention of government leaders and move them to action. Visit the Strategic Communication Planning Hub and dive into their newest curriculum topic: Communicating with Government Leaders. This HUB is designed to help design communication strategies to advance your organization’s policy, advocacy and programmatic goals.

Education Law Center

Commission Proposes Transformational Plan to Fund Pa. Schools!

“Following months of testimony and advocacy by ELC and others, the state’s Basic Education Funding Commission issued a majority report on Jan. 11 finding that Pennsylvania school districts are underfunded by more than $5.4 billion and recommending a seven-year plan for the state to close this massive funding gap. If implemented, this could be life-changing for students in the state’s underfunded schools. The plan represents a major milestone towards an effective remedy in the school funding case. We had urged the commission to identify a research-based target for what level of added funding is needed, and they did!

The bipartisan commission included representatives of Gov. Shapiro and House and Senate members. Through 11 hearings over three months, members conducted a comprehensive review of the commonwealth’s school funding system and made eight recommendations to ensure stable, predictable, and adequate funding for all school districts. Using methodology similar to the one we recommended, the report estimates the total adequacy gap is $5.4 billion and says the state’s responsibility is to provide $5.1 billion of that, almost 95% of the total. An additional $955 million increase is recommended as relief for school districts that have had to impose extraordinary local tax rates. Both increases are to be phased in over seven years (a longer timeline than we had advocated).

The report’s proposal does not include additional money for pre-K, although the court highlighted this as an issue to be addressed, and ELC will continue to advocate for this important foundational investment. The commission also recommended increases of at least $200 million annually to be distributed through the state’s current basic education funding formula and $300 million each year to renovate or rebuild school facilities. The total first-year increase would be $1.4 billion, with increases for every district.”

Education Law Center

New State Coalition Takes on Extremist School Boards

ELC is a founding member of a new statewide coalition, Pennsylvanians for Welcoming and Inclusive Schools (PAWInS), working to support public schools that are affirming and to fight state legislation and school board policies that censor books, limit student and teacher speech, and attack Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ students.

PAWInS officially launched with a press conference on Jan. 21. Founding groups include ELC, ACLU, Education Voters, Red Wine and Blue, PA School Library Association, Disability Rights PA, and Planned Parenthood. The groups began working together informally in May 2022, when parents in the Central Bucks School District reached out for help fighting a book ban policy. After organizing a parent forum in Bucks County, the groups worked together statewide to provide legal and organizing assistance to parents fighting regressive board policies and to defeat state legislation that would have made these types of policies mandatory for all districts.

Since 2022, PAWInS partners have assisted communities in 75 school districts in 25 counties. The coalition’s goals are to educate the public about the harm that is done to students when schools seek to exclude LGBTQ+ students and students of color, to assist community groups, to be a forum for parents working on these issues, and to develop and share tools on the coalition website.  

ELC provides trainings for coalition groups and community members. On Jan. 11, ELC staff led a training for school board members on education law and best practices for inclusive schools free from race- and sex-based discrimination and book bans.

Learn more and get involved!

Housing Alliance of PA

Their recent Statewide Eviction Report evaluated eviction filing trends in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2023, analyzing shifts during pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods, with a specific focus on communities where these changes are prominent. Their new interactive report provides an in-depth analysis of eviction data, offering insights into the issue and allowing users to explore specific county-level data to understand eviction trends in their area. Learn more.

Congratulations to the 2024 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Award Winners! View photos and complete award information.



A special shout out to the Collaborative members who placed in the top three in their award categories, with almost every award category including a Collaborative member winner! What an amazing, innovative community!

SOCIAL INVESTORS: INNOVATIVE INVESTOR STRATEGIES

Emma Hertz, HealthSpark Foundation

NOT FOR PROFIT: SOCIETAL IMPACT

1^st Place! Julie Dees, Family Service Association of Bucks County

COMMUNITY IMPACT: INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

LIFT United - United Way of Bucks County

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT

Kate Fay, One House at a Time (OHAAT)

EQUITY and JUSTICE

1^st Place! Dr. Bernadine Eyo Ahonkhai, The Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Leadership Program, Coalition for Racial Equity and Social Justice

Runner Up - Racial Equity Learning Community: Thank you for your votes!

WORKFORCE and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1^st Place! Kristina Valdez, Along the Way

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

1^st Place! Penelope Ettinger, NOVA

Emily Vincent, The Center for Loss and Bereavement

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Your Way Home Emergency Rent & Utility Coalition (ERUC) program

HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS AND NUTRITION

1^st Place! Cathy Snyder, Rolling Harvest

Pastor Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, Bethel AME Church

Philanthropy Today - A.I. Is the Future of Work. That Doesn’t Have to Be Bad.

By Sara Herschander

“If A.I. can take care of busy work, burnt-out nonprofit employees may have more time to focus on what matters most. Read more.”

Philanthropy Today - Inside TikTok Fundraising Success



“Explore, Be Authentic: TikTok is known for short videos that reel viewers in, often with content that is humorous, lighthearted, informational, or trending. For organizations looking to hop on TikTok, the first step is to get acquainted with the platform as a user, says Madeline Walden, digital content and community manager for the Aquarium of the Pacific, which has more than 2.8 million TikTok followers.” Read more.

Education Department Seeks Sponsors for Summer Meals Programs



The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is encouraging organizations across the state to help provide nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the summer months through the Department’s Summer Food Service Program. New sponsors must apply by May 1, 2024.

“For many students, their only access to healthy, nutritious meals is found at school. We’re calling on organizations across the Commonwealth to join us in combating hunger and helping children receive nutritious meals during the summer months,” said State Director of Child Nutrition Programs Vonda Ramp. “Hunger impacts families across the Commonwealth, creating significant barriers to learning and development, and we’re asking organizations throughout Pennsylvania to help make sure kids have access to the nutritious meals they need to grow, even when school is not in session.”

Last summer, more than 200 organizations provided nutritious meals to children at approximately 1,750 locations throughout the state. However, to reach more children and narrow the hunger gap that summer may bring, more organizations and meal sites are needed throughout the state, especially in rural areas. Participating organizations are reimbursed for meals served to children who live in areas in which at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program.

Participating organizations must be year-round, not-for-profit entities, which include schools, local, municipal or county governments, libraries, churches, fire and police stations, residential summer camps, and national youth sports programs. Organizations approved to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program are responsible for managing the meal service sites that provide meals to children. Beginning this summer, organizations serving rural areas may be approved to provide non-congregate meals, such as grab-and-go meals or delivered meals, to children in qualifying areas.

Most participating organizations may be reimbursed for up to two meals a day: lunch or dinner, and breakfast or a snack. Those serving primarily migrant children may be reimbursed for up to three meals a day. Camps may serve up to three meals a day, but they are reimbursed only for meals served to children eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program.

The Summer Food Service Program, which began in 1976, is a federally funded child nutrition program designed to reach those who are age 18 or younger in economically disadvantaged areas. People over 18 who are mentally or physically handicapped and participate in public or nonprofit private programs established for the disabled are also able to receive free meals at the Summer Food Service Program sites.

Learn more, and become a sponsor!

ERUC Successfully Delivered Over $115.9 Million to Households in Montgomery County - Your Way Home

ERUC's efforts have been crucial in providing much-needed relief to families struggling to make ends meet during these challenging times. The program's success can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of the six provider agencies who worked tirelessly to distribute funds to those in need. Although ERUC is no longer accepting new applications, there are still resources available to those who require assistance. Your Way Home encourages individuals and families to explore all options and reach out to local organizations for support. To be connected to community resources, contact the Montgomery County Community Connections Navicates at 610-278-3522. Thank you to ERUC provider agencies: ACLAMO, Family Services of Montgomery County, Manna on Main Street, YWCA Tri-County Area, CADCOM, and Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities for their unwavering commitment and diligence in disbursing these funds.

The United States Office of Evaluation Sciences has released a report covering equity in the first-ever nationwide eviction prevention program. Key findings from the report include that:  

• Extremely low-income renters were overrepresented: at 64%, their share of the recipient population was twice their share of the eligible population. 

• Black renters were strongly overrepresented among recipients of ERA – their share of the recipient population was 21-22 percentage points higher than their share of the eligible population. 

• The share of recipients who identify as women was 14-15 percentage points higher than their share of eligible renters. 

• Montgomery County saw an increased percentage of low-income renters served compared to the national average.

Young, Unhoused and Unseen, Episode 5:

Unsheltered in suburbia

In this episode, an unhoused young person in Pottstown, a Montco service provider, and housing advocates from across the suburbs explain the impact of youth homelessness.

This episode is from Young, Unhoused and Unseen, a podcast production from WHYY News and Temple University’s Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting.

2023 Point-in-Time Report - National Estimates and Local Perspective - Your Way Home

“In December, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report: Part 1: Point-in-Time Estimates, an annual snapshot of the number of individuals in shelters, temporary housing, and in unsheltered settings across the U.S.

This report shows that, nationally, homelessness has risen 12% since last year (2021 - 2022), and the numbers are the highest they've been since the start of the PIT in 2007. In Montgomery County, we saw a 37% decrease from January 2021 - 2022, and a 24% decrease since the start of our count in 2009. However, the PIT counts don't tell the whole story. In Montgomery County, we are seeing increases in the homeless crisis response system at an alarming rate (190% increase from 2016 - 2022), with rising rents driving more people to eviction, housing instability, and homelessness.”

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Thank you to Montgomery County Department of Human Services and SE Regional Mental Health Services Coordination Office for offering these free trainings! Sign up now.

The Center for Loss and Bereavement provides support and hope on your journey of grief, with the guidance and care you need to find strength through community and self-discovery. Learn more.

Jefferson Health Abington Dental Care Access Program



In the past, they have operated using a waitlist. At this time, space is available and they will most likely be able to enroll participants in a timely manner.

Interested individuals can contact Julie S. Paslowski directly at 215-412-8507.

AARP Purpose Prize

This year, AARP will select up to seven nonprofit founders 50 and older to receive $50,000 for their organizations and a year of access to supports and technical assistance to help broaden the scope of their work. The call for applications runs through February 29, 2024. And to be eligible, applicants need to be:

• 50 years of age or older and founded their organization at age 40 or older

• The founder or co-founder of a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization

• Have an active role in the organization

• A legal US resident living in the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia 

Complete rules and details are available at www.aarp.org/apply. Learn more and apply!

The Welcome Project PA



Thanks to the Gender Justice Fund (GJF) via the Trans Resilience Fund, The Welcome Project PA can now provide a limited number of short-term microgrants for transgender and gender nonconforming folks in need (including the parents of trans kids). Grants are restricted to the Greater Philadelphia area and are contingent upon available funding. Please share this link with those who can use these funds! 

Foundations Community Partnership

LOIs due April 1, 2024



Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG) are offered on a competitive basis to non-profit human services organizations providing services to children and youth in Bucks County. These grants, ranging in value up to $15,000, will be awarded to eligible applicants that develop innovative ideas to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and families.

Capital Improvement Grants are offered on a competitive basis to non-profit human service organizations providing services to children and youth in Bucks County. These grants, ranging in value up to $10,000, will be reviewed for capital campaigns including structural improvements to the facility (bricks & mortar, such as new buildings or addition to existing buildings), or extensive renovation or addition of durable equipment to an existing structure. 

Awarded annually in December and June, a Letter of Inquiry must be submitted by

April 1, 2024. Following LOI approval, applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024.

Thank you to the Montgomery County Planning Commission for sharing these opportunities! 

March 1 Deadline | Pottstown Community Voices Grant Fund

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation is offering an additional funding opportunity through the Pottstown Community Voices Grant Fund. Applications will be accepted from February 1, 2024 to March 1, 2024.

March 6 Deadline | AARP Community Challenge

AARP Community Challenge is now open for quick-action projects on a local level. Apply by March 6, 2024. More Information

March 18 Deadline | Spring Grant Cycle

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation's Spring Grant Cycle opened February 12, 2024 with applications accepted through March 18 at 5 p.m

VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn

The VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn has launched its Spring 2024 grant cycle with a due date of March 15. Once again, the VNA foundation is offering one-year General Operating and flexible Program Grants of up to $15,000 for nonprofit organizations that provide under-resourced people in the Greater North Penn region with access to Food, Housing, and Basic Health Needs (including mental health and addiction). View the announcement, and/or click here for a sneak peek at the application questions! Please contact Executive Director, Diana Doherty, at [email protected] with any questions or concerns about the process.

Review their tips for applying:

• If you participated in the pilot program between VNA Foundation and HealthSpark Foundation’s Safety Net fund, please click here for some important information to guide you as you continue in the VNA Foundation Spring Grant process!

• General Operating Funds are available for those applicants where more than 50% of your overall service population is in the Greater North Penn region. Flexible Program Funds are available for those applicants where less than 50% of your overall service population is in the Greater North Penn region. If you are trying to determine your eligibility and are unsure of what zip codes constitute the Greater North Penn region in their definition, check out the Application Questions to see zip codes listed beginning at the bottom of Page 2.

• If you are applying for a Program Grant, remember that you can include all programs you offer in Greater North Penn and use this funding flexibly across multiple programs. This is one way the VNA Foundation tries to make their grants as useful as possible to meet your needs; do not feel you have to apply for one specific program unless that is the only program you offer in the Greater North Penn region as they define it.

• Unfortunately, they will award fewer grants this Spring, and most will be for smaller amounts. The VNA Foundation gave so extensively in 2020-2022 that they must cut back on their giving once again this year to ensure their ability to support community organizations for years to come. Please plan accordingly, as they cannot fund all applications, and the vast majority of their Spring 2024 grants will fall well below the $15,000 maximum. Meanwhile, they are always happy to serve as thought partners to aid you in your efforts to position your organization for funding from other sources; don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss.

HealthSpark Foundation is now accepting applications to the Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund through March 21st, 2024

The Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund addresses the historical exclusion of Black leaders and Black community-serving organizations from tackling the challenges and opportunities facing Montgomery County residents. In honor of its namesake Dr. Frank E. Boston, a Black medical doctor and social entrepreneur who created a hospital and ambulance corps in Lansdale nearly a century ago, the Fund invests in emerging Black leaders in Montgomery County, supports positive storytelling of Black communities across the County, and builds community infrastructure and power in Black communities to advance justice and liberation for all County residents.

The Foundation strongly encourages any interested organization, individual, civic group, or neighborhood group to reach out to the Foundation for help in applying if they are interested in doing so. Questions on the Fund can be directed to Akshara Vivekananthan, Program Officer. Learn more!

Thank you to Representative Greg Scott or sharing these opportunities!

Here is a list of 22 grants with upcoming deadlines, some as soon as tomorrow. If you are looking for funding, please take a look at this downloadable list right away. And please share with your resources.

Thank you!

Celebrating Black History Month

Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services

Join to hear and learn from Terri Lyons, a local author and actress, who will bring to life the story of Unita Blackwell, a key figure in the Civil Rights movement and the first black woman to be elected mayor in the U.S. state of Mississippi in 1976. Join Terri for this immersive, historic journey on February 19th either at 10:30 am at Encore or 12:30 pm at PEAK.

Sign up and learn more about the programs and special events at Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services!

Learn more about these programs happening too:

Download Encore's February Special Programs Here

Download PEAK's February Special Programs Here

If you are interested in scheduling a workshop, please contact Michelle McDyre at [email protected]. Learn more about Mission Kids!

Learn more about VNA here.