FCP News | Winter-Spring 2026 Edition

FCP NEWS

FOUNDATIONS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Supporting the behavioral health and human service needs of children, young adults, and families in Bucks County, Pa.

FCP Welcomes New Board and Staff Member

FCP’s Board recently appointed Steven Rash as a new member. He serves as Assistant Vice President/ Community Banking Manager at Firstrust Bank in Doylestown, Pa., and earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Millersville University. In addition to his role at FCP, Rash serves on the Board at the Central Bucks Regional Police Foundation, the Doylestown Area Business Association, and the Pair Up Society. “We are excited to welcome Steven,” said Board Chair Falesha Grasty. “His extensive financial expertise and community involvement will further strengthen our board and be a great benefit to the nonprofits we serve.”

The Board also elected new officers, including Falesha Grasty, Team Member Relations Officer and Vice President at Penn Community Bank, as Chair; Michael Mills, Partner at Antheil Maslow & MacMinn, as Vice Chair; Tanya Casas, Dean of Business, Arts and Sciences at Delaware Valley University, as Treasurer, and Patricia Stern Smallacombe, Professional Learning Review Specialist at Thomas Edison State University, as Secretary.

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FRESH LOOK FOR 2026:

On the staff side, FCP welcomed a new Director of Grants and Programs to the team in January, after Caroline O’Connell Sinton left the organization after 14 years of dedicated service. Morgan Clark is no stranger to FCP having previously served on the Board and completed our Summer Youth Corps program in 2016. Prior to FCP, she served as the Director of Partnerships at Doylestown-based Travis Manion Foundation. Clark holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Penn State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Honoring Our Past, Embracing the Future

In the spirit of “New Year, New You,” we are proud to unveil our new logo that honors FCP’s past while embracing its future. Our previous logo, created in 2007, served us well for nearly two decades, reflecting our early vision and growth. This refreshed design brings a more modern look and feel, capturing the strength, connection, and forward momentum of FCP today, while staying rooted in the history and mission that continue to guide our work in the community. Thanks to the creative team at 95 North Marketing & Design for creating the new look.

About FCP

Foundations Community Partnership (FCP) was formed in July 2007, as a result of the sale of Foundations Behavioral Health. FCP is a philanthropic grant-making foundation supporting the behavioral health and human service needs of children, young adults, and families in Bucks County, Pa. through grants to non-profit organizations, awarding scholarships to high school seniors, subsidizing service-learning internships for college students, and underwriting professional development programs.

Board of Directors

Falesha R. Grasty, B.S. – Chair

Michael W. Mills, Esq. – Vice Chair

Tanya Casas, Ph.D. – Treasurer

Patricia Stern Smallacombe, Ph.D. –Secretary

Tracy Pasternak Willis, M.A., LPC –Immediate Past Chair

Tobias Bruhn, Ed.D., CFRE

Kristyn DiDominick, MSW

Sally Fabian-Oresic, M.S.

Judith Stern Goldstein, ASLA, R.L.A.

Rachael Neff, LSW

Steven V. Rash, B.S. Ed.

Walter C. Stoertz, Jr.

Christine Hensel Triantos, M.A.

Board Member Emeritus

Ronald T. Bernstein

Abigail Halloran, M.A.

Thomas M. Hanna, P.E., LEED®, AP

Karen Lasorda

Joseph Stella, M.D.

Honorary Director

William E. Boger, CPA*

Albert M. Honig, D.O.*

Dr. Harry Klein*

Daniel P. Weldon, Ed.D.

*deceased

Investments

Strengthen

Local Mental Health and Hunger Relief Efforts

FCP’s Board recently made several strategic investments to help strengthen local mental health and huger relief efforts. A $100,000 donation was presented to the Lenape Valley Foundation (LVF) to support its new crisis stabilization center. Slated to open later this year, the Bright Path Center will be located adjacent to LVF’s existing outpatient site in Doylestown, Pa. The center is designed to transform behavioral health crisis care in Bucks County. With separate, trauma-informed spaces for children and adults, it will deliver 24/7 crisis services to meet urgent behavioral health, substance use, intellectual and developmental disability challenges.

“This investment represents our deep commitment to advancing behavioral health and human services for children and families in Bucks County,” said FCP’s Board Chair Falesha Grasty. “By supporting Lenape Valley Foundation and its Bright Path Center, we are helping bring a profoundly needed resource to our community that will serve thousands of individuals and families in crisis for years to come.”

In response to the impact caused by the Pennsylvania budget impasse and federal lockdown, the Board presented a $25,000 check to the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) and a $10,000 check to Doylestown FISH to help both organizations address food insecurity throughout Bucks County. The donation helped BCOC distribute fresh and shelf-stable food, stock community pantries, and meet the needs of households with transportation barriers, while Doylestown FISH continued to distribute grocery store gift cards in partnership with the County of Bucks and the Central Bucks School District.

Grant Cycle Supports Local Nonprofits as Community Needs Increase

FCP’s Board awarded $197,300 in grants to 30 nonprofits, including 18 Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG), and 12 Capital Improvement Grants. BIIGs recognize innovative programs and ideas to improve the lives of children, young adults, and families, while Capital Improvement Grants support structural improvements to facilities, durable equipment, and technology upgrades.

“Our total number of applications this grant cycle doubled compared to past ones, highlighting the critical need for more funding for nonprofits right now,” said Falesha Grasty, Chair of FCP’s Board. “We increased our annual grant budget by 30 percent this fiscal year in response to the rising need in our communities, and these grants will allow nonprofits to serve more than 24,000 Bucks County residents by expanding services and infrastructure.”

BIIGs totaling $121,500 were awarded to the following nonprofits:

ORGANIZATION

Best Buddies ($7,500)

Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley ($7,500)

Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 ($5,000)

Children’s Home of New Jersey ($7,500)

Family Service Association of Bucks County ($10,000)

Free Fall Action Sports ($5,000)

Friends of Washington Crossing Park ($3,000)

Members of the Penn Medicine Doylestown Health team accept a grant to purchase a new reclining sleeper chair for its VIA Maternity Center.

Pictured, from left to right, are Development Coordinator Samantha Hong, Major Gifts Officer Emily Tome, Charge Nurse Melissa Le, BSN, RN, C-EFM, Charge Nurse Jennifer McCrory, MSN, RNC-MNN, CEO Jim Brexler, FACHE, Pauline Pesce, BSN, RNC-OBClinical Manager, Maternity, and Director of Maternal Child Services Carol Chwal, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC.

GRANT WILL BE USED TO

expand Best Buddies Friendship program, building one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in Bucks County.

surround resource-limited families facing crisis with a “Circle of Support” to keep children safe and out of foster care through its “Safe Families for Children” program.

expand equitable access to hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics learning by offering Saturday programs and family maker nights.

build partnerships in Bucks County to address the distress of economic uncertainty and cultural-political divide through its “Kidsbridge” program.

decrease wait times for mental health services for children and youth under 18 through “Project Access.”

provide after-school programming in creative and digital arts to students in the Quakertown School District.

implement a two-part accessibility initiative: introducing sensory inclusion bags and designated sensory-friendly tour hours.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania ($5,000) work with school and community organizations to start girls’ engagement with free programming and community troop offerings.

Girls Empowered ($7,500) empower more girls in the community through programs offered in elementary through high school, focusing on self-identity, self-esteem, self-care, healthy relationships, diversity, leadership, and team-building, as well as summer empowerment camps.

Michener Art Museum ($3,500)

support children’s behavioral health during their visit to “Small Living Things: The Magical Art of Eric Carle,” the first family-centered exhibition since 2009.

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Grant Cycle Supports Local Nonprofits as Community Needs Increase continued

ORGANIZATION

National Giving Alliance (NGA) ($7,500)

Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) ($10,000)

Peace Valley Holistic Center ($7,500)

Project Libertad ($7,500)

Special Equestrians ($5,000)

Valley Youth House ($7,500)

Vita Education Services ($5,000)

Woods Services ($10,000)

GRANT WILL BE USED TO

pilot the “Fresh Start” program, empowering youth by allowing them to select their own clothing styles to express their outward identity and self.

support the development of specific artificial intelligence awareness, risk reduction, and abuse prevention content through a series of age-appropriate digital safety programs.

offer life, job, and business skills to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Peace Valley Café’s apprenticeship program.

provide free legal representation and case management to newcomer immigrant youth.

support its therapeutic horseback riding program for children, adolescents, and young adults who have a physical, cognitive, or social-emotional disability.

support young people’s safety and mental well-being, meet basic needs, and help them safely reunite with family or find other safe housing.

provide free adult education programs in English Language Learning and Adult Basic Education.

continue implementing positive behavioral interventions for youth with autism and co-occurring behavioral, emotional, and developmental conditions.

Capital Improvement Grants totaling $75,800 were awarded to the following nonprofits:

ORGANIZATION

GRANT WILL BE USED TO

BARC Developmental Services ($7,500) install additional filtration tanks specifically designed to reduce certain water concentration levels, thereby ensuring the health and well-being of clients and staff.

Bristol Riverside Theatre ($7,000)

enhance student learning through essential technology upgrades that support its year-round education programs.

Comprehensive Learning Center ($5,000) expand the footprint of its lunchroom to create more opportunities to build life and social skills.

Fostering Hope Lower Bucks ($3,000)

outfit and improve a new space with shelving, clothing racks, and storage systems, as well as furnish a small family area so children can play while caregivers shop and connect with staff.

Libertae ($10,000) replace two HVAC units with compromised heat exchangers.

LIZ’s Birthday Closet ($5,000)

support building upgrades to meet safety, accessibility, and programmatic needs.

Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Education Center ($5,000) help secure the planning and construction implementation to repair the front driveway / walkway / doorway to allow students to access the property safely and increase the number of school visits.

Pearl S. Bucks International ($7,500)

update the Wi-Fi capabilities of the museum to improve accessibility and educational programming.

Penn Medicine Doylestown Health ($3,300) purchase a reclining sleeper chair for the VIA Maternity Center.

Penndel Mental Health Center ($7,500) improve living quarters by upgrading flooring.

Pennridge FISH Organization ($5,000) address deteriorating conditions of its parking lot.

Rolling Harvest Food Rescue ($10,000) improve water delivery efficiency and increase crop yield to support healthy food access.

Fall Grant Cycles Serve More Than 36,000 Bucks County Residents Through Their Programs & Services

Partnership Grants Boost Programs, Services, and Infrastructure

FCP’s fall Partnership in Youth Services (PYS) Grant cycle awarded funding to 16 nonprofits that collectively will help address the behavioral health and human service needs of 12,094 Bucks County residents.

PYS Grants totaling $52,925 were awarded to the following nonprofits:

A Woman’s Place ($4,500) – to provide residents with appropriate and reliable transportation services for goal related, in-person appointments.

Able Force Employment ($2,500) – to provide employment to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by producing marketable goods.

Barn Nature Center ($3,500) – to continue its collaboration with The Academy Community Service Program to provide at-risk youth with the opportunity to fulfill court-ordered community service while developing empathy through animal care.

BookSmiles ($4,000) – to coordinate the delivery of new and gently used age-appropriate books to area daycare centers, Head Start Programs, pre-schools, child development centers, and early learning centers.

Jewish Family & Children’s Services Greater Philadelphia ($2,500) – to support therapy and pediatric psychiatry to help children and youth cope with social, emotional, and mental health challenges.

Joe Hand Boxing Gym ($2,500) – to support the launch of a Police Athletic League program for at-risk youth in partnership with the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office.

Lakeside ($4,500) – to enhance in-school counseling and conflict resolution services for students facing anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation by equipping them with tangible coping resources and engaging families in preventative education.

Lenape Valley Soccer Club dba PA Rush ($4,000) – to support the Total Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPS), a national initiative for individuals with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities, providing a structured, adaptive environment that is safe, fun, and inclusive.

Owner Mike Fitzgerald (right) and his team at Able Force Employment accept a $2,500 PYS Grant.

Life Path ($2,925) – to purchase a Medline Recliner to provide safe repositioning of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Minding Your Mind ($3,500) – to provide mental health and suicide prevention education to children, adolescents, teens, young adults, their parents/caregivers, and school faculty.

No Longer Bound ($4,000) – to educate and prepare youth to become community leaders, empowering them to foster transparent dialogue and nonviolent resolutions in their community.

Outreach Care ($4,000) – to provide emergency shelter to prevent homelessness in Upper Bucks County.

St. Margaret of Castello Maternity Home ($3,000) – to help fund a bilingual counselor to provide pregnancy and parenting support.

Tend to Hope ($2,000) – to deliver “Seeds of Hope” bags to the Lenape Valley Lodge, providing self-care items and resources designed to instill dignity and hope in newly admitted individuals.

UrbanPonics ($1,500) – to offer affordable, fee-based programs on the techniques and joys of growing fresh produce while providing skills and confidence building activities for neurodiverse youth and young adults.

YWCA Bucks County ($4,000) – to provide direct, structured mental health and wellness support to youth, creating safe and nurturing environments where children can build resilience, understand their emotions, and develop healthy coping strategies.

The Board also awarded a $10,000 Emergency Action Grant to the Bucks County Center for Independent Living to restart select services impacted by Pennsylvania’s budget impasse; and offered organizational consultant support through a $3,159 Nonprofit Growth Grant to Potential, Inc. and a $4,320 one to Sauers Cares

#FCPresents:

Three-Part AI Series

Visit FCP’s YouTube page and watch Part I of the Artificial Intelligence series presented by Jean Holmes, founder of All Systems Go Consulting. “AI Basics Without the Hype: What You Really Need to Know” cuts through the buzzwords and fear giving nonprofit professionals a clear understanding of what AI actually is, and how to use it wisely. Holmes covers the basics of how AI works, when it’s most helpful, and what to watch out for regarding privacy, bias, and hallucinations. Perfect for those who want to feel more confident talking about AI (without becoming a tech expert). Watch the video at youtu.be/EyZWLfUYRdw

Like what you saw? Share your knowledge with your peers and strengthen Bucks County’s non-profit sector by becoming a featured speaker for the #FCPresents professional development series. Proposals are accepted throughout the year. Topics of interest include: Board Engagement, Crisis Communication, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Donor Engagement, Ethics, Fundraising, Leadership and Management, Networking, Public Relations/Marketing, Risk Management, Special Events, Technology, or submit your own topic at rb.gy/okrqsp

Complimentary Meeting Space & Nonprofit Events Calendar Available

As part of FCP’s mission to support collaboration and help nonprofits provide services in a cost-effective manner, two complimentary meeting spaces are available at our Doylestown office to nonprofits serving Bucks County children, young adults, and families. For more information about the available spaces, rental requirements, and to submit a reservation request, visit www.fcpartnership.org/facilityuse

While on the web site, the Nonprofit Events Calendar can help nonprofits maximize their fundraising efforts by avoiding scheduling conflicts when planning their special events. To submit an event to this calendar, visit www.fcpartnership.org/nonprofit-events.

Spring and Summer Grant Cycle

Dates & Deadlines

Bucks Innovation & Improvement (BIIG)

grant award up to $15,000

LOIs are due no later than April 1, 2026. Submit full applications by April 15, 2026

Capital Improvement

grant award up to $15,000 LOIs are due no later than April 1, 2026

Submit full applications by April 15, 2026.

Emergency Action grant award up to $10,000

Open throughout the year. Visit web site for available opportunities and how to apply.

Nonprofit Growth: Organizational & Professional Development

grant award varies depending on program Open throughout the year. Visit web site for available opportunities and how to apply.

Nonprofit Repositioning Fund

a pooled funding collaborative effort among regional grantmakers to improve the capacity, effectiveness, and financial health of the Greater Philadelphia nonprofit sector. More information at www.repositioningfund.org.

Partnership in Youth Services

grant award up to $5,000 Opens July 1, 2026. Submit applications by August 15, 2026.