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“Social Services in Rural Libraries” is the first episode of Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation.

Cindy Milian, Health & Human Services Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from United Way of Berks County, Friend, Inc., Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library and Hamburg Public Library. Together, the group discusses the need for social services in our rural libraries, what it means to meet people where they are, and the foundation’s newest initiative.

This podcast episode was recorded at BCTV’s studio in Reading, PA, on February 25, 2026.

Our 2025 Annual Report: A Year of Connection is here

In Fiscal Year 2025, Berks County Community Foundation distributed over $6.8 million in grants and scholarships to support the community. While grantmaking is “what we do,” connecting to the community is at the heart of our work.

Berks County Community Foundation connects donors, grantees, and community partners to one another in the pursuit of the greater good. Our Program Team, comprised of experts in their fields of interest, made quarterly site visits to local institutions to learn about their operations, needs, and impact on Berks County. During the federal government shut down and Pennsylvania state budget impasse, the communication and program team engaged a local reporter to investigate how government cuts affect Berks nonprofits. Connecting with people, sharing expertise, and learning from one another, is how communities thrive.

 “While distributing grants and scholarships is a core part of our mission,” says Kevin Murphy, President and CEO of Berks County Community Foundation, “none of our work would be possible without the relationships we build throughout Berks County.”

The Annual Report highlights our mission of promoting philanthropy and improving the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. The team works hard to bring organizations and individuals together for collaboration to spark change in the community. This year’s Annual Report provides detailed stories and data behind these achievements, underscoring the powerful impact of donor support in the community.  

To read the full report, take a look below or click here.  

The Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund will make grants to fund a variety of energy efficiency projects to nonprofits, government entities, and small-businesses within the Met-Ed and Penelec utility areas. Funding is only available to existing buildings (not new construction) and to organizations that own their buildings (not lease). A preliminary energy assessment must be completed to be considered for funding. If you have not had an energy assessment completed, contact fund staff to be connected with technical assistance.

There is $500,000 available per utility area ($1,000,000 total). Grants will typically range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Eligible projects include:

• Replacement of existing lighting with more energy-efficient lighting (more information here)
• Installation of high-efficiency HVAC projects (more information here)
• Installation of commercial kitchen and refrigeration improvements (more information here)

Process timeline:

• LOIs open April 15; Due May 15 
• Announcement of invitation to submit an application by May 30 
• Application opens on June 1; Due July 15 
• Funding decisions announced by September 30  

Letter of Intent

An advisory board will review the applications and decide which projects will receive grant funding. 

The LOI and application is available in Berks County Community Foundation’s and Community Foundation for the Alleghenies’ grant portals. Projects in Penelec territory should fill out the form in the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies’ portal; Projects in Met-Ed territory should fill out the form in Berks County Community Foundation’s portal. 

Contact information

In the Met-Ed rate district, please contact Emily Smedley: 
Environment and Energy Program Officer, Berks County Community Foundation 
Fund Manager, Met-Ed Sustainable Energy Fund 
Emilys@bccf.org  

In the Penelec rate district, please contact Mark Keim:  
Program Officer, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies 
Fund Manager, Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund 
mkeim@cfalleghenies.org  

Ed Lombardo has a connection to Berks County Community Foundation that goes back many years. A lifelong Berks resident, high school football coach, community volunteer and investment advisor, Ed recognizes the importance of philanthropy.  

Earlier this year, Ed reflected on his history of giving, which includes the Lombardo Family Scholarship Fund and the Lombardo Family Memorial Fund. To learn more about Ed’s connections to Muhlenburg, read his feature in this year’s edition of our annual magazine, 237 Court. Click here to view the magazine; Ed’s story begins on page 3. 

To learn more about establishing a fund at Berks County Community Foundation, click here or email mollyr@bccf.org.  

The third issue of 237 Court Magazine is now available! This annual magazine returned to publication in 2024 and will be released each June. This year’s issue features articles about the ways in which the Community Foundation “connects the dots” in Berks County. From connecting donors to options for giving – to connecting students to engaging experiences and learning opportunities – to connecting leaders to each other in an effort to share resources, this magazine issue shines a light on the grantmaking and initiative work of Berks County Community Foundation. Click here to read the 2025 issue of 237 Court Magazine!

Visit our News and Events page to stay up to date on Berks County Community Foundation.

Before Grantmaking, Let’s Understand Community Foundations 

Community foundations pool resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support nonprofits within their communities. It all starts with a donor or donors working with us to establish a fund to support their charitable goals. We currently manage nearly 400 different funds totaling approximately $140 million. Most of those funds are restricted to support specific organizations or areas of interest. 

Our Grantmaking Process 

1. Identifying Community Needs: Our team of program officers, each of whom is an expert in her area of focus, starts by identifying the most pressing needs within the community and managing their related portfolio of funds. This involves engaging with local stakeholders and analyzing data to understand where support is most needed.  

2. Establishing Grant Programs: Based on identified needs, our team established five areas of focus: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Energy, Health & Human Services, and Neighborhood Vitality. 

3. Endowments: To support our grantmaking activities, the Community Foundation relies on donations from the public. Most of the funds that we manage are endowed funds, which are invested to generate income for long-term grantmaking. This ensures a sustainable source of funding for future grants. 

4. Grant Application and Review: Nonprofit organizations seeking funding submit grant applications detailing their projects and how they align with the foundation’s priorities. Applications are reviewed by a committee and/or foundation staff to assess their potential impact and feasibility. Committee members are selected because they have a connection to the fund or expertise in the area it supports. 

5. Awarding Grants: Once the review process is complete, the foundation awards grants to selected nonprofits. These grants can be unrestricted, allowing organizations to use the funds as needed, or restricted to specific projects or programs. 

6. Monitoring and Evaluation: After grants are awarded, our program officers monitor the progress of funded projects. This involves regular reporting from grantees and site visits to ensure that the funds are being used effectively and that the projects are achieving their intended outcomes. 
7. Community Engagement and Feedback: Continuous engagement with the community is crucial. Foundation staff often holds meetings, site visits, and forums to gather feedback and ensure that our grantmaking strategies remain aligned with community needs and our mission.

Our grantmaking is made possible by the funds that have been established over our 31-year history. Each fund was established based on the interests and passions of the donor(s), and it is our honor and obligation to abide by the parameters set forth by our fund holders. 

There are different types of funds that donors can establish with the Community Foundation:

1. Undesignated: Want to meet the most pressing needs in Berks County? Grants from undesignated funds are determined by our board of directors to address ever-changing community needs. This type of fund supports initiative work such as our support of Spotlight PA, student retention work, rural initiatives, and new arts funding. We strategize to use unrestricted funding to create systemic change and address big issues. 

2. Designated: Support a specific organization year after year, even after you are gone. Organizations benefit from consistent support, and you can be confident the money in your fund is professionally managed. 

3. Field of Interest: Whatever your cause, our team of program experts will do the legwork to ensure grants from your fund make a difference for your cause now and for years to come. 

4. Donor Advised: Make decisions about where grants from your fund go each year while you are alive, with the option to name a successor advisor after you are gone. 

5. Scholarships: Help students pay for their education through a scholarship fund. Or use a designated fund or more flexible field-of-interest fund to support a specific school or area of education. 

6. Giving Circle: The Power of the Purse (POP) committee is a women’s giving circle. The dedicated group of women meets several times a year to learn about barriers women and girls face in Berks County. They visit local organizations, listen to expert speakers, and make thoughtful decisions about how best to help, using their pooled resources. 

The vision for the Program Team is to:  

• Move the needle in priority areas where donors and/or the community have asked us to shine a light.  

• Develop deep expertise in these priority areas and make strategic investments of time, effort, and money to improve the quality of life in Berks County in those areas.  

• Be impeccable in the stewarding of grants to ensure donor intent is met and data and feedback are collected and put to good use. 

I lead the team of expert program officers, ensuring their grantmaking work and management align with donor intent. Together, we seek local and national partnerships and opportunities to amplify the impact of our programs.  

The mission of Berks County Community Foundation is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. We play a pivotal role by providing financial support to various nonprofit organizations and individuals in need through our grantmaking. If you have questions, please email me at monicar@bccf.org. To learn more about myself and the team at Berks County Community Foundation, visit the Our Team page.

READING, PA (April 9, 2025) – Berks County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the conclusion of its 1st quarter grant cycle for calendar year 2025, which has successfully distributed vital funding to local nonprofits and initiatives dedicated to improving our community.   

 In this quarter, the Foundation awarded grants to a diverse range of projects focusing in areas of environment and energy, education, health and human services, arts and culture, and neighborhoods and economic development; supporting the impactful work of local organizations that improve the lives of Berks County residents.    

These numbers are a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to its mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.   

• Q1 total grants awarded: 190   

• Q1 total dollar amount awarded: $1,152,270 

• Q1 number of organizations impacted: 142 

  

“Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love,” stated Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services.   

  

Moving forward, community members are invited to join the Community Foundation in sparking change. Here are two ways to get involved:   

  

1. Give to an Existing Fund: Your contributions can help sustain the important work of established funds addressing specific needs within Berks County.   

2. Create Your Own Fund: Whether you want to honor a loved one or support a particular cause or organization, the Foundation can help you to create a fund that reflects your passions and philanthropic goals.   

  

For more information on how to give or create a fund, please visit www.bccf.org, email Molly McCullough Robbins at mollyr@bccf.org, or call (610) 685-2223.   

  

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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org. 

On March 29, 2025, approximately 145 guests gathered at the Berkshire Country Club to honor Ramona Turner Turpin with the 2025 Thun Award. The Thun Award was created in 1988 to honor Louis R. Thun and Ferdinand K. Thun, local industrialists and philanthropists, in recognition of their long-standing record of civic and community service. The award is presented to Berks County residents whose commitment of time, leadership, and philanthropy exhibits the enduring sense of community reflected by the high ideals of the Thun family.  

Fulton Bank and Berks County Community Foundation proudly presented the 2025 Thun Award to Ramona Turner Turpin for her extraordinary community contributions, engagement, and philanthropy in Berks County. Ramona is an Instructor at the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks. Early in her career, Ramona was employed by Berks County Intermediate Unit – first as a teacher, then as an early childhood education coordinator. She served as the Dean of Leadership and Director of Funds Development for the I-LEAD Charter School in Reading. Ramona’s banking career began as the Community Reinvestment Act Director for Bank of Pennsylvania before she was named Community Relations manager for Sovereign Bank in 1999, a position she held for almost ten years. In addition, she held the role of Small Business Specialist for three years.  

Ramona has served on numerous boards, including Berks County Community Foundation, Reading Musical Foundation, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, BCTV and United Way of Berks County. She has volunteered her time with Berks Intercultural Alliance. Ramona is a long-time member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she has shared her time and talents as a teacher, choir member, and Christian education director; she presently sits on the steward board. Ramona has received numerous awards, including the Athena Award, the Outstanding Woman award from Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Amiga Award from the Latina Gathering, and the NAACP Image Award. 

Previous Recipients of the Thun Award:  

Thun Award recipients are community advocates who are leaders in commerce and industry. This year’s award recipient embodies the passion for and investment in this community, qualities that are found in all the recipients of the Thun Award. 

Berks County Community Foundation established the Thun Award Fund from which honorees recommend grants to organizations of their choice. Ramona selected The Sisterhood of Reading to receive this year’s grant. The Sisterhood of Reading strives to foster a kindred and caring spirit among African American women. Their goal is to mentor young women for the betterment of our community. 

Click here to view event photos from the Celebration of Giving and Thun Award presentation. To view the video which highlights Ramona’s contributions to the community, visit our YouTube page here. For more information about the Thun Award, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org.

There are many ways to support nonprofit organizations. You may make a one-time gift to support an event or program. You may give annually to your favorite organization. Perhaps you volunteer your time and talent to offset costs for a charity that is important to you. You could also establish an endowment fund. An endowment is a fund or group of funds that provides long-term support for a cause or organization. It is established with the intention to live on forever. Establishing an endowment fund with Berks County Community Foundation is a long-term way to support the organizations and causes that matter most to you. The endowed fund is invested, and a portion is given out each year for grantmaking to fulfill the charitable intent set forth by the donor(s). As the invested balance grows, more is available for distribution over time.  

How does it work? 

• An individual, group, or organization completes a fund agreement to specify the details of the fund and the charitable intent of the donor(s) and makes a gift to establish a fund with Berks County Community Foundation. 

• Berks County Community Foundation manages and invests the fund to grow the balance.  

• Each year, a portion of the fund (4.5%) is distributed based on the charitable goals set forth in the fund agreement.  

• The remaining funds are kept in the endowment to grow over time.  

Why is it important?  

• Endowments provide an ongoing source of funding for charitable causes. 

• Endowments can help nonprofit organizations that the donor selects expand their support and develop new programs. 

• Endowments can help those organizations weather economic downturns. 

How can I contribute? 

• You can donate cash, stocks, real estate, or other assets to an endowment.  

• You can receive tax benefits for your donation in the year you give.  

• You can create a legacy of support by establishing an endowment.  

• Others may give to existing endowments to increase their grantmaking dollars. 

Berks County Community Foundation assesses management fees on the charitable funds it administers. These fees support costs for grant processing, contribution acknowledgment, audits, tax filings, and personnel. These fees are crucial to allowing us to fulfill our mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.  

Effective stewardship of philanthropic assets is key to our mission. The endowment funds we manage will live forever, and so will Berks County Community Foundation. We will never leave the area or go out of business, so we will always be here making the community a better place to live.  

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

To learn more about establishing an endowed fund with Berks County Community Foundation, please download our Giving Guide and feel free to email me at mollyr@bccf.org.  

Police K9 units play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. These hardworking dogs help officers track suspects, find missing people and detect illegal substances. But, maintaining a skilled and effective K9 unit requires continuous funding for training, equipment and proper facilities. That is where the Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund of Berks County Community Foundation can help. 

This fund provides grants to help train, purchase and maintain K9 units for governmental entities in Berks County. Right now, applications are open for organizations that need funding to support their K9 teams. 

How was the fund created? Darrell and Gloria Rank dedicated their lives to making Berks County a safer place. Darrell was the first executive of the Berks Earned Income Tax Bureau and took action when his community needed him most. He once rescued a woman from a flooded car in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes and helped bring a dangerous criminal to justice after witnessing an assault.  

When Gloria passed away in 2012, she left most of her estate to Berks County Community Foundation, ensuring that their commitment to public safety would continue. Today, the Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund honors their legacy by providing essential resources for K9 units in the county. 

How is this fund making a difference?  A recent grant was used to update and maintain two K9 facilities where police dogs are housed and trained. These facilities are critical for keeping the unit efficient and ready for duty. The grant covered the cost of materials and labor to complete much-needed improvements, ensuring the facilities are still safe and functional for years to come. 

The project was delayed due to circumstances such as switching contractors. However, the team worked hard to overcome challenges and keep the upgrades on track. Thanks to this funding, K9 handlers and their dogs now have a safer and more effective training environment. 

The Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund of Berks County Community Foundation is currently accepting applications to help provide essential funding for K9 training, equipment, and facility maintenance. To apply, click here.