October 2, 2026 — Allentown City Council has selected 12 local nonprofit organizations to receive funding through its inaugural Civic Fund Grant Program. Council received 46 applications from organizations seeking support for programs and initiatives serving Allentown residents.
The 2026 Civic Fund was established to create an accessible, equitable and transparent process for distributing Council’s annual civic funding allocation to nonprofit organizations serving the Allentown community. The 12 selected organizations will each receive $2,000 to support projects that address community needs, engage residents and create opportunities for people across Allentown.
“The commitment to Allentown is reflected in the organizations and residents who are working every day to make our neighborhoods stronger,” said Allentown City Council President Santo Napoli. “These grants provide direct support for community-based initiatives that will help improve the lives of our residents across our city.”
The 2026 Civic Fund recipients and funded initiatives are:
The Neighborhood Center — Funding will support the organization’s work with children ages 3½ to 18 in Allentown’s Jordan Heights neighborhood, providing young people with stability, support and opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. The program helps create safe, supportive spaces where young people can build skills, confidence and positive connections within their community.
The Century Promise — Funding will support the Student Development and Career Readiness program, which serves approximately 70 high school students annually. Through mentorship, postsecondary planning, resume development, interview preparation and professional skills training, the program helps students prepare for their next steps after high school and connect their education to future college and career opportunities.
Resurrected Community Development Corp./James Lawson Freedom School — Funding will support the six-week James Lawson Freedom School summer program, providing literacy and enrichment activities that help combat summer learning loss while strengthening students’ academic, leadership, social-emotional and civic engagement skills. The program also brings families and students together through community activities, field trips and opportunities for youth to engage with issues affecting their communities.
Allentown Young Professionals — Funding will support the organization’s annual Thanksgiving Meals Drive, helping bring hot Thanksgiving meals to more Allentown families. The effort connects volunteers with families who may otherwise face challenges putting a Thanksgiving meal on the table, helping ensure more residents can celebrate the holiday with a meal shared at home.
St. Francis of Assisi Outreach — Funding will help the organization respond to increased demand at its food pantry and provide additional support to Allentown families experiencing food insecurity. The effort helps ensure families have access to essential food resources as the need for pantry assistance continues to grow.
Allentown Public Theatre (APT) — Funding will support APT’s Bilingual Youth Theater Program at Sheridan Elementary, Mosser Elementary, Ritter Elementary and Raub Middle School. Through creative writing, theater, storytelling and youth peer mentorship, the program gives Allentown students opportunities to strengthen literacy, communication, confidence, teamwork and social-emotional skills while developing their voices and building stronger connections with their peers and schools.
Café Y Recuerdos — Funding will support the expansion of the Spanish Memory Café, a culturally tailored social program for older adults experiencing early-stage dementia or age-related memory changes and their caregivers. The program creates a welcoming, stigma-free environment where participants can socialize, maintain connections and access support in a setting that reflects their language and culture.
Community Services for Children (CSC) — Funding will support a Safe Sleep Education and Awareness Initiative focused on helping Allentown families create safe sleeping environments for infants. Through education, outreach and access to safe-sleep resources, the initiative aims to give caregivers the knowledge and support they need to protect their infants and reduce barriers to safe sleep practices.
Somos CDC — Funding will expand the Somos Economy in Census Tracts 18 and 20 through multilingual neighborhood outreach and town halls. The program connects residents with meaningful volunteer opportunities, helping them build skills, relationships and community connections while earning points through service that can be exchanged through the Somos Member Market. The effort also strengthens the network of local organizations by connecting them with residents who want to contribute their time and talents.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley (BBBSLV) — Funding will support after-school programming for students from Mosser Elementary at the Youth Mentoring Center in East Allentown. In addition to its existing STEAM Club, BBBSLV plans to launch a Wednesday Cooking Club during the 2026–2027 school year, giving students hands-on opportunities to learn about nutrition, healthy habits and practical kitchen skills while developing supportive mentoring relationships.
Blank Slate — Funding will support Blank Slate’s community garden and monthly meal program in downtown Allentown. Together, these efforts provide fresh food and shared meals for community members while bringing volunteers together to grow, prepare and share resources. The program helps strengthen community connections while supporting residents who may be experiencing food insecurity or other challenges.
Basement Poetry — Funding will support summer garden-based arts and healing programming at Keck Park in Allentown. The project will create an accessible outdoor space where residents can connect through gardening, poetry, storytelling, visual art and other healing-centered creative activities. By providing opportunities for residents to create, connect and share experiences together, the program aims to foster community, creativity and well-being.
Together, the 12 grants represent an investment in community-based programs serving Allentown residents across multiple neighborhoods and age groups.
Information provided to TVL by:
Genesis Ortega
Public Affairs & Policy Officer
Allentown City Council | City of Allentown
