The Nelson Foundation is pleased to welcome Raymond John and Camille Simpkins to its Board of Directors. Raymond John Raymond is the CEO and Co-Founder of 12+, a current Nelson Foundation grantee, whose mission is to increase educational equity by building school cultures that inspire success beyond 12th grade. What began in 2012 serving a single Philadelphia…
We’re proud to announce our 2025 Capacity Building Grant Award to Lift Every Voice, a Black-led, multiracial organization that builds parent power to advance racial, economic, and educational justice in Philadelphia public schools. This $150,000, three-year investment will support the hiring of a Communications Manager, strengthening Lift Every Voice’s ability to tell its story, amplify…
Juntos is a community-led Latine immigrant organization based in South Philadelphia, dedicated to fighting for the human rights of workers, parents, youth, and immigrants. They believe every person deserves access to a quality education and the freedom to live with dignity—regardless of immigration status. Through leadership development, community organizing, and strategic partnerships with community-based and…
We are thrilled to share a new film, created in partnership with the UnTours Foundation, that shines a spotlight on what it truly means to invest in the community. This project is a follow-up to the award-winning film Dollars that Make Sense and continues the conversation about how foundations can align their money with their…
We are thrilled to share that Jenny Snyder has stepped into the role of President of The Nelson Foundation in October 2025. Jenny has been an integral part of the Foundation since 2015, when she joined as Program Manager. She later served as Director of Grantmaking before assuming her new leadership role. Over the past…
We are also thrilled to introduce our 2025 Change Champions Grant Recipients! The Change Champions program was launched in 2024 to support organizations working in advocacy, policy, and systems change to eliminate racial inequity and social injustice. The focus of this grant program is determined by the Board of Directors and revisited at least every…
The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project (YASP) is a youth-led, intergenerational organization fighting to end youth incarceration, with a focus on eliminating the practice of charging children as adults. Our holistic approach supports young people impacted by the criminal legal system to express themselves creatively, to grow as leaders and to develop transformative possibilities in…
The Nelson Foundation is pleased to announce our 2025 Core Grant Recipients! These nine incredible organizations are leading with purpose and creating lasting impact in the lives of young people across our region: Achieve Now Coatesville Youth Initiative Healthy NewsWorks Juntos Kensington Soccer Club Lil Filmmakers Norris Square Neighborhood Project Rock to the Future Young…
On behalf of The Nelson Foundation’s Board of Directors, I am writing to share that our long-time President, Mindy Aldridge, has decided to step down as President of the Foundation this fall. During Mindy’s nearly 20-year tenure at The Nelson Foundation, she has led a transformation of the Foundation which has culminated in centering the…
Philadelphia City Rowing (PCR) empowers Philadelphia public school students to unlock their full potential through the transformative power of rowing, academic support, and wellness education. We provide free, comprehensive programming that brings students out of their neighborhoods and onto the Schuylkill River—expanding access, building community, and developing future leaders. PCR’s year-round programs combine competitive rowing…
Big Picture Alliance (BPA) empowers marginalized Philadelphia youth to define their own narrative through filmmaking & digital media. We provide transformative learning experiences and a supportive pathway for youth to have their voices heard, develop as young professionals, and reach their full potential. Big Picture Alliance’s pathway of after school, summer and workforce programs mentor…
We are thrilled to announce that Elaine Gonzalez Johnson will be joining our staff this April as Program and Outreach Manager. Elaine comes to the Foundation with more than 15 years of experience in community engagement, educational program development, and strategic marketing. She most recently served as the Education Program Specialist at Penn State Abington,…
Lift Every Voice Philly (LEV) is a Black-led, multi-racial home for parents committed to achieving education justice in the city. We believe that when parents come together and organize, they can drive systemic change that benefits not only their own children but entire communities. Our organizing model brings parents out of isolation, builds collective power,…
The transition from foster care to adulthood is challenging. Many former foster youth face significant obstacles, such as housing instability, unemployment, and a lack of supportive relationships. The Monkey & The Elephant, a non-profit café in Brewerytown, Philadelphia, is dedicated to addressing these challenges by providing former foster youth with the tools they need to…
Need in Deed is dedicated to transforming teaching and learning in Philadelphia public school classrooms for grades 3-8. Our unique approach begins with individual educators, encourages students to advocate for change, and connects the classroom with the community. A Transformational Approach Listening to Students: We start by understanding what students say about their communities’ strengths…
Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project (YSRP) aims to transform the experiences of children prosecuted in the adult criminal legal system through comprehensive court advocacy, policy reform efforts, and reentry support. Their vision is for the law to reflect the understanding that children, given the right resources and support, can undergo remarkable transformation. Youth Sentencing &…
The Nelson Foundation is excited to announce that our Board of Directors has awarded the 2024 Core Grants as well as several Change Champions and Grace Nelson Awards. All core grants are three-year general operating awards in the amount of $60,000. The process was highly competitive, and all applicants demonstrated dedication to their missions, working…
Nelson Foundation is excited to announce its new Mission-Aligned Investing (MAI) strategy, which aims to align 100 % of its investments with its mission and values within five years, with 5-10% specifically allocated for local impact investing. What is Mission-Aligned Investing? Mission-Aligned Investing involves aligning our financial assets with our mission and values. This means…
The mission of The Attic Youth Center is to create opportunities for LGBTQ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community and to promote the acceptance of LGBTQ youth in society. The Attic remains Philadelphia’s only organization exclusively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Founded in…
The Nelson Foundation is delighted to welcome two new directors, Leigh Anne McKelvey and Carlos Aponte, to its board. Leigh Anne McKelvey Leigh Anne has served as the Executive Director of CASA Youth Advocates since 2018 and has worked for CASA programs since 2004. She has been honored and recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal…
The 2024 Core Grant Program is now live and accepting LOIs until March 1, 2024. Click “online application” at the top of our website, then click apply to access, complete, and submit the LOI form. An informational webinar was held on January 30th, and a recording can be found here (use passcode PdS9C3#9 to access…
The Nelson Foundation is pleased to announce the 2023 core grant recipients. All core grants are three-year general operating support awards in the amount of $60,000. Asian Americans United Beyond the Bars Coded by Kids Collegiate Bridge, Inc. FamFrequency Productions Girls First Horizons at Greene Street Friends School Need in Deed The Attic Youth Center…
As part of the early implementation of The Nelson Foundation’s new strategic plan, we are excited to announce that the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement – we hope it is a powerful affirmation and further guide for the Foundation’s new mission, vision, and values. The Nelson Foundation DEI Statement …
The Foundation is one of eight co-investors in The RISE Partnership which has now launched its Building Evaluation Capacity video tutorial series with the release of the first video of the series. This video is titled, “Fundamentals of Evaluation,” and may be watched here or on The Rise Partnership’s YouTube Channel. Additional videos in the…
In June 2020, during a time of national racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd, The Nelson Foundation pledged to engage in self-reflective work to understand how historically the Foundation has contributed to systems of white supremacy, and to identify how the Foundation can work towards ending America’s structural racism going forward. Included in…
Dear Grantee Partners: Jenny and I hope that you all were able to get some R&R over the winter school / programming break. Even if the Omicron variant disrupted plans, fingers crossed that you were able to recharge your batteries a bit. In our households most plans went awry, but there was some good downtime.…
Dear Grantee Partners: It has been a very busy fall at The Nelson Foundation and so Jenny and I wanted to check in with you to share a number of updates and some exciting Foundation news as well as to see how you all are doing. The new strategic plan is progressing well and we…
I had hoped we would have the Pandemic in our collective rearview mirror by September, but unfortunately, we are still very much in the thick of it as well as the uncertainty it brings to our personal and professional lives. Nevertheless, Jenny and I are doing well and were able to take some much-needed time…
Finally, it feels like the grip of COVID-19 is beginning to ease, but I realize that there is a lot of work ahead for everyone to recover, and to figure out and adjust to what post-Pandemic work and personal life will look like. Jenny and I are doing well and we have some much-needed time…
Dear Philadelphia-serving Grantee Partners: I wanted to share a few resources being made available by Philadelphia School Partnership, which are available to organizations engaged in summer youth programming in Philadelphia. These resources are to assist you in recruiting staff for summer 2021 programs. Free Job Postings The TeachPHL.org website, which normally posts school-related jobs in the…
Dear Grantee Partners: I am reaching out today as we all await the verdict in Minneapolis. I am sure that you, your staff and the communities you serve are preoccupied with, and anxious about, the outcome. This is a challenging and yet important time. It is also a time of continued uncertainty because of the…
Dear Grantee Partners: Unfortunately, the Pandemic is still very much with us, but hopefully COVID-19 and the snow will dissipate gradually as we head into spring. Jenny and I are doing well, but February has been tough. We remain very busy with Foundation work and I wanted to give you a brief Foundation update as…
Dear Grantee Partner: The Board and staff of The Nelson Foundation hope that you, your staffs, and the communities you serve are doing well. This year has continued to be a trial for so many, but there appears, finally, to be light in the distance. Jenny and I continue to work remotely and are very…
The Nelson Foundation will welcome Letters of Inquiry from eligible current grantees and new applicants from January 1-22, 2021. Please refer to the Core Grant Program section of our website for guidelines and eligibility requirements, and click the “online application” button to access the online form. The second grant cycle in 2021 will open in…
The Nelson Foundation has joined 30+ funders in support of the Listen4Good Initiative at the Fund for Shared Insight. The Foundation is excited to support the implementation of high-quality, client-focused feedback loops that lead to better programs, services, decision-making, and equity! Learn More.
Dear Grantee Partners: On behalf of the staff and Board of The Nelson Foundation, I have an important update, as well as two important reminders to share. First, I am excited to announce the launch of a new website for the Foundation, which we hope you will take a moment to explore. While much of…
Dear Grantee Partner, Many of us celebrated the end of the year filled with hope, excitement, and optimism for the new decade. Unless we had clairvoyant vision, we could not foresee the turmoil our communities, country, and world would have to endure. The past several months, and recent weeks in particular, have been extremely challenging…
Dear Grantee Partners, The Nelson Foundation’s Board of Directors and Staff grieve for the many black lives cut short by police violence in this country, the most recent of which was the horrific murder of George Floyd. His murder and the subsequent outpouring of sadness and outrage that erupted around the country, once again highlights centuries…
Dear Grantee Partners: On behalf of the Directors and staff of The Nelson Foundation, I would like to share with you the next set of actions that the Foundation’s Board recently authorized in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in support of our grantees partners: One-time additional grants of $5,000 will be made to all of…
On behalf of the staff and Board of The Nelson Foundation, I am reaching out to update you on what is going on at the Foundation. Jenny and I continue to work from home and are in regular contact with each other as well as with the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Right now, we are…
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of The Nelson Foundation, I am reaching out to let you know that we continue to think about you and are available to be a resource and support when needed. Jenny and I have been in touch with many of you over the last weeks and…
On behalf of the Directors and staff of The Nelson Foundation, below is an update on what the Foundation has been doing over the last two weeks to support you, our grantee partners: All 2020 second-year installment grant payments are complete and had an expected check receipt date of Friday, April 3, 2020. The Directors…
On behalf of the Directors and staff of The Nelson Foundation, I would like to share with you the immediate actions that the Foundation has taken, and will be taking, in support of the Greater Philadelphia nonprofit community and our grantees partners: Last week, the Foundation became a Lead Contributor to the newly formed PHL…
On behalf of the staff and Board of The Nelson Foundation, I am reaching out to let you know what is going on at the Foundation during this turbulent and uncertain time. For now, Jenny and I are working remotely, but we are in touch daily. So, please rest assured that the work of the…
The Nelson Foundation has joined the Scattergood Foundation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and others in The RISE partnership, a program combining resources, expertise and tools to strengthen the effectiveness of nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region. RISE has three parts: readiness,…
