Listen to the latest episode of Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation, titled “Berks in the Spotlight”.
Access to reliable, regional news is the oxygen communities breathe. Local, investigative reporting improves civic engagement and helps residents make informed decisions. Spotlight PA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to high-quality investigative journalism for Pennsylvania state government, who launched a Berks Bureau in 2025.
Spotlight PA’s Community Forums Program is an extension of this investigative work. Focused on topics that matter to the community, this interactive and educational program has helped bring the Tec Centro Workforce Network to Berks County.
Have a story you’d like to share with Spotlight PA? Visit https://www.spotlightpa.org/tips or call +1 717-418-9684 to submit a tip.
To learn more about Berks County Community Foundation, email us at info@bccf.org or call 610-685-2223.
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READING, PA (June 4, 2026) – The Innovation Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded $101,956 to local organizations for projects that will improve environmental health across Berks County. Funded projects include small-scale construction, such as community gardens, educational programs, large-scale planning efforts, and more.
The following projects received funding from the Innovation Fund:
- $8,000 to Berks Agricultural Resource Network for the 2026 Urban Agriculture Bus Tour.
- $8,000 to the Berks County Earth Day Committee of Berks Recycling Coalition for the annual Berks Earth Day event.
- $13,046 to Berks Nature for Cultivating Community: A Garden Initiative.
- $13,860 to Berks Nature for a municipal outreach initiative supporting open space protection, native plant communities, and stormwater best management practices.
- $9,050 to Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club and Wildness Park for a forest stewardship plan.
- $10,000 to GoggleWorks Center for the Arts for GoggleWorks Gardens at Laurel Park.
- $15,000 to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for a Spanish-language environmental outreach campaign.
- $15,000 to Student Conservation Association for the 2027 Reading Conservation Corps, which will recruit, hire, and train young adults to complete conservation projects across the county while gaining job skills and certifications.
- $10,000 to Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge for Adventure Summer Camp, making camp possible for 25 children who might not otherwise be able to attend. The seven-week, inclusive, nature-based program centers on the Seven Grandfather Teachings of Anishinaabe tradition: Love, Respect, Bravery, Humility, Wisdom, Honesty, and Truth.
“The Innovation Fund supports creative projects that can make a meaningful impact,” said Emily Smedley, Environment and Energy Program Officer for Berks County Community Foundation. “Environmental health affects everyone. We all have a role to play and can become responsible stewards of our beautiful, biodiverse region.”
To learn more about The Innovation Fund, visit https://bccf.org/funds/the-innovation-fund/.
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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing and distributing charitable funds aimed at improving the quality of life in Berks County.
Have a question about this fund?
Email Emily Smedley, Environment & Energy Program Officer
Listen to the latest episode of Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation, titled “Berks for School, for Good”.
Chad Ganley, Assistant Director of Career Development at Kutztown University, and Katie Diamond Rothstein, Generation Impact Program Director at VOiCEup Berks, join the Sparking Change podcast to discuss student retention in Berks County in the latest episode of Sparking Change, titled, “Berks for School, for Good”. The idea to increase employment and internship opportunities, as well as community engagement for recently graduated college students, originated from an initiative led by Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer for Berks County Community Foundation.
You can connect with the foundation by emailing info@bccf.org, calling at 610-685-2223, or visiting www.bccf.org. Chad Ganley can be reached by emailing ganley@kutztown.edu Katie Diamond Rothstein can be reached by emailing katie@voiceupberks.org.
Other ways to listen to “Berks for School, for Good”:
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Reading, PA (May 22, 2026) – On May 20, 2026, Berks County Community Foundation hosted its annual scholarship luncheon at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Reading. The luncheon gathers scholarship recipients, scholarship fundholders and donors, award judges and reviewers, as well as local high school, college, and university leadership. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, Berks County Community Foundation manages more than 130 scholarship funds. This year, $800,950 was distributed from those funds to deserving scholarship recipients.
Individuals who received scholarships range in age and degree of academic rigor. Students pursuing degrees and certificates from trade schools, undergraduate programs, and postgraduate programs were in attendance. The 2026 Berks’ Best winners, which are graduating high school seniors who achieve excellence in academia, civic life, and their chosen fields of study, were also acknowledged. Kutztown University President, Dr. Philip Cavalier, delivered the keynote speech. Cavalier urged students to remain open-minded and present throughout their academic journeys.
“This year’s distribution of scholarships is one of the foundation’s largest yet,” says Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer. “We are committed to nurturing the minds of Berks County residents and engaging the community throughout the scholarship process. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and the individuals who volunteer their time to read applications.”
Since inception, Berks County Community Foundation has distributed more than $15,500,950 in scholarships.
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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The word “philanthropy” comes from Greek roots, meaning, quite simply, a love of humanity.
Philanthropy is a big word—but at its heart, it reflects something very personal: the desire to help others, strengthen community, and make a difference in ways that matter to you.
For some people, philanthropy means supporting a favorite nonprofit year after year. For others, it means volunteering time, responding to urgent needs, or thinking carefully about how to create lasting change. However it shows up, philanthropy is not one-size-fits-all. It’s as unique as the people behind it.
That’s where the Community Foundation comes in.
At the foundation, we believe that everyone’s philanthropic instinct looks different, from person to person. Our role is to help you discover, shape, and act on that instinct in a way that reflects your values, your experiences, and your goals. Whether you already have a clear vision or are just beginning to explore what matters most, we’re here to help you connect the dots.
How exactly does this work? What does it look like in real life to get started with the Community Foundation?
Often, the starting point is simply having a conversation. Here’s what you can expect during your first meeting with a member of the team.
We’ll review your favorite charities.
Together, we’ll take a look at a list of the charities you already support and review each organization to uncover the reasons you love and support each one. This is a crucial starting point because the Community Foundation is here to help you make the most of what you are already doing and then build on that to discover how you can get even more involved.
We’ll chat about your story.
We enjoy hearing from our donors about the experiences that have shaped their lives. As we begin this part of our conversation, we’ll explore questions that help unlock where your charitable passions may lie and why. What challenges have you or your loved ones faced? What opportunities made a difference for you? Often, the causes we care about most are connected to our own journeys. Reflecting on these moments can help clarify where you feel most motivated to give.
We’ll talk about what’s going on in our community.
Which local issues capture your attention or spark a strong emotional response? It might be something you read in the news, a local initiative you hear about, or a cause a friend supports. These moments are often clues pointing toward what matters most to you. The foundation can help provide context for these issues and share information about which organizations are directly addressing the local challenges that top your list.
We’ll connect with your advisors about structure.
As your charitable purposes come into focus, we would welcome the opportunity to join you for a meeting with your estate planning and tax advisors, or even provide information you can share with your advisors about charitable giving structures that might help you achieve your goals. Whether your charitable goals are best served via a donor-advised fund, unrestricted fund, legacy gift, IRA beneficiary designation, or anything in between, the Community Foundation can help implement your charitable intentions in ways that your advisors recommend are best aligned with the rest of your financial plan.
As we take these steps together, remember that you don’t have to have all the answers right away. Philanthropy is a journey, not a destination. Whether you’re ready to establish a fund, looking to deepen your involvement, or simply beginning to think about how you want to give back, the Community Foundation is here to help. Together, we can turn your love of humanity into meaningful, lasting impact—right here in the community we share.
READING, PA (May 11, 2026) – Power of the Purse (POP) in Berks County Fund of Berks County Community Foundation awards grants to programs that break the cycle of poverty by eliminating or addressing barriers for Berks County girls and/or women who want to enter or re-enter the workforce or seek the education they need to do so. The fund’s committee is a women’s giving circle. Members conduct site visits to the nonprofits and organizations that have applied for POP funding.
In May 2026, POP in Berks County approved $73,000 to the following eight nonprofits and organizations:
- Literacy Council
- Hannah’s Hope
- Hope Rescue Mission
- John Paul II Center for Special Learning
- Connections Work
- Helping Harvest
- Opportunity House
- Planned Parenthood Keystone
“Women’s giving circles are an easy way to maximize the giving power of individuals,” says Cindy Milian, Health and Human Services Program Officer of Berks County Community Foundation. “POP in Berks County invests in the futures of local girls and women because the committee understands how pivotal those individuals are in inspiring change and shaping the future of our region.”
Power of the Purse (POP) Fund was established at Berks County Community Foundation in 2012. For more information on POP or establishing your own fund with the Community Foundation, email Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services, at mollyr@bccf.org.
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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing and distributing charitable funds aimed at improving the quality of life in Berks County.
Many people are not fully aware of the extent to which charitable organizations shape everyday life in our communities.
From social services to education, healthcare, and the arts, nonprofits touch nearly every aspect of quality of life. Americans give hundreds of billions of dollars to charity each year, supporting roughly 1.9 million organizations nationwide. These organizations often become even more essential during periods of economic uncertainty, when demand for services tends to rise just as resources can feel more constrained.
That dynamic is especially relevant as many are watching the markets closely this spring. Even the possibility of a downturn can influence financial decisions, including charitable giving. It is natural to feel more cautious. At the same time, history shows that community needs often increase during challenging economic periods—making it all the more important to stay engaged in philanthropy.
As you think about your charitable giving this year, this may be a good moment to step back and consider not only where you give, but also how you structure your giving for long-term impact. In particular, it is important for donors and fund holders to consider expanding their portfolio of giving to include giving to the Community Foundation itself. This can take several forms, each of which plays a meaningful role.
Unrestricted giving
Some donors choose to support the Community Foundation’s grantmaking and initiatives across generations. This type of support helps ensure that the foundation can continue serving as a trusted resource—connecting donors to causes, responding to emerging needs, and stewarding charitable funds with care and expertise well into the future. It is an investment not only in today’s giving, but also in the long-term strength of the philanthropic infrastructure in our community.
Support for existing funds
Other donors focus on increasing the Community Foundation’s grantmaking resources so that more money can flow from the Community Foundation to nonprofits that are helping those in need, especially when times are tough. Contributions to unrestricted or broadly focused funds allow the foundation’s program team to respond quickly and thoughtfully to the most pressing challenges facing our region. During periods of economic strain, this flexibility can be especially powerful, enabling support to reach the people and organizations that need it most, at the moment it matters most.
A hybrid approach
In many cases, donors adopt a dual strategy—continuing to support favorite organizations directly or through the Community Foundation’s grant programs while also allocating a portion of their giving to the Community Foundation itself or by establishing a new fund of your own. This approach can help balance personal philanthropic interests with broader community impact, creating a more resilient and adaptable giving strategy.
The Community Foundation’s unique role is what makes any or all of these approaches so effective. As a perpetual institution governed by a local board of directors, Berks County Community Foundation is designed to serve the community not just today, but across generations. Our team maintains deep knowledge of local needs, works closely with nonprofit partners, and is positioned to deploy resources where they can do the greatest good over time.
Especially in moments when the future feels uncertain, expanding your portfolio of giving in this way can provide an added layer of confidence. You can continue supporting the causes you care about while also strengthening the Community Foundation’s ability to lead, respond, and make a difference—now and in the years ahead.
We are honored to work alongside you as you consider how your philanthropy can support both immediate needs and lasting impact for our entire community.
Where the foundation’s team of experts convene with local leaders, volunteers, and change-makers to share the good work being done across Berks County.
Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation, is available to stream anywhere you listen to podcasts, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, and more! Can’t find Sparking Change on your preferred podcast streaming platform? Reach out.
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Listen to the latest episode of Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation, titled “What’s Up with Plastic, Berks?”
Emily Smedley, Environment and Energy Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from What’SUP Berks, a local initiative whose mission is to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) bags in all stores, restaurants, and businesses in Berks County by 2027. By providing educational opportunities, engaging with community leaders, and encourage the use of reusable bags, What’SUP Berks hopes to ultimately help pass legislation banning SUP in the Commonwealth. Listen to the episode now to learn about the environmental, health, and financial repercussions SUP has on the Berks community–and how you can join the fight against SUP. Tom Crotty, Executive Team Member, and Linda Dapcic-Angst, Treasurer of What’SUP Berks, join the conversation.
Other ways to listen
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Want to take a deeper dive into the effects of single-use plastic?
Here are helpful sources to supplement the conversation on single-use plastic:
- What are microplastics?
- Recycling Codes and what they mean for plastic users
- Microplastics found on Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak
- Plastic bag found in Mariana Trench, the world’s deepest ocean trench
- The effect of microplastics on human health
- The cost of litter removal in Pennsylvania towns
This podcast episode was recorded at BCTV’s studio in Reading, PA, on March 24, 2026.
Berks County Community Foundation, in partnership with Northern Berks Connects (formerly the Hamburg Area School District Initiative), invites proposals from schools, and nonprofit entities to support a one-year pilot program.
The selected organization will provide and oversee staff responsible for developing and maintaining a localized resource guide for the Hamburg area and its surrounding municipalities, coordinating community networking events, and supporting collaboration among community leaders. This initiative seeks to improve access to essential resources for basic human needs – including food & water, shelter & housing, health & medical resources, transportation services and safety & security issues.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to carry out the following activities:
- Coordinate, plan, and host two to three (2–3) Northern Berks Connects networking events annually.
- Collaborate with the Northern Berks Connects Steering Committee to respond to identified community needs.
- Create and maintain a Northern Berks Connects website and localized digital and printed resource guide.
- Regularly update and maintain the web-based and printable resource guide.
- Distribute resource information to participants in Northern Berks Connects.
- Explore strategies to support the sustainability of the initiative over the next two to three years.
Visit the foundation’s Grant Application Portal or click below to submit your organization’s proposal now.
Before submitting an application, review the Community Foundation’s grantee standards on the website.
Questions? Reach out!
Email your questions to Cindy Milian, Health and Human Services Program Officer of Berks County Community Foundation at cindym@bccf.org.
