The Stronger Together Nonprofit Learning Series brings Sarah Ralston Foundation partners together to share knowledge, explore emerging challenges, and strengthen connections across Philadelphia’s aging services network.
Through these convenings, we create space for nonprofit leaders, practitioners, and cross-sector partners to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and identify opportunities for collaboration. Some sessions respond to timely and urgent issues affecting the communities we serve, while others focus on core organizational practices—offering opportunities to revisit and strengthen essential areas such as governance, advocacy, and crisis response.
Each session is designed to be practical, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of both organizations and the older adults they serve.
As part of our commitment to supporting our partners beyond grantmaking, the Stronger Together series reflects our role as a convener—fostering dialogue, elevating on-the-ground insights, and helping to build a more connected and resilient network of organizations serving older adults.
Our Upcoming Events:
Housing Stability for Older Adults: Innovations and Practical Solutions
The Sarah Ralston Foundation invites nonprofit partners to join us for a focused conversation on housing stability—an issue that continues to shape the health, dignity, and well-being of older adults across our region.
This session will begin with presentations highlighting innovative approaches to housing and supportive services:
- Philly House, presented by Mike Johnson, Director of Donor Experience, will share its Senior Level Housing program, supporting older men transitioning out of homelessness through stable housing, structured community, and targeted case management.
- Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), co-presented by Katie Finlay and Amanda David, Deputy Commissioner, will discuss the Philadelphia Model initiative, which expands residential care options for older adults with serious mental illness through a scalable, trauma-informed, and equitable approach.
- Urban Resources and Development Corporation (URDC), presented by Mark Trent, Board Member, will highlight the Home Strong program, which supports older homeowners in maintaining their homes, preserving affordability, and strengthening long-term housing stability within their communities.
Following the presentations, a panel of experts will offer perspectives on key aspects of housing stability:
- Ava La Placa Obrecht, Esq., Housing Staff Attorney, Face to Face, will speak on foreclosure prevention and defense.
- Shawanda Clements III, Housing Supervisor, Center in the Park, will share insights on eviction prevention.
- Diane Johnson, Chief Program Officer, Broad Street Love, will discuss service models that support individuals experiencing homelessness, including approaches grounded in radical hospitality and coordinated community-based care.
The session will conclude with an open Q&A and time for informal networking.
Past Stronger Together Events
Governance in Action
April 25th, 2026
NewCourtland Conference Center
Stronger Together: Governance in Action brought nonprofit staff and board members together for a practical, peer-focused conversation on strengthening governance across organizations serving older adults. Grounded in the realities of day-to-day practice, the session created space for participants to explore how strong governance supports organizational effectiveness, accountability, and mission alignment.
Facilitated by governance expert David Griffith, the convening combined presentation and peer discussion, offering both strategic insight and meaningful opportunities for connection. Participants engaged in breakout conversations, shared challenges, and learned from one another—reinforcing the importance of clear roles, strong board-staff relationships, and collaborative leadership in building resilient, community-centered organizations.
Engaging in Aging: A Volunteer and Donor Expo
March 4th, 2026
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Engaging in Aging: A Volunteer & Donor Expo brought together Philadelphians and nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting older adults for a community-wide day of connection and engagement. Hosted in partnership with the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, the event highlighted the breadth of services available across the city and created a shared space for organizations to showcase their work and connect directly with individuals interested in getting involved.
With nearly 40 participating organizations, attendees had the opportunity to learn about local needs and explore meaningful ways to contribute—through volunteering, donations, and community outreach. The expo underscored the importance of strengthening both services and human connection, offering clear pathways for individuals and families to support older adults in their communities and reinforcing the role of collaboration in building a more responsive network of care.
Collaborating for Food Security: Uncovering Cross-Sector Solutions
January 21, 2026
NewCourtland Conference Center
The Sarah Ralston Foundation convened more than 80 nonprofit partners, government representatives, and community leaders for a dynamic conversation focused on food insecurity and the growing challenges facing vulnerable populations.
Participants shared insights from their work on the ground, highlighting rising demand for services, increased competition for funding, workforce strain, and the growing complexity of client needs. The session emphasized the importance of collaboration across sectors, with a focus on identifying shared challenges and uncovering opportunities for more coordinated, effective responses.
Attendees left with new connections, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense of purpose in addressing food insecurity across the region.
Crisis Response Roundtable: Identifying Needs, Capacity and Shared Solutions
December 10, 2025
Via Zoom
During an emergency grant call, partners shared a growing concern about the rapidly evolving needs facing vulnerable seniors and low-income communities—along with the ripple effects related to SNAP, healthcare access, housing stability, and nutrition. In response, we convened a quick-turnaround, informal roundtable to help our partner network connect, compare insights, and explore opportunities for shared action.
We hosted a collaborative conversation on:
- What crisis-response strategies organizations are currently implementing or planning
- How these efforts are being funded
- Whether organizations have short-term capacity for referrals
- What assets they may be able to share with partners (e.g., prepared meals, transportation, kitchen space, outreach capacity)
Strategic Networking: Shaping Support Beyond the Grant Cycle
September 25, 2025
NewCourtland Conference Center
On Thursday, September 25th, 2025, 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 a roomful of energized leaders striving with passion and courage to improve quality of life for vulnerable seniors in the Philadelphia region. The energy was so uniting and so positive in thinking about creative and innovative ways to advance the strength of the ecosystem.”
Meet the Funders Panel
June 12, 2025
NewCourtland Conference Center and via Zoom
The June session of the Stronger Together: Nonprofit Learning Series offered a valuable opportunity to hear directly from four influential funders supporting aging-related work in the Greater Philadelphia region. The panel featured grantmakers who shared insights into their funding priorities, application processes, and advice for building strong, lasting partnerships.
The conversation was moderated by Dr. Jerry Johnson, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a nationally recognized leader in geriatrics and health disparities, who guided a thoughtful and engaging discussion.
Needs Assessment Best Practices: Tools for Nonprofits
April 30, 2025
Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
Understanding a community’s needs is a vital step in building impactful, equitable programs. In this session, we explored Needs Assessment Best Practices—from tried-and-true methods to fresh perspectives.
The interactive session featured three speakers with unique insights into how nonprofits can conduct effective assessments that uncover both needs and assets, engage the community, and guide strategic planning:
The session took place on Wednesday, April 30th at Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp, and via Zoom.
Advocacy in Action: Empowering Nonprofits to Champion Older Adults
October 22, 2024
Foundation for Health Equity
The Sarah Ralston Foundation and the Foundation for Health Equity convened nonprofit leaders for Advocacy in Action: Empowering Nonprofits to Champion Older Adults. The session brought together a full room of engaged participants to explore how organizations can effectively advocate for the needs of older adults.
Speakers shared practical insights on community-driven advocacy, partnership-building, and navigating legal boundaries for nonprofit engagement. The conversation highlighted the importance of centering community voices, understanding the distinction between advocacy and lobbying, and working collaboratively to influence policy and systems change.
The convening fostered meaningful dialogue and connection among participants, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing equity and improving outcomes for older adults across Philadelphia.
Supporting Older Adults: A Conversation for Nonprofit Agencies
June 11, 2024
Foundation for Health Equity
The Sarah Ralston Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Health Equity, convened nonprofit leaders for Supporting Older Adults: A Conversation for Nonprofit Agencies, a collaborative session focused on strengthening services for Philadelphia’s aging population.
The event brought together organizations serving older adults to share insights, build connections, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants engaged in thoughtful discussion around key policy frameworks, including Pennsylvania’s Aging Our Way 10-year plan and the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s Area Plan, using these as a foundation for examining both opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Beyond information-sharing, the convening created space for open dialogue about the realities nonprofits and their clients are experiencing, fostering a deeper understanding of emerging needs and potential solutions. The session also served as a catalyst for relationship-building, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and collective action in addressing the complex and evolving needs of older adults across Philadelphia