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…
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 face increasing challenges, Philadelphia is also home to a strong network of organizations…
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…
On Thursday September 25th, nonprofit leaders from across Philadelphia gathered at the NewCourtland Conference Center for the Sarah Ralston Foundation’s Strategic Networking: Shaping Support Beyond the Grant Cycle session, part of our Stronger Together Nonprofit Learning Series. The energy in the room was undeniable — as one attendee shared, “It was so unbelievably heartwarming to be together…
In late June, nonprofits across the country received an unexpected and alarming notice: funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) — a federal initiative that supports low-income older adults through paid community service placements — was paused indefinitely. The email came on a Friday. By Monday, participants were furloughed. Paychecks vanished, placements evaporated,…
In response to growing requests from our nonprofit partners, the Sarah Ralston Foundation is proud to host a special Nonprofit Networking Meeting on Thursday, September 25th at NewCourtland Conference Center. The gathering is designed to promote connection, idea-sharing, and collaborative problem-solving across Philadelphia’s aging services sector. “This event is a natural outgrowth of what we’ve…