Over the past year, The Sarah Ralston Foundation had the privilege of partnering with nonprofit organizations across Philadelphia through our Innovative Project Support (IPS) grant program. These grants are designed to help organizations pilot new approaches, test creative solutions, and respond to emerging needs affecting vulnerable older adults.
While each IPS project addressed a different challenge—from food security and housing stability to social connection, technology access, and culturally responsive care—together they tell a powerful story about what innovation looks like in real communities.
“At SRF, innovation isn’t about novelty for novelty’s sake,” says Heather Finnegan, Executive Director of The Sarah Ralston Foundation. “It’s about listening closely to our partners and investing in ideas that help older adults live with dignity, connection, and security.”
Founded to support and enhance the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved older adults residing in Philadelphia County, SRF centers trust-based philanthropy in all of its work. IPS grants reflect that commitment by providing flexible funding that allows grantee partners to adapt programming, respond to participant feedback, and learn in real time.
Dr. Jerry Johnson, Vice President of the SRF Board and Chair of the IPS Committee, emphasizes that IPS is as much about learning as it is about funding. “As we reviewed project outcomes, evaluation data, and partner reflections, several themes emerged—insights that will help shape SRF’s future grantmaking and deepen our understanding of what older adults in Philadelphia truly need.”
Learn More: Emerging Themes
Innovation Rooted in Equity and Culture Builds Trust
Many of the most impactful projects centered culture, language, identity, and lived experience directly into program design. Rather than treating equity as an add-on, grantees embedded it into the core of their work—resulting in stronger engagement, deeper trust, and more sustainable participation.
Projects from African Family Health Organization (AFAHO), SEAMAAC, and Mazzoni Center demonstrated how culturally responsive approaches can reduce isolation, improve care experiences, and empower older adults as leaders in their own communities.
Read more about these equity-centered innovations here:
Social Connection Is Foundational to Health and Stability
Across nearly every IPS project, social isolation and mental health surfaced as central concerns. Whether through peer-led groups, mentorship programs, or creative wellness initiatives, grantees consistently demonstrated that connection is not supplemental—it is essential.
Organizations including Intercommunity Action, Penn Memory Center, and Depaul USA created opportunities for older adults to build relationships, regain confidence, and strengthen daily wellbeing through thoughtful, community-based programming.
Read more about projects addressing social connection and mental health here:
Demand Continues to Outpace Capacity
Many organizations exceeded participation goals or maintained waitlists—not due to program shortcomings, but because community need remains far greater than available resources.
Grantees such as Caring for Friends, Feast of Justice, SeniorLAW Center, and Pathways to Housing PA highlighted the growing gap between available services and the number of older adults seeking support.
Read more about how grantees are responding to growing demand here:
Technology Works Best When Paired with Human Support
Several IPS projects explored technology-based solutions—from telehealth to digital literacy to assistive devices. Success depended not on the tools themselves, but on the relationships surrounding them.
Innovations led by Abramson Senior Care, Inglis Community Services, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), and Generations on Line showed that technology becomes meaningful when paired with training, one-on-one support, and culturally responsive engagement.
Read more about technology-focused projects here:
Flexibility Strengthens Outcomes
Grantees that adapted their models in response to participant feedback or implementation lessons often preserved—and even strengthened—their impact.
Projects led by Lutheran Settlement House, Connectedly, VisionLink, and Council for Relationships demonstrated how flexibility and organizational learning can drive stronger outcomes, even amid shifting circumstances.
Read more about adaptive project models here:
Workforce Instability Remains a Sector-Wide Challenge
Staff turnover, delayed hiring, and leadership transitions were the most common implementation challenges reported. Even when funding is available, workforce constraints limit how quickly and effectively services can be delivered.
Organizations including Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia, Pathways to Housing PA, Saint Joseph’s University, William Way LGBT Community Center, and SeniorLAW Center navigated staffing disruptions while continuing to serve older adults—underscoring broader sector-wide pressures.
Read more about workforce challenges and resilience here:
From Pilots to Permanence
Several IPS projects are already moving beyond the pilot phase, with models being integrated into ongoing operations or positioned for replication.
Efforts by Mazzoni Center, Depaul USA, and Penn Memory Center illustrate how innovative ideas can evolve into sustainable programs with lasting impact.
Read more about projects moving toward sustainability here: