Grantee Spotlights
North10, Philadelphia
North10 Philadelphia's Transformative Vision In the heart of Philadelphia's Hunting Park-East Tioga neighborhood, where systemic inequities have long cast shadows over daily life, a beacon of hope has been steadily growing brighter for nearly two decades. What began in 2007 as the Lenfest Center—a safe haven for youth navigating community violence, poverty, and trauma—has evolved into North10 Philadelphia, a holistic community transformation initiative that's rewriting the narrative of what's possible when residents, partners, and philanthropic allies unite around a shared vision. From Youth Haven to Community Catalyst For over a decade, the Lenfest Center at 3890 North 10th Street served as a crucial refuge for young people. By 2018, the organization's leadership recognized that truly sustainable change required a broader approach—one that addressed the interconnected needs of entire families and the community ecosystem they inhabit. This realization gave birth to North10 Philadelphia, with the Lenfest Center remaining as its cornerstone while expanding the mission to encompass all residents. Comprehensive Impact Across Multiple Fronts The breadth of North10's programming demonstrates their commitment to addressing community needs holistically. Their Out of School Time Programming serves 130 students throughout the year, expanding to 100 during summer camp. The Community Market plans to serve 1,500 individuals per week, addressing food access challenges in a neighborhood where fresh, affordable options are often scarce. Housing stability receives attention through the Be a Gem Crossing Apartments, where 41 families receive comprehensive tenant support services. The Neighborhood Promise Program has cleaned over 1.5 million square feet of trash and debris from local lots and public spaces—environmental justice initiatives that recognize how neighborhood conditions affect everything from property values to residents' sense of pride and possibility. Building Infrastructure for Sustained Impact Over several years, North10 has built the administrative, financial, fundraising, and operational capacity necessary to sustain and scale their impact. The physical space of the Lenfest Center serves as community infrastructure, with events regularly hosting 100 participants, signaling both the organization's capacity to convene and the community's hunger for connection. The Power of Collective Impact North10's Community Strategy Team represents their commitment to building on past successes while fostering collective impact. Their emphasis on making "transformative changes happen here with and for our community as a collective group" reflects sophisticated community development thinking that recognizes lasting change must be community-driven and community-owned. Their goal to achieve "truly transformative, sustainable, and replicable change" positions their work as more than a local success story. By documenting approaches and measuring outcomes, they're contributing to broader understanding of how comprehensive community development can address systemic inequities. A Model Partnership North10's partnership with HCL Philanthropy exemplifies the kind of long-standing, committed relationships that make comprehensive community transformation possible. Unlike short-term project funding, this sustained partnership allows North10 to think strategically, build incrementally, and respond to emerging community needs with agility. As North10 Philadelphia continues to evolve, the organization stands as a powerful example of what becomes possible when community vision meets strategic support. Their success reflects not just their own dedication and skill, but the power of philanthropic partnerships that invest in long-term, holistic approaches to community change.
SquashSmarts
SquashSmarts' Proven Path to Success In a city where public school dropout rates have long challenged young people's futures, SquashSmarts has spent over two decades proving that intensive, long-term commitment can break cycles and build champions—both on and off the court. Since 2001, this Philadelphia-based nonprofit has transformed the lives of underserved youth through a unique combination of academic tutoring, squash instruction, and character development that extends far beyond traditional after-school programming. A Theory of Change Rooted in Real Results SquashSmarts operates from a clear Theory of Change: "SquashSmarts fosters a family of inclusive, civically and professionally engaged citizens who maintain healthy, resilient, pro-social lives." This isn't just aspirational language—it's a working framework developed through partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts' Evaluation Capacity Building Initiative and aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Their vision is equally bold and specific: 100% high school graduation rates, with every student following defined post-secondary paths toward college and career while carrying program values forward into their communities. This ambitious goal reflects the organization's confidence in their model and their unwavering commitment to each student's success. The Power of the Eight-Year Promise What sets SquashSmarts apart is their extraordinary long-term commitment. When students join the Core Program in 5th-8th grades—selected not for athletic or academic ability, but for interest, commitment, effort, and attitude—SquashSmarts makes an eight-year promise to walk alongside them through graduation and beyond. This extended timeline recognizes what research confirms: meaningful change takes time, consistency, and sustained relationships. Students are recruited from five partner schools—Carver Engineering & Science Middle School, Esperanza Academy Charter School, E.W. Rhodes Elementary, Morton McMichael Elementary, and Overbrook Educational Center—ensuring the program reaches youth who would benefit most from intensive support. Four Pillars, Seven Skills, Daily Commitment SquashSmarts' program model centers on Four Pillars that provide comprehensive youth development: Academic Learning, Squash & Fitness, Service to Community, and Camps & Leadership. Within this framework, students develop Seven Skills essential for lifelong success: Communication, Goal Setting, Leadership, Organization, Physical & Mental Health, Positive Relationships, and Self-Awareness. The program operates year-round with students attending practices three days per week at two partner facilities—the Lenfest Center in North Philadelphia and the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in West Philadelphia. This consistent schedule provides structure, routine, and reliability that many students may lack elsewhere in their lives. Beyond Sports: Building Character and Community While squash serves as the program's athletic foundation, SquashSmarts recognizes that the sport is a vehicle for much deeper transformation. The intensive academic tutoring component ensures students stay on track academically, while the service learning elements instill values of civic engagement and community responsibility. The emphasis on "hyper-intimate, one-on-one relationships with staff and volunteers" reflects the program's understanding that authentic connections drive real change. These relationships provide each child with "a team, a family, a safety net and a sense of belonging"—protective factors that research shows are crucial for overcoming adversity and achieving success. A Model Built for Replication and Scale SquashSmarts' commitment to evaluation and continuous improvement—demonstrated through their partnership with Pew and alignment with international development frameworks—positions them as a model for youth development programs nationwide. Their focus on measurable outcomes and evidence-based practices ensures that their success can be documented, replicated, and scaled. The program's proven track record of keeping students "in school, in shape, and on track for graduation" provides concrete evidence that intensive, relationship-based programming can interrupt cycles of educational failure and create pathways to success. Partnership and Sustainability SquashSmarts' strategic partnerships—from their facility collaborations with the Lenfest Center and Arlen Specter US Squash Center to their evaluation partnership with Pew—demonstrate sophisticated organizational thinking about resource leverage and impact amplification. These relationships allow the program to provide high-quality facilities and programming while maintaining focus on their core mission. For foundations committed to youth development and educational equity, SquashSmarts represents the kind of long-term, evidence-based programming that creates lasting change. Their eight-year commitment model, combined with comprehensive skill-building and relationship-focused approach, offers a compelling framework for addressing the complex challenges facing urban youth. Creating Citizens and Champions As SquashSmarts continues to graduate students who carry program values into their communities, the organization demonstrates that intensive youth programming can create ripple effects extending far beyond individual participants. By fostering "inclusive, civically and professionally engaged citizens," SquashSmarts is building not just individual success stories, but strengthening the fabric of Philadelphia's communities for generations to come.
Small Things Inc
Small Things: Love in Action Against Poverty Born from a moment of unprecedented crisis and guided by Mother Teresa's wisdom that "we can do no great things, only Small Things with great love," this Philadelphia-based nonprofit has emerged as a powerful force in the fight against food insecurity and poverty. Founded in 2020 by Vito Baldini at the height of the pandemic, Small Things has rapidly scaled from a single initiative to a comprehensive network that distributed 3.6 million pounds of food in 2024 alone. From Crisis Response to Sustainable Impact When Baldini left full-time ministry to serve Philadelphia, he brought with him experience from a city-wide Easter food distribution initiative and a clear understanding of how food access intersects with broader poverty challenges. The timing of Small Things' founding—during a global pandemic that dramatically increased food insecurity—positioned the organization to meet urgent community needs while building lasting infrastructure for change. Operating from the principle that food security is foundational to addressing other aspects of poverty, Small Things has developed a dual approach: direct service through community markets and wholesale support to established food pantries across the city. Comprehensive Food Distribution Network Small Things' impact reaches Philadelphia's most vulnerable communities through multiple channels. The organization supports 50 nonprofit food pantries from their Roxborough warehouse, with five specifically serving Hunting Park—a neighborhood where more than 43% of residents live below the poverty line. These partners—8th Street Community Church, Esperanza, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, One Hope Church, and Ordinarie Heroes—collectively received over 224,000 pounds of food valued at nearly $388,000 in 2024. The House of Hope Market, operating within Grace & Peace Community Fellowship, represents Small Things' direct service model. Open Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm, this market serves approximately 100 guests weekly, with shoppers typically leaving with 30 to 40 pounds of food each. After opening in late 2024, the market distributed over 34,000 pounds of food and is on target to provide 170,488 pounds valued at $327,336 in 2025. More Than Food: Holistic Poverty Alleviation Small Things' approach recognizes that sustainable poverty alleviation requires addressing multiple interconnected challenges. Each market employs a social worker and experienced community organizer who host nutrition education activities, cooking demonstrations, and healthy eating initiatives. The markets distribute vetted social service referrals for additional food assistance, utilities, and medical care. The organization's commitment to child nutrition extends beyond family shopping to targeted programming. In 2024, they distributed 30,000 healthy snacks for children—nutritionist-developed combinations of foods from different groups totaling less than 200 calories, packaged with educational materials in eco-friendly bags. Building Economic Opportunity Small Things leverages its facilities and operations to create pathways out of poverty through job training and employment preparation. Six times annually, the organization provides forklift training and certification to job-seeking candidates referred by partner organizations. Graduates receive industry-recognized certification for positions paying $17-20 per hour. The organization's four locations serve as job training centers, partnering with internship programs that provide work experience for college students, high school students, and formerly incarcerated individuals reentering society. This comprehensive approach addresses both immediate food needs and long-term economic stability. Strategic Infrastructure and Growth Small Things' rapid growth reflects sophisticated operational planning and community partnership development. The organization maintains dedicated staff for market operations, volunteer coordination, and logistics, ensuring consistent service delivery across multiple locations. Their warehouse operations handle the complex logistics of food procurement, storage, inventory management, and distribution to dozens of partner organizations. The planned expansion of kitchen facilities at the House of Hope Market will enable meal preparation for students participating in mentoring programs with other nonprofits, demonstrating Small Things' commitment to collaborative community impact. Measurable Impact in Communities of Greatest Need Small Things' focus on Philadelphia's poorest neighborhoods—including Hunting Park and Fairhill where poverty rates exceed 43%—ensures their resources reach families facing the greatest challenges. Their Center City market specifically serves individuals experiencing homelessness, addressing food insecurity among the city's most vulnerable population. The organization's point system for market operations reflects thoughtful program design: while some dry goods require points, fresh produce is always free, ensuring that even families who use their allotment on shelf-stable items can access nutritious fruits and vegetables. A Model of Collaborative Impact Small Things exemplifies effective nonprofit collaboration, working within existing community infrastructure rather than competing with established organizations. By operating markets within partner churches and supporting existing food pantries, they amplify community capacity while avoiding duplication of services. For foundations committed to poverty alleviation and food security, Small Things represents a compelling investment opportunity. Their combination of direct service and systems-level support, focus on comprehensive wraparound services, and commitment to building economic opportunity demonstrates sophisticated understanding of poverty's complexity and practical approaches to creating lasting change. Through "small things done with great love," this organization is proving that strategic, relationship-based programming can make measurable differences in the lives of Philadelphia's most vulnerable residents.