PASE Network News

From Trust to Turnout, a recent report from United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), examines how New York’s settlement houses and community-based organizations can strengthen civic participation through long-term, relationship-based engagement. The authors make the case that nonprofits are particularly well positioned to reach first-time and low-propensity voters who are often not reached by candidates and campaigns. The report explores UNH leverages this reality through their Get Out the Vote (GOTV) project, which supports settlement houses in facilitating nonpartisan voter engagement. The project includes funding via mini-grants, peer learning, technical assistance, and data analysis to support participating organizations. The report surfaces several key insights from the initiative, including learnings about building trust, inspiring voters and reducing turnout gaps, and building longer term organizational capacity. Read the full report online. 

The Center for Effective Philanthropy released its State of Nonprofits 2026 report, which finds that nonprofits across the country are facing rising demand for services alongside growing financial and staffing challenges. Based on a survey of nearly 400 nonprofit leaders, the report highlights concerns about long-term sustainability, with a particular focus on leadership burnout, fundraising challenges, and the strategic adaptations that nonprofits are making to bridge key resource gaps. The findings offer valuable insight into how nonprofit and community-based organizations are navigating an increasingly uncertain environment. 

Looking to make the case about the need for summer learning opportunities? Check out this new report from Afterschool Alliance, curated from their larger 2025 America After 3PM research. The report underscores the success of and strong public support for summer learning programs, coupled with insights regarding challenges with funding and equitable access. The report concludes with policy recommendations. In addition to this larger report, Afterschool Alliance published a graphic summer factsheet that distills the main data points and takeaways from the larger report.  

In preparing their “Youth, AI, and the Relationships that Shape Them” report, The Rithm Project surveyed over 2000 young people ages 13-24 about their AI usage, how existing social connections shape their AI usage (or lack thereof), and how AI is shaping their relationships moving forward. The research found four common clusters of how youth engage with AI, which the report dives into in detail along with nine distinct user portraits. The report concludes with implications for key groups, including educators. Dive into the full digital report here.  

Looking to enhance how your program or organization supports young people in navigating life after high school graduation? Check out this new resource guide from Knowledge to Power Catalysts and Partnership for Student Success, which compiles resources developed or recommended by leading national organizations in the youth development and post-secondary success sectors. The guide highlights a range of curricula, toolkits, and even examples of successful program models. Check out the full resource guide here.