We were joined by representatives from the AmeriCorps as well as Dr. Josh Power, Executive Director of Graduate and Extended Studies, College of Arts and Sciences & School of Health Studies and Education, St. Joseph’s University, who provided a local perspective. Josh recently led the process by which St. Joseph’s University has become a School of National Service.  Prior to coming to St. Joe’s, Josh was at the Fels Institute of Government at Penn, where he also oversaw that program’s participation in matching the AmeriCorps Education Award.

• Listen to the call recording here.
• Review the slides from AmeriCorps
• Review the slides from Dr. Josh Power, St. Joseph’s University

The United Engineering Foundation (UEF) is the successor organization to the United Engineering Society (UES), which was founded in 1904 with the generous support of Andrew Carnegie. Today, UEF works to advance the engineering arts and sciences for the welfare of humanity.

To that end, the foundation welcomes concept papers for its grants program. Through the program, grants will be awarded in support of proposals and programs in which the primary aim is to advance engineering for the welfare of humanity. Proposals must be consistent with the mission of UEF and include programs that focus on advancing engineering.

Collaborative, broad-based, interdisciplinary proposals that further the engineering profession as a whole are preferred, as are projects that are outside “business as usual” of the proposing organization. Technical research proposals and proposals by individuals are seldom accepted.

To be eligible, applicants must be based in the U.S and be tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Concept papers are due May 3. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by August 2, 2021.

See the United Engineering Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Deadline: May 3, 2021 (Concept Papers)

Colleges and universities collectively enrolled about 560,000 fewer undergraduates in the fall of 2020, a 3.6 percent decrease from 2019, according to December 2020 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Losses were steepest at community colleges and among first-time students, including many students of color. Moreover, according to The College Stress Test (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020), 19 percent of all Black students currently enrolled in college or university are attending an institution that is at risk of failure. TPF.

Established by the ECMC Foundation and SeaChange Capital Partners, with additional founding support from Ascendium Education Group and the Kresge Foundation, the Transformational Partnerships Fund (TPF) will provide colleges and universities with support to explore student-centric partnerships and collaborations that could meaningfully transform how they operate and enhance their ability to provide reliable, high-quality educational opportunities for students. TPF will consider partnerships in all forms, ranging from mergers to shared administrative services and consolidated academic offerings.

Catalytic grants (up to $100,000 per exploration) will be available to help schools engage technical assistance providers knowledgeable in law, finance, governance, fundraising, human resources, and/or other related fields. TPF also will provide free access to relevant resources collected from its advisors, its network, and other third-parties. Institutions seeking assistance can approach the fund with the assurance that all discussions will remain confidential.

With an initial budget of $2.5 million, the TPF envisions serving as many as twenty pairs of institutions over its first three years and has the capacity to expand the opportunity as circumstances demand.

To qualify for support, one or more of the participating institutions must serve a student population that is at least 25 percent persons of color and/or where 40 percent meet the financial criteria for Pell eligibility. The partnership should also be expected to produce materially better academic outcomes for students attending one or more of the institutions.

TPF welcomes all inquiries from institutions of higher education. For additional information, see the Transformational Partnerships Fund website.

Deadline: Rolling (Initial Inquiries)

EBSCO Information Services, a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., is the leading provider of research databases, e-journals, magazine subscriptions, e-books and discovery service to libraries of all kinds. For more than seventy years, it has partnered with libraries to improve research with quality content and technology, while today EBSCO Industries donates part of its pre-tax profits to worthwhile endeavors, with a particular commitment to the environment.

According to the company, solar power is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available and can help make a critical impact on improving the environment. To that end, EBSCO Solar welcomes applications from libraries seeking to fund a library solar project designed to help offset their electricity costs. EBSCO will pay for the initial installation through the grant, and the awarded library, town, or college will own the system and will be responsible for all post-installation/ongoing maintenance of the solar array. In 2021, a total of $200,000 in grants is available.

Eligible applicants include all academic, school, and public libraries that are current EBSCO customers

See the EBSCO website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Deadline: May 3, 2021

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) provides funding and directs scientific research and educational initiatives related to waste management practices for the benefit of industry participants and the communities they serve.

To that end, EREF welcomes applications for projects and research related to sustainable solid waste management practices. The following topic areas will be considered for grants: waste minimization; recycling; waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals, or other useful products (including waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion, composting, and other thermal or biological conversion technologies); strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g., organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management, logistics, etc.); and landfilling.

Previously awarded grants have ranged from $15,000 to more $500,000, with the average grant amount in recent years averaging $160,000 over an average of two years.

EREF defines solid waste to include municipal solid waste (e.g., residential, commercial, institutional); construction and demolition debris; certain industrial wastes (e.g., exploration and production waste, coal ash); and other wastes typically managed by the solid waste industry or generated by the public not included in the above items (e.g., electronic waste, disaster debris, et cetera).

Pre-proposals will be accepted starting from fifteen days prior to the deadline date and up to the close of business (5:00 p.m. ET) on May 1. Pre-proposals must be received during this window to be considered. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Eligible applicants include U.S. and non-U.S.-based institutions; proposals will be accepted from non-academic institutions provided the principal investigators are qualified to conduct the research. Principal investigators (PI) may include full-time faculty at academic institutions, postdoctoral employees, and principals or senior personnel at non-academic institutions.

See the Environmental Research & Education Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Deadline: May 1, 2021 (Pre-proposals)

The Toshiba America Foundation is accepting grant applications from grade 6-12 teachers for innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects.

Through the program, grants of at least $5,000 will be awarded in support of teacher-led projects with the potential to provide students with opportunities to “do science” in ways that increase their engagement with the subject matter and improve their learning.

(Note: the foundation typically supports project-based learning and does not consider requests for computers, laptops, or tablets.)

The foundation is considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers and education and indicates it cannot presume to suggest how teachers should deal with the obstacles that social distancing and safety concerns place in their way. The foundation will consider only one application at a time from any single teacher and will consider alternative proposals contingent upon how, when, and if schools are open as usual. Under the circumstances, the foundation will also try to be more accommodating in considering the kinds of equipment or expenses it can fund.

For complete program guidelines, information about past recipients, and application instructions, see the Toshiba America Foundation website.

Deadline: May 1, 2021

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sports Award recognizes sports teams, athletes, and community-based organizations that use sports to catalyze and sustain changes that make communities healthier places to live, learn, work, and play.

Through the program, awards of up to $25,000 will be awarded to programs operated by a professional sports team community relations department or foundation, an individual athlete or professional coach’s foundation, or an organization that is an influential leader and model for improving community health through sports.

To be eligible, applicants must be based in the United States or Canada. Applicants that are not a charitable organization or public entity must apply with an organization that is. Chapters within a larger organization are not eligible to apply, although umbrella organizations are.

See the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Deadline: May 5, 2021

The NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability, has issued a call for proposals for a $100,000 grant to fund the work of a new or existing program aimed at bringing about reductions in global warming, whether through direct carbon avoidance, climate communication, climate education, industry engagement, or in some other way.

Ray Anderson’s five grandchildren, along with their spouses, comprise the NextGen Committee of the foundation, which makes recommendations to the board of trustees for worthwhile grants and initiatives.

In 2020, the NextGen committee awarded a $100,000 grant to Cultural Survival to support Indigenous grassroots solutions to climate change. In 2019, the committee awarded a $100,000 grant to the Inga Foundation.

Grants are limited to 501(c)(3) charities in the United States.

Those interested in applying for the grant should visit the Ray C. Anderson Foundation website to review the complete program guidelines and to submit their proposal.

Deadline: May 14, 2021

• If you would like to search for opportunities for volunteering visit http://serve.volunteermatch.org.
• If you would like to sign up to make phone calls to share important information or be added to a general volunteer interest form, click here to submit your contact info.
• If you would like to sign up for the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps: email MRC@phila.gov for details on how to get involved in responding to Public Health Emergencies and the COVID-19 vaccination effort. Volunteer opportunities are for both medical and non-medical volunteers.
• If you do not have internet access or have issues filling out the online form, call 3-1-1 to get connected with a volunteer opportunity or add your name to our general volunteer interest form.

Volunteers have a great impact on our communities through service. Check out opportunities to get involved and give back in Philadelphia below!

Support the Vaccination Effort

As we mark the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, it’s important to remember that around 4 million people will turn 18 this year, so it’s always a good time to register and educate new voters! And, of course, increasing voting requires building an ongoing culture of civic participation, so it’s also always a good time to connect volunteering and service to voting and advocacy on the issues youth care about; and to call on our leaders increase youth voice and leadership in public decision-making.

Choose from 20 GYSD Activity Ideas in the Advocate category:

• Voter Registration – Register to Vote
• Voter Registration – Organize a Voter Registration Drive
• Voter Registration – Make a Plan to Support Student Voter Registration
• Voter Registration – Start a Future Voters Club or Voting Squad
• Voter Education – Teach About Voting and Civic Participation
• Voter Education – Organize a Community Dialogue
• Voter Education – Create Issue Guides and Develop Policy Proposals
• Voter Education – Volunteer with a Local Campaign
• Get Out The Vote – Host a GOTV Event or Celebration
• Get Out The Vote – Create a GOTV Plan for Election Day
• Get Out The Vote – Host a Mock Election
• Get Out The Vote – Recruit Poll Workers
• Issue Advocacy – Host a Youth Activism Training
• Issue Advocacy – Create Media and Become a Citizen or Student Journalist
• Issue Advocacy – Connect with Local Public Officials
• Issue Advocacy – Participate in an Advocacy Campaign
• Increase Youth Voice – Advocate for Automatic Voter Registration
• Increase Youth Voice – Create Formal Youth Voice Systems
• Increase Youth Voice – Participate in Student Voice Campaigns
• Increase Youth Voice – Advocate for a Lower Voting Age

Date and Time: May 5, 2021, 2:00-3:30 PM

Panelists:

• Anne Fadullon, Director of Planning and Development, City of Philadelphia
• Diana Lind, Author, Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Homes
• Samantha Porter, Community Engagement Advisor and Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank Philadelphia
• Vincent Reina, Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania
• Sen. Nikil Saval, State Senator, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Tayyib Smith, Senior Principal, Little Giant Creative, Smith & Roller, The Collective

Register here.

The Serve Philadelphia VISTA Corps is now accepting applications for the 2021 – 2022 service year! Throughout the month of April, the VISTA team will offer a 101 workshop where you can ask your questions about the application and meet current VISTA members to ask about the program and their experience.

The VISTA application workshops will be held every Thursday in April from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

VISTA Application Deadline: April 30th, 2021

Learn more and RSVP here.

Register here.

In addition to the much-needed funding for local governments, vaccine distribution, business relief, and school reopening, the American Rescue Plan also provides substantial direct aid to individuals and families.

In fact, the majority of the $1.9 trillion dollars from this stimulus package will go towards direct aid for individuals, benefits that will build a bridge to economic recovery for working families. This includes stimulus checks, extending unemployment benefits and eligibility, increasing SNAP benefits, and more.

Below we’ve outlined a few of the ways the American Rescue Plan will help Philadelphia families, and how you can make sure you receive your stimulus check and other relief, including free tax preparation.

Learn more.

Date and Time: Wednesday, March 31, 10 am – 1 pm, additional afternoon student panel from 1 – 2 pm

Students can register here.

The flyer about the event is available here.

The event will take place on Thursday, April 1 at 12 p.m. EST.

Click here to register.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 31 at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Click here to register.

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving the lives and chances of children within the Philadelphia region through thoughtful
and informed advocacy.

Position Summary

PCCY is seeking an experienced journalist with an existing portfolio of insightful articles that present how public policies shape people’s lives. The Journalism Fellow will canvass the community collecting real-life stories to expose failings in public safety nets, education, and other public systems intended to create greater economic opportunity. The focus is on families of color in Norristown and Pottstown.

The Fellow is part of PCCY’s launch of Dis/parities, a new reporting initiative designed to illuminate the lives of parents and children of color living in Norristown and Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  Partners include the Urban League of Philadelphia and ACLAMO (Accion Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County/or the Latin American Community Action of Montgomery County).

The Fellow must be a dynamic, self-motivated individual who can write and produce accurate, informative, and relevant community reporting and engage four residents as Community Liaisons. The ideal candidate will have a history of creating networks and building relationships to develop leads and contextualize news reporting. The position also requires social media acumen.

Learn more and apply.

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving the lives and chances of children within the Philadelphia region through thoughtful
and informed advocacy.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced leader who will train and support early childhood sector stakeholders so that they can support and pressure candidates for state elected offices to speak to the need for greater access to affordable high-quality child-care and Pre-K as they campaign.

Learn more and apply.

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving the lives and chances of children within the Philadelphia region through thoughtful
and informed advocacy.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Policy Coordinator is a dynamic, seasoned and innovative leader. This position will help build and advance PCCY’s ability to increase child wellness in Philadelphia, particularly for children of color, through extensive collaboration and critical and substantial system change. The Behavioral Health Policy Coordinator will take the lead on building a highly functioning and smoothly operating system for children to gain easy access to quality behavioral health care in their public schools.

Learn more and apply.