September 10, 2025
At our September meeting, the Barra Board of Directors voted to approve four new Meeting the Moment grants that contribute to emerging collaborative funding efforts that are strengthening the broader nonprofit ecosystem at this time:
Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO)
$100,000 / 24 months
By serving as the nonprofit sector’s front door, PANO’s initiatives connect leaders to clear information, specialized expertise, and coordinated advocacy, while also informing and learning from local networks and infrastructure. Barra’s grant will help support three key pillars of work:
- Nonprofit Navigator – To curate and share timely policy updates, trainings, and a statewide resource calendar, and provide an adapted and expanded Helpdesk for one-on-one guidance and referrals.
- Legal Support Clearinghouse – In partnership with the PA Bar Association and Cheshire Law Group, the Clearinghouse connects attorneys and nonprofit leaders through trainings, clinics, and a growing resource library.
- Statewide Policy Coordination – PANO will leverage its ties to the National Council for Nonprofits and relationships with nonprofits and legislators across the Commonwealth to ready the sector for emerging debates and decisions.
Nonprofit Repositioning Fund (NRF)
$100,000 / 24 months
The NRF is a pooled funding collaborative effort among regional grantmakers to improve capacity, effectiveness, and financial health of the five-county nonprofit sector. Since 2015, NRF has awarded 75 grants totaling $1.63M and served 130 unique organizations. Barra’s contribution at this time will help support a strained nonprofit sector amidst recent closures and funding relief during the pandemic that has now been exhausted, as well as increased uncertainty within the sector related to November’s election results. Additionally, NRF will embark on an effort to help educate and support organizations about options related to collaborations, mergers and acquisitions.
Black Nonprofit Chief Executives of Philadelphia (BNCEP)
$100,000 / 24 months
The BNCEP is a platform for exchanging ideas, building networks, and fostering support, resource sharing and professional development among Black nonprofit leaders to increase philanthropic support for their organizations. It is a pooled funding collaborative effort led by Kelly Woodland, Managing Director of the Center for Leadership Equity at United Way. Barra’s recent contribution will help fuel the leadership pipeline for Black-led nonprofits, which are underrepresented in the larger nonprofit ecosystem. BNCEP, through a variety of convenings, aims to equip nonprofit leaders with the adaptive tools, strategies and posture necessary in the current environment; it also makes a number of learning opportunities available to all nonprofit leaders in the greater Philadelphia region.
Pennsylvania Fund for Immigrant Rights and Equity (PA FIRE)
$100,000 / 24 months
In response to unprecedented threats facing immigrant communities nationwide, the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC), announces the Pennsylvania Fund for Immigrant Rights and Equity (PA FIRE) — a groundbreaking, statewide initiative to protect immigrant rights, expand vital services, and drive long-term systems change across the Commonwealth. PA FIRE will serve as a powerful vehicle for impact, funding a network of immigrant-serving organizations to both respond to urgent community needs and build long-term power and equity. Funding from PA FIRE will support a coordinated statewide plan to expand rapid response and vital legal services, strengthen local and statewide advocacy, and foster collaboration among member organizations, funders, and community partners. This multi-year initiative has a goal to raise $6 to $12 million in year one. For more information or to inquire about contributing to the fund, please visit pennsylvaniafire.org.
We will continue to provide updates as our work evolves. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at info@barrafoundation.org and we will do our best to respond and/or connect you with a viable resource.