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 for new fundraising strategies amid a complex funding landscape? Join YouthINC for a three-part series designed to help nonprofits strengthen their resource mobilization efforts, diversify funding streams, and cultivate meaningful partnerships that drive long-term sustainability and impact. Participants will gain practical strategies, proven fundraising approaches, and actionable tools to unlock new resources, engage board members as strategic drivers of fundraising and philanthropy, and position their organizations for sustainable growth in an ever-evolving philanthropic landscape. Save your spot via their Zoom registration. 

SUNY is seeking applications for the inaugural cohort of SUNY College Access Ambassadors, a new initiative designed to strengthen college access and FAFSA completion efforts across New York State. The program supports high school and college access counselors who have demonstrated success in helping students navigate the path to higher education, including increasing college-going and FAFSA completion rates. Selected ambassadors will serve a one-year term beginning in July 2026, receive a $7,500 stipend to support their work, and be recognized by the SUNY Chancellor for their contributions to student success. Ambassadors will also share effective practices, tools, and resources with counseling professionals statewide through presentations, videos, and other professional learning opportunities. Applications are due June 18, 2026.