Press Release From: Maggie J. Richardson, President & CEO of Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE)
Ten Community-Based Nonprofits Selected for Year-Long Program to Strengthen Organizations
PITTSBURGH, PA – Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE) today announced the selection of 10 community-based nonprofit organizations for its 2025-2026 Intensive Services Capacity-Building Program cohort. The competitive program, PACE’s flagship offering since 2006, provides comprehensive organizational development support to strengthen nonprofits serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other communities that have been marginalized.
Through a rigorous selection process, the following organizations were chosen to participate in the year-long program:
• Bible Center Church-The Oasis Project – Creating oases of peace, safety, and happiness in the midst of difficulty.
• Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh – Transforming young lives by equipping justice-impacted youth with comprehensive wraparound services, education, and employment opportunities.
• Handmade Arcade – Empowering makers of all ages through professional development and customer connections.
• Homewood Children’s Village – Improving children’s lives while reweaving community fabric in Homewood.
• Imagine Further – Creating equitable access to preventative mental health services for Pittsburgh youth ages 6-18.
• Kelly Strayhorn Theater – A home for creative experimentation and community dialogue rooted in Black and queer liberation.
• MAYA Organization – Empowering BIPOC and marginalized birthing people and birth workers.
• New Century Careers – Developing skills that lead to family-wage jobs while meeting regional manufacturing workforce needs.
• The Early Excellence Project – Narrowing the opportunity gap in early learning systems for Black and marginalized children.
• Union Project – Using the arts to bridge gaps between communities.
“We received over 90 letters of inquiry for this year’s cohort—a 50% increase over past years,” said Maggie J. Richardson, President & CEO of PACE. “This significant increase reflects an urgent need among nonprofit leaders to quickly address new or longstanding issues of organizational stability and sustainability, particularly as they face increasing threats to their support from the national level on down. Our proven, data-informed approach helps us meet organizations where they are during these challenging times.”
“The breadth and quality of applications we reviewed was truly remarkable,” said Mike Capsambelis, PACE Board Chair. “From organizations focused on youth development and mental health to those advancing economic opportunity, the diversity of missions and approaches reflected the rich tapestry of community-based work happening across our region.”
The Intensive Services program provides targeted capacity-building programming and support designed to strengthen organizations’ agility through customized consulting and training tailored to their specific needs. Areas of focus may include internal governance and leadership, strategic community linkages, and financial and human resource development for long-term stability. Each participating organization will receive:
• Comprehensive organizational assessments at the beginning and end of the program year
• One-to-one consulting tailored to their specific needs
• Cohort and peer learning opportunities
• Targeted funding to support focused capacity-building projects
Drawing on almost 60 years of capacity-building experience, PACE leverages data analysis to identify key patterns across and within communities, supporting their assets while addressing their most pressing needs. The program advances PACE’s mission to create a more equitable community by increasing the capacity of individuals, groups, and organizations that challenge injustice.
The organizations were selected through a complex panel process comprising representatives from the PACE Board of Commissioners, program officers from local foundations, and regional nonprofit leaders. The Intensive Services program is generously supported by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Grable Foundation, and others.
PACE will issue a call for Letters of Inquiry for the 2026-2027 cohort in February 2026. Organizations interested in applying should consult PACE’s website or contact the organization for more information at that time. Those interested in supporting the program or sponsoring a participating organization are encouraged to contact PACE directly.
About PACE Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE) oWers innovative programming by leveraging a data-informed approach and 50 years of capacity-building experience to determine how to best meet the needs of communities that have been marginalized. PACE seeks to advance a more equitable community by strengthening small-to-mid sized, community-based nonprofits that can successfully build the assets and support the pressing needs of BIPOC communities. For more information, visit www.pacepgh.org.
Media Contact: Maggie J. Richardson, President & CEO
Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE)
mrichardson@pacepgh.org
412.562.0290 x217
