Author: Chris Shaw

Allentown, Pa., March 15, 2021—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently provided $25,000 in grants from its COVID-19 Response Fund to nine nonprofit organizations.  The grants support the general operating expenses of these organizations who are providing needed childcare and family support services in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Organizations receiving the grants are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem
• Boys & Girls Club of Easton
• Children At-Promise Early Learning Center
• Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania
• Community Services for Children
• Family Connection of Easton
• Greater Valley YMCA
• Ortiz Ark Foundation
• Unidos Foundation

These grants build upon the funding that the Community Foundation has directed to COVID-19 relief during the past year. In April of 2020, the Greater Lehigh Valley COVID-19 response fund, a regional partnership of funders distributed over $320,000 to 43 nonprofits providing food, shelter, healthcare, income supports, and other essentials to our neighbors who live paycheck to paycheck, who are elderly, who have disabilities, or who are youth, among other vulnerable or marginalized populations in our community.  More than half of the funding went to “small” organizations who cannot always access other supports (e.g. federal stimulus), including grass-roots organizations who are the trusted providers and messengers in deeply impacted neighborhoods. The Community Foundation contributed $50,000 for its discretionary grantmaking to this phase. Learn more…

In May of 2020, the regional partnership of funders distributed $120,000 to 18 Lehigh Valley nonprofits.  While food and housing access and income supports remained a top priority, special consideration was given to organizations that focus on mental health or substance use, as well as organizations led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.  In this round, grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $15,000, with almost $50,000 in total directed to organizations providing healthcare services such as mental health. LVCF contributed $30,000.  

In order to prepare for the recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the fall, the Community Foundation publicly launched Project Equity to engage communities in a co-design process of reimagining the Greater Lehigh Valley nonprofit sector to better reflect a new, post-COVID reality.  Through a co-design process, stakeholders work together to design or rethink a service.  Project Equity has invited the people most affected by COVID-19 and systemic inequities into the problem-solving and decision-making space to begin to shift the power structure that has perpetuated inequity. 

LVCF has directed $90,000 to this innovative approach and is co-leading the effort with the United Way and Faces International.  Project Equity is also supported by a grant from the United Philanthropy Forum’s Momentum Fund.  Project Equity is one of only three recipients in Pennsylvania of this competitive, national grant. To learn more about Project Equity, visit http://projectequitylv.com/.

About the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF connects people who care to causes that matter, grow their charitable legacies, and fund nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the region. Learn more at: www.lvcfoundation.org

Allentown, Pa., March 1, 2021—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2020-2021 Nonprofit Effectiveness grants.  Nine Lehigh Valley nonprofits will participate in the Foundation’s program designed to build organizational capacity.

The Foundation launched the Nonprofit Effectiveness Program as a pilot in 2018 to provide targeted support to assist in strengthening nonprofit effectiveness in a variety of ways, partnering with nonprofits to build their internal infrastructure so that they may enhance their impact. The model included not only grant funding for a capacity-building project, but also offered grantees a Community of Practice, a space for cohort-based organizational development sessions and peer-to-peer engagement. 

To date, two full funding cycles have been completed. In the past two cycles of this program, the Community Foundation has distributed $240,000 in grants to support this initiative, along with additional investments in bringing in expert consultants to provide cohort-based professional facilitation. LVCF also has partnered with Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation in delivering this model to selected Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation grantees both in the 2019-2020 cycle and in the 2020-2021 cycle.

In 2021, LVCF is funding a new cohort of organizations that are led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and that serve Lehigh Valley’s Black and Brown communities. “The Foundation is supporting building the capacity of these organizations due to historical lack of funding to BIPOC-led organizations and the demonstrated impact of these organizations,” said Megan Briggs, director of community investments. “Targeted funding for organizational capacity-building is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of these important organizations. We are so pleased to be partnering with this truly powerful group of nonprofits this year.”

The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation initiated this grant opportunity in recognition of the valuable role that BIPOC-led organizations have in providing culturally centered approaches in delivery of services and programs to the Lehigh Valley community. Each of the following organizations received a $14,000 grant for a project and will be participating in a 2021 Community of Practice, that will be specific to the desires and needs of the newly funded cohort:

• Afros in Nature – Afros in Nature Financial Viability Plan
• Black Heritage Association of the Lehigh Valley – Allentown Digital Inclusion Initiative
• Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem – Great Leaders Initiative
• Casa Guadalupe Center – Casa Communications/Technology Update
• Cohesion Network – Project Sustainability
• Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King Memorial Project Inc. – Infrastructure Build Out Strategic Plan
• Pratyush Sinha Foundation ­­- Mindful Education System
• Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley – ­ Fund Development Plan
• Resurrected Community Development Corporation – RCDC Staff Compensation Study

In addition to the nine newly funded grantees for 2021, the Foundation has renewed grants for two of the organizations that were funded the previous year. Both Humanitarian Social Innovations and the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley have been funded at $10,000 each this year to implement a joint project, the Regional Coordinated Nonprofit Capacity Building: Fact-Finding Phase.

Megan Briggs noted that when the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation launched the Nonprofit Effectiveness Pilot, the Foundation’s goal was to answer the question, would there be value in creating a centralized, coordinated approach to deploying capacity-building services to the non-profit sector? “Through several interviews and data collection points throughout the last two years, there was a resounding agreement that a centralized approach would be valued,” she explained. “Understanding that both the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley and Humanitarian Social Innovations could be key partners in offering a centralized, coordinated approach, LVCF provided an initial grant to both organizations in the 2019-2020 cycle and have renewed them in 2020-2021 to begin laying the groundwork for a centralized, coordinated approach to capacity building in the Lehigh Valley.”

For more information on the Community Foundation’s grantmaking, visit: https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/grants/overview-%7C-community-investments

Allentown, Pa., February 9, 2021—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently named retired financial services advisor Charlotte Hartmann-Hansen to its Board of Governors. She will serve on the Community Foundation’s Finance Committee. 

Charlotte Hartmann-Hansen has been an innovator in the financial services business for over 40 years.  She is former president and investment advisor with Bethlehem Financial, LLC and Hartmann-Hansen Financial Services. She practiced financial planning for individuals and businesses focused on retirement, estates, investments, insurance, senior advisory services and intergenerational transition planning. She sold her business in 2018 and remains a member of Financial, Insurance and Estate Planning Councils and is certified in Long Term Care and Senior Services.  

Throughout her life, Hartmann-Hansen has had a passion to help others.  As a charter member of Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club, the motto “Service Above Self” opened chances to make dreams possible.  She and her now deceased husband, Tore, established two foundations to support their community in perpetuity and the greater Rotary world efforts.  For many years, she has promoted the advantages of charitable giving for recipients as well as for the donors.  She joined the Community Foundation board to support opportunities and to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

The Board of Governors at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation provide administrative, programmatic, and fiscal oversight in support of the organization’s mission. Members of the Board serve as ambassadors, promoting the Community Foundation as a vehicle for philanthropy and a leader of community improvement.

About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF is a philanthropic hub for the Lehigh Valley—who knows and navigates the landscape of the Lehigh Valley’s community needs to connect people who care to causes that matter.

With a diverse and respected Board of Governors, the Community Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  The Foundation is cause-neutral and supports all areas of community needs in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. To learn more, visit: www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org.

Allentown, Pa., January 5, 2021—Carrie Krug Nedick was recently named Director of Donor Services at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. She joined the Community Foundation in January of 2020 as Donor Services and Program Associate. In her new role she will work with board members, donors, prospects and other members of the Community Foundation family to develop the Foundation’s charitable fund pipeline. She will focus on providing personalized service to steward relationships and implement family philanthropy initiatives.

Prior to joining the foundation, Krug Nedick built a career in nonprofit administration and higher education fundraising, both on staff and as an independent consultant.  She served in marketing, development, and outreach roles for the Allentown Symphony Association, and was a major gift officer for the College of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh University. Carrie most recently served the Lehigh Valley as an independent consultant.

Krug Nedick is a member of the Board of Managers of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and an Officer of the Board of Parkland Community Library.  She is also a Cub Scout den leader and sings with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

A Nazareth native, she graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a BA in Music Theory and Composition.

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF is a philanthropic hub for the Lehigh Valley—who know and navigate the landscape of the Lehigh Valley’s community needs to connect people who care to causes that matter.

Allentown, Pa., January 5, 2021—The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) recently issued 2020-201 Community Partnership Multi-Year Impact Grants totaling $85,000 are helping to support programs at four area nonprofit organizations serving Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

The Community Partnership Grants are part of the Foundation’s overall grantmaking that totaled more than $7 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. The LVCF annually awards Multi-Year Impact Grants from its Community Partnership Fund for discretionary grantmaking. Grants are reviewed and approved by the Foundation’s Community Investments Committee and its Board of Governors.

 “The Community Foundation is pleased to continue to partner with these organizations that are making a difference in the Lehigh Valley,” said LVCF President Bernie Story.  “We are encouraged by the good work our multi-year impact grants are generating.”

This year’s Community Partnership Grants were grants awarded for five multi-year collaborative projects targeted to address specific community issues. LVCF awarded $65,000 in renewed funding for five programs being implemented by existing grantees. All multi-year grants are subject to review prior to renewal.

The following organizations were renewed for funding:

• Housing Association & Development Corporation – Youth Build Allentown (year five) $20,000
• VAST – Valley Against Sex Trafficking – Community Education and Prevention Program Development (year five) – $10,000.
• Greater Easton Development Corporation – Easton Community Garden Project (year five) – $25,000
• Lehigh Valley Health Network – Connections, a pilot intervention program addressing the current opioid epidemic (year four) – $20,000
• Greater Easton Development Corporation – Ambassadors Program (year four) – $10,000

For more information about the Community Partnership Fund or other grant opportunities at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, visit LVCF on the web at: https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/grants/overview

Erika Riddle Petrozelli to succeed Bernie Story as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021

Allentown, Pa., December 2, 2020—Bernie Story, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, will step down on December 31, 2020. Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, Vice President of Philanthropy at the Foundation, will succeed Story as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021.  Story will continue to serve as President during a transitional period ending on June 30, 2021, after which he will serve as a Philanthropic Advisor at the Foundation.

Story began his tenure as President and CEO with the Community Foundation in 2012. Under his leadership, the Foundation’s total assets grew by nearly 90 percent, from $33 million to over $60 million.  In addition, the number of charitable funds held at the Foundation grew by over 60 percent, from 160 funds to over 260 funds.  Most notable, the annual grants made by the Foundation grew from just over $1 million to nearly $7 million, making the Community Foundation one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in the Lehigh Valley.

Petrozelli joined the Foundation in 2014 as Director of Donor Services with a focus on maintaining and expanding philanthropic relationships of the Foundation.  For the past year, she has served as Vice President of Philanthropy, contributing to strategic decisions and community leadership activities, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  A Certified Public Accountant, she provides professional knowledge and advice about charitable giving to a wide range of Lehigh Valley residents, from individuals and families to their trusted advisors and local businesses. 

“Erika is a tremendous asset to the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, and we are fortunate that she has agreed to succeed me as CEO. She has all of the necessary skills to make the Foundation even more impactful over the next decade and beyond,” said Bernie Story. “She is a true professional with proven potential to become a community leader in a very short time.”

“It has been an absolute joy working to support the Lehigh Valley’s wonderful nonprofit organizations as the CEO of the Valley’s Community Foundation,” said Story.  “I have been so fortunate to have been surrounded by an outstanding cast of colleagues on our board of governors and our staff.” 

“The Board of Governors of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is indebted to Bernie Story for his leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication,” said Tom Campbell, Chair of the Board of Governors. “During his tenure, the Community Foundation has achieved unprecedented growth in both funding for the entire Lehigh Valley and the expansion of the variety of organizations and causes supported.  We are equally excited to have a seamless transition to our next chapter. Erika Riddle Petrozelli is uniquely qualified and fully prepared to continue the foundation’s upward trajectory,” Campbell continued.

Story joined the Foundation after 32 years in higher education administration.  He will continue to support the work of the Foundation as Philanthropic Advisor.  In that role, Story will maintain important community relationships for the Foundation. “I have loved every minute of my work at the Foundation and I know it is well-positioned to continue to grow in support of the Lehigh Valley community.  I look forward to my continued involvement in support of the Community Foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life for all those in the Lehigh Valley.”

About Erika Riddle Petrozelli

Prior to joining Lehigh Valley Community Foundation in 2014, Erika Riddle Petrozelli, was Vice President of Investor Relations at Magnitude Capital, LLC, based in New York City.  In this role, she was responsible for client service and content management for the firm’s global investor base.  Prior to joining Magnitude, she was a Senior Audit Associate in the Banking and Capital Markets sector at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

In recent years, Ms. Petrozelli has had several thought pieces and op-eds published in local publications including Network Magazine, Lehigh Valley Business, and The Express-Times. She has contributed to news stories in The Morning Call, and has appeared on television broadcasts including WLVT PBS39, WFMZ 69 News, WBPH TV-60, and on radio programs at WDIY 88.1 FM.

In 2019, Ms. Petrozelli completed the Rider-Pool Foundation Collective Impact Fellowship, an intensive, nine-month Fellowship program that trains and equips nonprofit leaders to address complex community needs and develop stronger cross-sector partnerships.  In that same year, she was named a Lehigh Valley Business “Forty Under 40” honoree.

Petrozelli is a current member of the Board of Managers of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley, for which she serves on the Executive Committee.  In addition, she is a member of the Junior League, previously in New York City and currently in the Lehigh Valley. 

A Bethlehem native, she graduated from Lehigh University with B.S. degree with a major in Accounting.  She was awarded the President’s Scholarship and went on to earn a M.S. degree in Accounting and Information Analysis. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF is a philanthropic hub for the Lehigh Valley—who knows and navigates the landscape of the Lehigh Valley’s community needs to connect people who care to causes that matter.

With a diverse and respected Board of Governors, the Community Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  The Foundation is cause-neutral and supports all areas of community needs in the Lehigh Valley and beyond in compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. To learn more, visit: www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org.

Allentown, Pa., November 24, 2020—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently honored Barry M. Kessler with the Vision in Philanthropy Award 2020 during its virtual Board of Associates meeting. The prestigious Vision in Philanthropy Award given to those who have chosen to establish a fund at the Community Foundation as a method of supporting charitable organizations, and in so doing, have demonstrated a deep and meaningful commitment to philanthropy in the Lehigh Valley.  

“We honor Barry Kessler with the Vision in Philanthropy Award in recognition of an individual who has truly made a difference in the community by establishing several charitable funds at the Community Foundation that are providing important support in addressing substance use disorder, hunger, and housing,” said Bernie Story, President and CEO. “Notably, Barry has partnered with the Community Foundation staff to create a new model for grantmaking from area of interest funds. This model allows the donor to sit alongside us and other subject matter experts to make grant decisions in support of a cause that is very important to the donor.”

Kessler is the Co-founder and President of Kessler Chemical, Inc. In 2015, he was referred to the Community Foundation by his financial adviser, who noticed that he was growing increasingly interested in doing more with his charitable giving. His first designated fund with the Foundation was earmarked to go to the seven charities that he was personally involved with as a volunteer. Over time, Kessler became more proactive in learning about the needs of the community. LVCF helped him establish an area of interest fund utilizing the Foundation’s network and knowledge of the nonprofits in the region that address food and housing issues, and substance use disorder issues.

In April of 2019, the Barry M. Kessler Fund at the Community Foundation announced $50,000 in grants to ten nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley that provide food and housing services to vulnerable populations. In 2020, the Substance Use Disorder Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, supported by Barry Kessler provided $30,000 in grants to support three programs addressing substance use disorders.

LVCF thanks Valley National Financial Advisors who sponsored the 2020 Vision in Philanthropy Award.

See the virtual presentation of the award and Barry Kessler’s comments:

Past winners of the award include the following:

2018 Luther J. Hottle, Jr. (50th Anniversary)
2016 Ruth & Charles Marcon
2014 Linda Sheftel
2012 Carol Henn
2011 Michael Caruso
2010 Bob* & Ilene Wood / Louise Moore Pine (posthumously)
2008 Rolland Adams (posthumously) / Adams Family
2007 John & Ruby Updegrove / J.B. & Kathleen Reilly
2006 Lehigh Valley Helping Hand Fund
2005 Luther J. Hottle, Jr. / New Bethany Ministries
2004 Eleanor & Ben Boylston / William C. Rybak (posthumously)
2003 Carole Brown / Father Dan Gambet
2002 Debby Haight / Ferd Thun

About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF connects people who care to causes that matter, grow their charitable legacies, and fund nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the region. Learn more at: www.lvcfoundation.org.

Allentown, Pa., November 24, 2020—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) recently honored Brian T. Regan with the Service to Philanthropy Award during its virtual Board of Associates meeting. The award recognizes a professional advisor that understands and appreciates the importance of philanthropy in the community, the diverse advantages of charitable giving for his clients, and the value of philanthropy in estate, retirement, and wealth management planning. 

“It is a pleasure to recognize our colleague and good friend, Brian Regan, with the 2020 Service to Philanthropy Award,” said Bernie Story, LVCF President and CEO. “We present the award for his recognition of the value that the Foundation brings to community and for establishing a significant, permanent, and impactful charitable fund as chair of the board of directors of Saucon Insurance Company which provides important support of diverse community needs in the Bethlehem Area.  We thank you RLB and Saucon Insurance Company for sponsoring this Award.” 

Brian T. Regan is the director of tax services for Regan, Levin, Bloss, Brown & Savchak, P.C. He is a recognized expert in the  areas of income tax compliance, planning, and accounting matters related to closely held businesses with a focus on several industries, including banking, food manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, and real estate development. Brian is a member of PICPA, AICPA, and the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley, the Pennsylvania Institute’s Multistate Tax Committee, He is a board member at ESSA Bank & Trust, Saucon Mutual Insurance Company and Northampton County Meals on Wheels…and is involved in many other civic and community organizations.

See video of virtual presentation below to hear Brian’s comments upon receiving the award:

Previous Service to Philanthropy Award recipients:

2018 Marilee Falco, Agili

2017 Bruce A. Palmer, CPA, Buckno Lisicky & Company

2016 Geoffrey Boyer, CFP, Boyer Financial Group

2015 J. Marshall Wolff, Kressler, Wolff & Miller

2014 Matthew Sorrentino, Esq. Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A. / Robert G. Tallman, Esq. (posthumously)

2012 Alfred E. Douglass, IV, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

2008 Ellen Kraft, Esq., Attorney At Law

2007 Dolores Laputka, Esq., Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A.

2006 David Osborn, CLU, ChCF, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

2005 Jeffrey T. Bogert, Magellan Financial, Inc. / Judith A. Harris, Esq., Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A.

2004 Paul Florenz, Esq.,  Kolb, Vasiliadis & Florenz , Littner, Deshler and Littner

2003 Robert Moffett, Esq., Attorney At Law

About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF connects people who care to causes that matter, grow their charitable legacies, and fund nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the region. Learn more at: www.lvcfoundation.org.

Allentown, Pa., November 11, 2020—Monique Moreno recently joined the staff of the Community Foundation in October 2020. In her role as Grants Associate, she assists the Director of Community Investments in managing the community investments functions of the Foundation, which includes crafting grantmaking strategies, implementing grantmaking cycles, and providing community leadership.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Monique spent nine years working various leadership roles for businesses such as Stitch Fix and BCBG Max Azria. She served in management and administrative roles that focused on company operations and culture, client experience, and project management. Before her time in the business sector, Moreno also worked as an intern for the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh and as a consultant for the Pittsburgh Human Rights Network, a social networking program implemented by Global Solutions Pittsburgh. Monreno is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Monreno graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Cheyney University. She earned a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF is a philanthropic hub for the Lehigh Valley—who know and navigate the landscape of the Lehigh Valley’s community needs to connect people who care to causes that matter.

Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Faces International partner for a special initiative, Project Equity.  

Allentown, Pa., November 10, 2020—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley have partnered with Faces International to create a new initiative that will bring together nonprofit stakeholders in the region to create a common vision, values, and strategies for redesigning an equitable and sustainable nonprofit sector.  Project Equity: Redesigning the Lehigh Valley Nonprofit Sector” launched with the unveiling of the project website at: http://projectequitylv.com/ and a video raising awareness about the project.

“The underlying principle of Project Equity is the concept of ‘co-design’ which is when an organization and its stakeholders work together to design or rethink a service,” explained Megan Briggs, Director of Community Investments at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. “We are inviting the people most affected by COVID-19 and systemic inequities into the problem-solving and decision-making space to co-design strategies to address how the nonprofit sector can rebuild in a way that focuses on equity and sustainability.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn, and the heightened national consciousness on racial disparities has laid bare the systemic racism and historic disinvestment in our communities, as well as the stark inequities in our society. “The nonprofit sector is serving a vital need during this crisis, but is being stretched in many ways,” said Erin Connelly, Senior Director of Impact, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “We need to operate differently to serve our community and we have an opportunity to rebuild in a way that focuses on equity and sustainability. Now is the time to ask how the Lehigh Valley nonprofit community could build an equitable, sustainable nonprofit sector together. It is with that vision in mind, that we are launching Project Equity.”

“This approach goes beyond creating a diversity plan or initiative where leadership overlays elements of diversity and inclusion overtop systemic inequities,” said Tyrone Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Faces International. “We’ll have the right people around the table. Together, they will dig into the core of our nonprofit sector and pull out a framework that inextricably connects missions to processes, donors to our neighbors, and equity to sustainability.”

Kevin Greene, Chief Operations Officer at Faces added, “Equity is not about taking away what you have. It is about extending the table so we have the voices and expertise we need to achieve success.”

Project Equity will include four distinct phases that will ensure the initiative remains centered on equity and is a thorough and complete process. Consulting group TCC group will provide data and evaluation support for the initiative.

• Phase One – Community-wide Launch
  The project begins with the creation of a “Design Team” made up of nonprofit and community representatives who will receive a grant to their respective organizations in recognition of their time.
   
• Phase Two – Learn and Discover
  Design Team participants will engage in intensive dialogue about their experience in the nonprofit space. The team aims to understand what our community and nonprofit sector has experienced as the pandemic, racial injustice and an economic downturn converge.
   
• Phase Three – Community Co-designing
  The Design Team will review data, answer key questions, and craft a common vision, values, and priorities for an equity-centered recovery and reimagining of the nonprofit sector.
   
• Phase Four – Share and Act
  With a completed framework in hand, the information will be shared and distributed to all stakeholders within the Lehigh Valley.

“The outcome of Project Equity will enable the nonprofit sector to rethink how we are operating, imagine better alternatives, and co-create strategies to make those alternatives come to life.” Briggs explained further. “The project aims to center the community’s expertise and create a unified voice around the vision, values, and strategies in rebuilding from COVID-19. Through the process, we seek to build and deepen relationships and seed new partnerships.”

The project was initiated through the Strategic Response Team, a collaborative that began to meet to align and coordinate initial response and recovery efforts in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Project Equity is supported by a grant from the United Philanthropy Forum’s Momentum Fund, as well as donor contributions supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. 

About the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

For more than five decades, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation has helped donors with their charitable contributions with a simple, powerful, and highly personalized approach. LVCF connects people who care to causes that matter, grow their charitable legacies, and fund nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the region. Learn more at: www.lvcfoundation.org

Mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

The mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide the leadership, convene the partnerships, and develop the resources and solutions that improve our community.  We remain committed to these goals and sincerely appreciate the continued support of partners, program providers and donors throughout the Lehigh Valley. Learn more at: www.UnitedWayGLV.org

About Faces International

Established in 2012, FACES international, or Faces, is a team of highly skilled, efficiently trained, and experienced professionals offering services in six (6) distinct areas of focus: Team Building and Cultural Competence Training, Events, Design, Business Consulting, Digital Marketing, and Videography. These areas of service operate together in what is known as the “FACES Ecosystem.”  The common goal amongst all areas is to enhance the lives of community members and challenge each individual client receiving our services to strive for excellence. We have a very diverse clientele who have had the opportunity to become part of the intergenerational, and interconnected Ecosystem. Learn more at: https://facesint.com/.