News from the Foundation, Our Partners, and the Field - June 2025

A Note from the Executive Director

Dear Partners and Friends, 

In late 2025, the Regional Foundation was pleased to bring Just Strategies into partnership as our strategic planning advisors. Having relaunched the foundation in 2020 as an independent philanthropic organization, we knew it was time to dive deeper into our who, what, how, and why. As we’ve launched this equity-lensed, participatory strategic planning process, the foundation has prioritized providing updates along the way and keeping partners informed throughout this year-long journey.

Meeting the Moment: Our Commitment to Equity & Community Voice

Just Strategies’ approach centers participation and collective voice. Their work with us began with a deep internal analysis of our:

• Culture
• Operations
• Practices related to DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging)

Through conversations, surveys, interviews, and focus groups with both staff and board members, we began to better understand where we are on the spectrum of integrating equity-based strategies into our identity and actions.

What We’ve Done Together: Community-Driven Input

From there, Just Strategies expanded outward to connect with many of you, our valued partners in community development, philanthropy, and the public sector. Their team:

• Distributed surveys across our partner ecosystem
• Facilitated multi-sector focus groups
• Conducted one-on-one interviews
• Hosted a rich dialogue session during our annual partner convening in March



Together, these touchpoints ensured we centered the lived realities of nonprofit work on the ground, better understood the needs of our grantee and PRI partners, and began to assess the foundation’s evolving role in the broader philanthropic landscape. To date, hundreds of you have provided invaluable insights that are directly informing the development of our strategic framework. We can’t thank you enough.

Where We Are Now

Currently, the Just Strategies team is analyzing the extensive data collected from these engagement methods. A report summarizing key findings will be shared with the Regional Foundation’s board and staff in early summer.

What’s Next on the Horizon

To complement the work already underway, we’re planning the following next steps:

• Conducting an environmental scan and landscape assessment
• Hosting staff and board retreats for deeper reflection and alignment
• Holding a final partner convening to pressure test and refine strategic findings

With Gratitude

Thank you again for your dedication and contributions to shaping the future vision of the Regional Foundation. We are excited to continue this collaborative journey with you as we finalize our strategic plan.

Should you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff or the Just Strategies team.

In solidarity,

Kevin Dow

Partner Spotlight | NKCDC: Co-Creating the Future of Kensington

For over 40 years, the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) has worked to advance social equity and economic empowerment in Kensington and surrounding neighborhoods. That mission is powerfully reflected in their Co-Creating Kensington initiative, a trauma-informed, participatory process that has engaged more than 700 residents over the past 20 months in shaping a vision for the neighborhood and aligning strategies for Kensington so that residents retain power and ownership of processes, resources, and outcomes.

As a funding partner for NKCDC's North of Lehigh Planning and Implementation process, the Regional Foundation is proud to have contributed to this community-led effort. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to equitable giving and deep engagement across our geographic footprint. By centering resident wisdom and lived experience, NKCDC continues to build a powerful model for co-creating a future rooted in justice, belonging, and abundance-based strategies that honor community knowledge and leadership.

"It is through trauma-informed, participatory, and preventative strategies that true community healing can take root, ensuring residents are not just recipients of change, but active co-creators of Kensington's future. While Kensington continues to face complex challenges, we also stand at a moment of opportunity to mobilize a robust, resource-rich, and engaged civic network that can drive meaningful and lasting solutions." - Dr Bill McKinney

This work has taken physical form in NKCDC’s newly opened Community Engagement Center at 3000 Kensington Avenue, a vibrant hub for connection, care, and community-building. The space offers access to legal services, housing support, and community health workers, while also welcoming residents and local organizations to host events, meetings, and gatherings that strengthen neighborhood ties.

The community space also invites reflection and storytelling to share the future of the neighborhood through an interactive exhibit, where visitors can record a memory, share a story, and reflect on life along the avenue.

If you find yourself in the area, stop by and take part in the ongoing story of Kensington.

The foundation would like to remind our current partners that these grant and loan programs remain available to you. More information about our open grant and PRI programs are available on our website. 

• Our Responsive grant program remains available this year to current partners when facing an emergent, unforeseen, time-sensitive, one-time urgent need that has arisen within their organization or focus neighborhood. Requests can be made for up to $25,000 on a rolling basis.

• Our Program Related Investment program is open to current Implementation 1 and 2 grantees for bridge financing to sustain vital programs and services when experiencing delays in government payments.  We are accepting requests up to $200,000 on a rolling basis.

As summer approaches, so does a new wave of learning and connection. Our incredible community has lined up a series of workshops and gatherings designed to strengthen your work, spark fresh ideas, and support values-based leadership.

Please note: These events are curated specifically for our grantee and PRI partners; they’re not open to the public, but meant to create space for shared insights among our Regional Foundation network.

JUNE

🔹 June 17 |12:00 – 12:45 PM ET

Understanding and Preparing for Investor Funding

Hosted by: Zenith Wealth Partners

Presenters: Jason Ray, Nate Granito, Andrew Tudor

🔹Learn how to access investor capital and strengthen your financial sustainability—whether you’re pursuing a loan or building finance knowledge.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

🔹 June 30 |1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Meaningful Participation That Lasts: A PAR Approach

Hosted by: Partners for Collaborative Change

Presenter: Levana Saxon

🔹Explore how to build sustainable, resident-led councils and advocacy groups with templates, tips, and real-world strategies.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

JULY

🔹 July 28 |1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

From Invitation to Action: Designing Community Kick-Offs

Hosted by: Partners for Collaborative Change

Presenter: Levana Saxon

🔹Plan powerful launch events for participatory planning or research projects with tools to align goals, agendas, and community energy.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

AUGUST

🔹 August 6 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

Shortcut to Scenario Planning: Reserves Analysis Tool

Hosted by: Bernstein Wealth Management

Presenters: Evan Lindhardt, Marisa Swystun

🔹Use Bernstein’s questionnaire to identify financial gaps and receive a custom reserves analysis post-session.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

🔹 August 20 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

Fundraising Diversification Strategies

Hosted by: Bernstein Wealth Management

Presenters: Evan Lindhardt, Marisa Swystun

🔹Walk away with fundraising strategies, templates, and trend data to strengthen sustainability and engage donors or boards.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

SEPTEMBER

🔹 September 8 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Creative Research for Real Community Insight

Hosted by: Partners for Collaborative Change

Presenter: Levana Saxon

🔹Explore hands-on participatory methods like Forum Theatre and Community Re-Mapping that generate meaningful data.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register»

🔹 September 19 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET

Regional Peer Learning Gathering | Atlantic City, NJ (In-Person)

🔹 Join partners and grantees for a full-day networking and learning experience. More info to come.

OCTOBER

🔹 October 6 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Data that Resonates: Making Meaning & Sharing Powerfully

Hosted by: Partners for Collaborative Change

Presenter: Levana Saxon

🔹Co-analyze and share data with community members in ways that are joyful, inclusive, and rooted in collective power.

Grantee & PRI Partner Register »