Focus Area

Education

A Community of
Life-long Learners

The world moves quickly, and we’re here to help you keep up.

Goal: Help Make Education More Affordable for Families
Through the creation of more than 125 scholarship funds, your neighbors have helped thousands of Berks County students pursue their dreams after high school, from working in the technical or culinary trades to studying medicine and engineering.
Goal: Management Training for Nonprofit Leaders
We offer a nonprofit management certificate with help from our friends at The Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University. Every other year, a cohort of up to twenty local leaders work together to hone their management skills to make their organizations – and our community – the best it can be.
Goal: Learning About Giving
Our giving circles offer a chance to learn about local nonprofits while giving back. Through the Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund and our Youth Advisory Board, learning about philanthropy has never been more interesting.

What’s New in Education

A Quick Guide to Our Scholarship Application Process

The generosity of our donors allowed us to award $610,000 in scholarships in 2023. Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria based on the donor’s intention when the scholarship was created. Our scholarship application opens on January 1 each year. The deadline to submit all applications…

February 16, 2024

Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer

Sparking Excitement for Reading Through Trading Cards

Innovative classroom projects can serve as a catalyst for strong academic performance. Librarians at Brecknock Elementary School wanted to enhance the conventional reading curriculum by introducing a project that would excite children about reading and promote collaboration and creative thinking.  To ensure students would enjoy…

December 11, 2023

Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer

Berks County Community Foundation Program Officers Highlight Initiatives at 2023 Annual Meeting

On November 8, Berks County Community Foundation held its Annual Meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading. More than 100 civic leaders attended the event, which included brief presentations by the Community Foundation’s program officers and an overview of the year by Kevin…

November 20, 2023

Erica Caceres, Communication Manager

We turn initiatives into action.

With the help of community partners and committed volunteers, we take what we learn and put it to work through specific programs.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Nonprofit Certificate Program

A program of Berks County Community Foundation

The Berks County Community Foundation Nonprofit Management Certificate Program runs every other year. Applications for the next cohort will be available in 2024.

Learn More

Our knowledge is your power.

We’ve been creating change since 1994. Our program officers know initatives in Berks County inside-out and can answer all your questions

Ask Us Anything