In This Newsletter:

• NPW Events & Affinity Group Meetings
• Techniques for Tailoring AI Input Prompts
  
• Event Recaps
• Member and Community Events & Resources
• Westchester County Diverse Abilities Job Fair: April 30
• Funding
• United Way: PEPSI x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Partnership

May 2, 9:00 - 10:15 AM, Virtual: Techniques for Tailoring AI Input Prompts

May 6, 2:00 -3:15 PM, Virtual: Nonprofit Assets: An Abundance of Community Resources - Discover the Treasures of the Westchester Library System

May 9, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, WLS: Grant Prospecting Learning Lab

May 31, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Sam's: Peer to Peer: An Affinity Group for Nonprofit Personnel of Color

June 12, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, CV Rich Mansion: NPW Summer Celebration & Networking Party

NPW is appreciative of all our program sponsors - learn about them HERE.

Thursday, April 25: Artificial Intelligence and the AI “Do-Fest”. 

Our panelists: Nikhil Jagga, Dr. Cindy Long Porter, and Kim Snyder, delivered an outstanding learning experience that was tailored to the concerns of the nonprofit sector related to risks, bias, ethics and equity, while sharing expert insight into the opportunities that AI has to offer.

The AI “Do-Fest” was a fun and exciting way to see, in real time, the content that AI can produce including program agendas, workshop curricula, draft policies and more.

We were so glad that event sponsors, John Moccia from Brown and Brown Insurance and Teresa Bucello from Mercer, joined us for the program. Thank you also to Westchester County and Westchester County BOL for sponsoring this important program.

NPW Executive Director, Jan Fisher, was honored to participate as a judge for the 2024 African American Men of Westchester Business Skills Olympics: “How Generative AI Can Augment Humanity Creativity” on April 25th.  

Congratulations to the winners: First Place: Peekskill High School, Second Place: Valhalla High School: Third Place: Port Chester High School

Westchester Medical Center Health Event – Hudson Valley Access to Health Care Coalition 2024 Annual Legislative Breakfast

Thank you WMCHealth for hosting the Hudson Valley Access to Health Care Coalition 2024 Annual Legislative Breakfast this past Thursday, April 25th.

Healthcare providers and community organizations heard from federal, state, and county elected officials on the key healthcare points within the recently passed FY2025 NYS Budget, followed by a dynamic Q&A session. It was inspiring to see the diverse organizations gathered in the room, committed to forging collaborative solutions to our community’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

914United Leader's Lab Soft Opening on April 26th

Congratulations to 914United and Co-Founders Jonathan Alvarez and John Cabrera on the soft opening of their first home – The Leader’s Lab! 

The opening was just in time for their 4-year milestone as a nonprofit organization. We are #NPWProud of your life-changing impact on youth and the justice involved in Yonkers and Westchester. And we look forward to more success in your new home! Learn more about 914United.

At the April 26th meeting of NPW’s CFOs and Lead Finance Professional Affinity Group, participants discussed key issues that would improve the contracting process with government including:

• Removing arbitrary caps on core operating expenses (also referred to as administration and overhead) and developing a system of accountability that allows nonprofits to demonstrate their individual organizational expenses. When government contracts do not cover the full cost of government mandated and other essential services, nonprofit operations are weakened, and philanthropic dollars are needed to make up for this gap.
• Paying nonprofits 50% of the contracted amount upfront
• Addressing inconsistent procurement and reimbursement processes across government agencies.
• Addressing different NY State COLA rates across government agencies and the resulting burdens placed on nonprofit organizations to ensure equitable salary increases across programs.

The group was thankful to have the opportunity to share these concerns with Legislator Jewel Williams-Johnson who will be chairing the County’s newly formed nonprofit contracting taskforce with NPW Executive Director Jan Fisher.

Thank you to our group sponsors: Tompkins Community Bank, JDM Benefits, Mutual of America, and Grassi.

Westchester County Diverse Abilities Job Fair: April 30

Helpful Tips for Job Seekers PDF; Employer Registration

Mental Health Association of Westchester: Speak UP!: A Candid Conversation on Mental Health: April 30

7th Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit: May 2

Annual Countywide Yom HaShoah Commemoration Holocaust Remembrance Day: May 6

NPW Members: Have your upcoming event listed on our widely viewed Nonprofit Community Calendar and use it as a scheduling resource; email newsletter@npwestchester.org with event graphic, registration link and brief description.

United Way Teams Up with PEPSI x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Partnership to Launch $100,000 Fund to Support Yonkers Women

As a returning co-presenting partner of Mary J. Blige’s “Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit,” Pepsi is launching the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, with $100,000 available as grants to local organizations whose work elevates and educates underserved women in Yonkers.

The fund created in partnership with United Way of Westchester and Putnam, which helps residents become self-sufficient and thrive in a stronger community, is open to Yonkers-based non-profit organizations addressing the needs of women who are underserved, marginalized, or living paycheck-to-paycheck. The funds will be distributed via grants between $5,000 to $20,000 to qualifying organizations supporting programs in education, financial stability, and food security. Applications can be submitted online by June 1, 2024 at www.uwwp.org/pepsi-soaw.

Field Hall Foundation Fall 2024 Grant Cycle

Field Hall Foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry for their Fall 2024 grant cycle. The deadline to submit is May 31st and grantees will be notified of grant decisions at the end of September. The Foundation supports programs and projects that directly improve the lives of low-income OLDER ADULTS and their CAREGIVERS. Priority is given to programs that address their most basic needs. Funding requests can range from $5,000 to $50,000+; requests for small capital projects can be for up to $15,000. Visit www.fieldhallfoundation.org for eligibility requirements and recent grants.

Ruth Taylor Scholarship

Westchester County graduate students pursuing social work or public health careers are invited to apply for scholarship assistance through the Ruth Taylor Scholarship Fund.

The fund was established in tribute to Ruth Taylor upon her retirement as the county’s Commissioner of Public Welfare and in recognition of her nearly four decades of outstanding service. The annual awards are sponsored by United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the Westchester County government, and the Urban League of Westchester County. Applicants must be residents of Westchester County and enrolled in graduate studies in Social Work or Public Health on a full-time basis. The submission deadline is Monday, June 3, 2024.

Westchester Women's Bar Association Grant

The WWBA Foundation provides monetary grants on an annual basis to local organizations whose missions and goals are aligned with those of the Foundation. The application form must be submitted by May 26th. Grant Request Form. 

United Way of Westchester and Putnam Community Impact Fund

The United Way of Westchester and Putnam Community Impact Fund supports local nonprofits serving the needs of the underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE (those who are employed but are living paycheck-to-paycheck) populations in Westchester or Putnam Counties. United Way is offering grants between $5,000 and $10,000. The submission deadline, which includes the application and the required attachments, is 5 PM on May 20, 2024.

Con Edison: Open Call for Proposals on Climate Justice for Community Resilience

Con Edison is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to provide an initial grant of up to $3 million over the next three years to help local organizations combat the effects of extreme heat and other climate-related extreme weather events on disadvantaged and historically marginalized communities across the five boroughs and in Westchester County. Proposals must be emailed to powerofgiving@coned.com no later than 5 PM on Friday, May 3. Flyer PDF. Press Release.

Funding for Mental Health Initiatives through Brown & Brown Insurance: Shifting Gears on Brain Health Funding Opportunity

The Shifting Gears on Brain Health Donor Advisory Committee has extended the application deadline to Friday, May 24. Decisions will be made in August and recipients notified by 9/1/2024. 
For more information, please contact Erica Martinson, Marketing Team Leader, Erica.Martinson@bbrown.com; (914) 607-4561. 

Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Grant Portal Opens April 1st

Does your organization support healthcare and related needs for New Yorkers around the state? Apply with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through MCHF's five Program Areas starting April 1. Click here to watch a webinar with an overview of the application process.

2024 Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award Competition Now Open

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private, or social sector leaders. Application deadline is July 1, 2024.

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