A reflection for today: "The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” – Carlos Santana

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!

Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director

Payal Mohan, Associate Director

“By putting salaries in the open, organizations can pay candidates equitably — and push other employers to do the same. State and local governments increasingly are using the same rationale to pass pay-transparency laws — including new state legislation that took effect earlier this year in California, Rhode Island, and Washington. And by some counts, at least 15 more states are considering similar measures.” Read more

“In 1989, Stephen Covey wrote a book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I mustn’t be highly effective because I didn’t read it until I decided to write this post. It has been a best seller for 30 years. Is that crazy or what? Thirty years. So I figure he must be on to something. Thus, with a ‘tip o the hat’ to Mr. Covey, I’d like to share with you my own version of this: The 8 Habits of Highly Effective Nonprofit Leaders.” Read and reflect on this post.

Racially and ethnically minoritized populations and tribal communities often face preventable inequities in health outcomes due to structural disadvantages and diminished opportunities around health care, employment, education, and more. Federal Policy to Advance Racial, Ethnic, and Tribal Health Equity analyzes how past and current federal policies may create, maintain, and/or amplify racial, ethnic, and tribal health inequities. This report identifies key features of policies that have served to reduce inequities and makes recommendations to help achieve racial, ethnic, and tribal health equity. Read this report!

Review their roster of more than 40 classes, as well as their certificate programs in Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, or a customized series. Enhance your skills through flexible, real-world education! Learn more.

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Ruti, a collaboration between AG Strategic Design and DVRPC, is a user-friendly bicycle trip planning tool to help encourage more bicycling in the Greater Philadelphia region. Originally launched in 2021 as a text-message-based trip planning tool, Ruti recently expanded to offering trip planning on the web too. Where the original Ruti version relied on Google Maps route options, both the web trip planner and the text-based planner now fully incorporate DVRPC’s Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) analysis to evaluate every possible route between any two locations and identify the “least stressful” option.

Read more about Ruti HERE. Thank you to TMA Bucks for sharing!

As part of their mission to support collaboration and help nonprofits provide services in a cost-effective manner, two meeting spaces are available at the FCP Doylestown office free of charge to current or past FCP grantees and applicants as well as other 501(c)(3) organizations serving Bucks County children, young adults, and families. Click here for more information about the available spaces, amenities, rental requirements, and to submit a reservation request.

Chart a path to get the buy-in, support, and resources you will need to bring your ideas to life with this 2-part asynchronous video learning tool. Engage with online activities, case studies, and illustrative examples as you learn to use research-backed insights to develop more effective communication skills. Learn more!

Last month, the Bucks County Commissioners allocated $1.8 million in Opioid Settlement Funds toward efforts to remediate the opioid epidemic. Passed in unanimous votes during the Commissioners’ Aug. 16 public meeting, the approved resolutions included more than $360,000 for expanded Narcan (naloxone) distribution, distribution of fentanyl test strips and continued funding of the Human Services Co-Responders Program. “These funds are really in honor of and recognition of all the folks who’ve been lost to opioids,” said Bucks County Drug and Alcohol, Inc., (BCDAC) Executive Director Diane Rosati. “We want to make sure that we make that point.” Read more, including distribution plans.

YWCA Tri-County Area is proud to announce a new partnership with FreeWill. Their free estate planning tool guides you through making your will in as little as 20 minutes and can even be used alongside an attorney for more complex needs. Gain security and peace of mind, with plans for your family.

Are you interested in participating in SEPTA’s Contactless Payment Pilot for contactless bank cards and Apple/Google Pay? The pilot started late July with a small group of participants and is expanding as it progresses. Please fill out this form if you would like to participate. Once registered, SEPTA will select a variety of card types and brands to be added to the pilot. You will be notified via email if you are selected. Thanks to TMA Bucks for sharing!

5^th Edition 2022

The purpose of this manual is to assist school nurses and counselors in connecting students to health insurance and health care services. The first four sections provide details on the programs that cover children and their families, how to apply for coverage and where to get help with applications, what health benefits are covered, and how to access them. The second two sections of the manual list resources for schools and resources for care – free and low-cost health care services - in Bucks, Chester, Delaware Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties for children who are uninsured or underinsured, as well as a guide to applying for coverage, and resources for consumers.

The Summer Youth Corps Program (SYC) provides a 10-week service learning placement with select Bucks County non-profit human service organizations for a paid internship experience and the opportunity to earn college credits. Interns use both academic and social skills to address community needs and solve problems in the real world, benefiting their host agencies and clients.

Congratulations to this year's participants for successfully completing the program and making a positive impact in their community. Click here for more information about program highlights, eligibility requirements, and timeline. Learn more about Summer Youth Corps Program at Foundations Community Partnership!

“With more than 30 bills across the U.S. targeting DEI initiatives at public colleges — including Arizona, Oregon and Texas — Syeed fears that people who are religiously observant will lose protections and opportunities for conversations across difference. ‘Whether people are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise. The fear is that they can feel invisible if we remove religious diversity as part of higher education model and structures,’ she said.” Read more. Thank you to Interfaith Philadelphia for sharing!

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced the opening of a new grant opportunity to study recent efforts to convert downtown office buildings to properties with residential units. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, and small businesses. The deadline for applications is October 12, 2023. Thank you to Your Way Home for sharing!

PA Humanities, with support from Spring Point Partners, has announced the launch of Wingspan, a new grant program to support BIPOC-led and serving organizations and rural organizations doing humanities work. PA Humanities will provide $100,000 in flexible funding over two years to eligible organizations doing equitable humanities work in collaboration with their communities. The application deadline is September 29 by 5:00 p.m.

Foundations Community Partnership (FCP) is accepting applications for its Bucks Innovation & Improvement (BIIG) and Capital Improvement (CAP) fall grant cycles. Eligible nonprofits can submit a Letter of Inquiry by October 1, 2023 through FCP’s website. Annually, BIIG and CAP grant cycles offer $200,000 in support for innovative programs and services as well as structural facility improvements and technology upgrades that will have a positive impact on Bucks County’s children, young adults, and families. For more information about these grant opportunities, visit fcpartnership.org/grants.

The Pennsylvania Ag & Youth Grant Program provides direct grants and matching grants to help fund eligible projects, programs and equipment purchases conducted or made by an organization composed mainly of youth, or an organization with programs that benefit youth, and organized to promote development in the areas of agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship. Learn more and apply!

Learn more here and register for the info session!

PA Grants are available for Philadelphia-area nonprofits for planning and programs related to the 2026 commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. More Information

Join VEC for their annual workshop featuring an interactive panel discussion of a diverse array of area funders sharing their expertise. Panelists will offer an overview of their programs and their perspectives about how you can attract funding support. Panelists include:

Kevin Baffa, Portfolio Administrator, Chester County Community Foundation

Emma Hertz, President & CEO, HealthSpark Foundation

Peg Forrestel, Director, Community Impact, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

RSVP’s Volunteer Executive Consultants (VEC) provide free managerial consulting and educational services to existing and potential nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Join the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter for one of the many education programs in your community, or share the information with someone who can use it. Want to engage with the Alzheimer's Association? Contact them to host/schedule a program for your community members or corporation, become a volunteer, form a team for the Walk to End Alzheimer's or schedule an awareness presentation.

Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services!

Jaisohn Medical Center Lansdale is hosting COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Clinics every Monday and Thursday. Register by calling 267-800-4839 or email [email protected]

Senator Collett and partners are hosting a Health Screening and Vaccine Clinic at the PEAK Center/Lansdale YMCA in Lansdale on Sept 16. No appointment needed!

Rep Greg Scott and partners are hosting a Community Health Screening and Vaccine Clinic at the Norristown Area High School Roosevelt Campus in Norristown on Sept 23. No appointment needed!

Kleinlife is partnering with Giant Pharmacy on COVID-19 booster, Shingles & Pneumococcal Vaccine Clinics at Kleinlife in Elkins Park on Sept 28. No appointment needed!

A Message from Representative Greg Scott: “Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among student athletes. Despite the lethality and prevalence of the condition, there is no requirement that students be screened for its risk factors. After having 5 local students die, my team and I have conducted CPR classes, donated AED machines and now I am inviting you to my free Community Heart Health Screening event on September 23 starting at 8 a.m., Roosevelt Campus of the Norristown Area High School. This event is intended for young people ages 14-25 and we will be offering FREE heart screenings, blood pressure screening, stroke education, flu shots and so much more. At this event, students can also have their PIAA physical completed for the 2023-24 school year." Pre-register here.

The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its spring 2024 session. The 13-week program is based in PA’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are placed in committee chair and House leadership offices. Qualified applicants must be:

• Undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students.

• Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution.

• Students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information or to apply, visit pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected]. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.

Working to address the critical shortage of nurses and ensure access to health care, Pennsylvania is taking the first step to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact by allowing nurses with multistate licenses issued by 40 other states and territories to practice here. Effective Sept. 5, registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who hold a multistate license through the interstate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) will be permitted to practice in the Commonwealth. The change provides a much-needed expansion in the pool of recruits for hospitals and other health care facilities, and helps alleviate burdens on overworked nursing staffs, making conditions safer for both patients and health care workers.

A November 2022 survey by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) showed vacancy rates of 30% for RNs providing direct care, which is a 10-percentage point increase since 2019. A separate HAP report from January 2023 showed that Pennsylvania could have a shortfall of more than 20,000 RNs by 2026. This is an important step toward reversing that trend.