Over the past several months, the Sarah Ralston Foundation has funded several emergency funding requests that, taken together, point to a clear and concerning trend across our nonprofit partner network. While each organization serves a different community and mission, many are experiencing the same underlying challenges: a sharp increase in demand for services, driven in part by late 2025 disruptions to…
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…
On Wednesday, January 21st, more than 100 nonprofit leaders, funders, and community partners gathered at NewCourtland Conference Center for a timely conversation on food access through the Stronger Together Nonprofit Learning Series, hosted by Sarah Ralston Foundation in partnership with Philabundance founder Pamela Rainey Lawler. The convening brought organizations together at a moment when rising…
The Sarah Ralston Foundation 2025 Impact Report reflects a year of deepening partnerships, thoughtful grantmaking, and meaningful progress in support of Philadelphia’s vulnerable older adults. From expanding nonprofit collaborations to investing in innovative programs that strengthen health, stability, and connection, this year’s report highlights the collective impact of our grantee partners, board, and community. We invite…
Due to Inclement Weather, this Event Has Been Postponed to Wednesday, March 4th The Sarah Ralston Foundation, in partnership with the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), is proud to host Engaging in Aging: A Volunteer & Donor Expo — a free, community-wide event highlighting nonprofit organizations that support Philadelphia’s vulnerable older adults. While many seniors…
The Sarah Ralston Foundation is pleased to share that beginning in January 2026, Claire Lynch, formerly our Communications Manager, is stepping into an expanded role as Communications & Engagement Manager—formalizing the engagement work she’s already been leading as SRF’s partner network and convenings grow across Philadelphia. As SRF has increased its convenings, shared-learning sessions, and cross-sector collaborations,…
The Sarah Ralston Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Innovative Project Support Grants, awarded to seven organizations whose forward-thinking initiatives are creating meaningful, measurable impact in the lives of older adults across Philadelphia. These awards, totaling $609,000 in 2025, support projects that tackle pressing challenges related to legal access, housing stability,…
When sudden disruptions threaten essential community programs, timing matters. That’s why The Sarah Ralston Foundation (SRF) launched its Emergency Grant Program — designed to help nonprofit partners respond swiftly to unexpected funding gaps, facility breakdowns, or crises that directly impact service to vulnerable Philadelphians. In its first round of emergency support, SRF distributed $107,000 in rapid-response…
Although Philadelphia’s total population has seen little growth, the proportion of older adults — especially those 65+ — is increasing. This makes the work of advancing equity for older adults even more essential. Nearly one in five Philadelphians (316,000 people) are over 60, and more than 20% live below the poverty line. Almost one in…
Loneliness has been called an epidemic, and in Philadelphia the numbers make clear why older adults are so vulnerable. Nearly one in five Philadelphians—316,000 people—are over 60. Half of them live alone, and almost a third struggle with independent living. Economic insecurity compounds the problem: more than 20% live below the poverty line, 30% spend…