Nonpartisan Voter Engagement: Mail Ballot Deadline + More
Pennsylvania's general election is Tuesday, November 3. The voter registration deadline has passed, and the next one is October 27 at 5 PM: the last day to apply for a mail ballot. Voters can also apply for, fill out, and return a ballot in a single visit to their county election office. Completed mail ballots must reach the county by 8 PM on Election Day, and a postmark doesn't count. Remind voters to sign and date the outer envelope with the current date, since the courts still haven't settled whether undated ballots count. Voters can check their registration and find their polling place at pa.gov.
And, some good news! After the Supreme Court blocked a federal rule restricting mail ballot delivery in September, state officials say mail voting is going ahead as usual this fall. Sharing deadlines like these is nonpartisan civic engagement, fully permitted for 501(c)(3)s. And for what it's worth, voters contacted by nonprofits are 10% more likely to actually vote! For more nonpartisan ways your nonprofit can support the upcoming election:
Check out this guide, co-developed by the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) and Nonprofit VOTE.
Access the recording and slides from NCN and Nonprofit VOTE's October 1 webinar, Preparing for the 2026 Election Season. Presenters covered what's changing in the policy landscape, how to stay civically engaged while remaining nonpartisan and specific ways nonprofits are putting these strategies to work.
Don't miss our monthly PAAN touchpoint! Our next meeting is on November 12, 2026, from 10:00–11:00 am via Zoom. Join us for continued federal and state policy updates and a chance to connect with fellow nonprofit advocates. Email Anna Keilly for more info or to participate in these conversations.
2026 Collaborative Conference - Rooting Deeper, Rising Together September 24-25, 2026 | State College, PA
On September 24 & 25, we gathered with over 200 of our nonprofit friends, government allies, for-profit partners, and everyone in between. We learned with and from one another, challenged each other (in a good way!), and laughed together, practicing what rising together actually looks like.
To all who shared your time, your experiences, your knowledge, your successes, your hurdles, and your whole selves, thank you. It was an honor to share space with you. We are moving forward from our time together rooted deeper into our shared values and inspired to continue rising into our shared purpose. Looking for some inspiration yourself? You can find here some tools, resources, and more (including a playlist!) for "rooting deeper and rising together", shared by this year's attendees. Plus, read on (in the very next section) for some ways to continue the conversation, even if you missed the conference!
...Graphic Designer Steph Perez for once again bringing our theme to life with her logo/branding work!
Last but never least, a round of applause for our attendees - you give purpose to this event every year and we are humbled to walk alongside you day in and day out. You can relive the fun (or live vicariously) through some photos from the 2026 Collaborative Conference here.
Convene PA: A Gathering for the Common Good 5 Regional Gatherings | November 2026-May 2027
Convene PA got its name as a direct result of the opening fireside chat at this year's conference. These free regional convenings are designed to pick up where that conversation left off. Whether or not you were at that fireside chat, we invite you to join us at one of five in-person gatherings happening now through May 2027 where we’ll do two things:
Dream out loud about the democracy Pennsylvania has always needed, then start planning for it together; and
Pull back the curtain on how (and why) this visioning process works, so you can add it to the ways you already bring people together.
We're starting in Harrisburg on November 10, followed by a visit to each of the four corners of the state in 2027. Join us for a day of connection, visioning, learning, and, of course, food! We invite you to attend whichever location works best for you, regardless of where in PA you call home.
Last year, PANO once again participated as a data partner in Building Movement Project's (BMP's) Race to Lead (R2L) study, a national effort to better understand the racial leadership gap in the nonprofit sector - and then challenge the way the sector has approached it. While the latest report has not yet been released, you can access:
REMINDER: Want to join but not sure if membership will fit in your budget right now? Reach out to PANO's Membership & Consultant Collaborative Manager, Stephanie Chapuis, to discuss options. We'll do our best to meet you where you are, and ensure your voice is included in the PANO community.
Member Benefit Spotlight: Black & Duke
A brand-new member benefit as of just last year, Black & Duke offers PANO Members access to free energy consulting. Black & Duke is based right here in Pennsylvania (shoutout to York!) and has 30 years of experience in the energy industry. There is no fee for their services - they work for you, utilizing up to 20 reputable suppliers of natural gas and electric service to bid your contract, then presenting the rates back to you.
RECAP - Member Benefit Spotlight: My Benefit Advisor
My Benefit Advisor guides PANO Members through the complexity of planning, managing, and communicating a successful employee benefits program. With local experts throughout Pennsylvania, MBA is uniquely positioned to help you understand the insurance market and make the best decision for your organization through consulting, discounted insurance products, HR support, individual and Medicare coverage options, and more.
REMINDER - Consulting Scholarships Available for PANO Members!
If you’re a PANO member looking for capacity-building support, look no further than PANO’s Consultant Collaborative! Scholarship dollars are still available to supplement your budget for whatever work you have in mind. Other than PANO Membership, eligibility requirements include organizations:
In need of capacity-building services (e.g., strategic planning, governance training, etc.);
Experiencing a significant change/crisis (in leadership, funding, etc.); and/or
With limited unrestricted dollars.
Are you a PANO Member looking to engage a consultant for any number of mission-related projects? Fill out our Request a Consultant form to get started!
Q: Our staff meetings are kind of painful - they aren’t productive, and we just have the same conversations over and over again. Our executive director has used the same meeting format for all three years I’ve been here, even though I regularly hear people say the meetings are a waste of time. Are staff meetings even required or necessary?
Short Answer: Required? No. Necessary? Yes!
Longer Answer:We’ve all been there, so at least know that you’re not alone! One thing we've learned over the years is this: You get the meeting you plan. There are lots of ways to shake up the typical meeting format and breathe new life into that space. Some easy places to start are ideas like: intentional agenda planning, rotating facilitation, using individual and small group exercises, adding playful or movement elements, opening up the space to tackle collective problems with collective solutions, and diligent follow-through on action items. Maybe not all at once, but introducing some of these ideas over time can help shift the tenor and connection in the room – and lead to better outcomes for the organization overall.
These meeting skills aren’t always natural, but they can be learned! We have several opportunities coming up this fall where you can brush up on your meeting and facilitation skills:
Tuesday, November 10, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | Convene PA (Harrisburg) - More on this above! Join us next month in Harrisburg or next year in one of the four corners of PA for this free gathering.
We’re thrilled to recognize The Learning Lamp for their consistent and long-term commitment to excellence. Representing their entire history of 23 years of regularly meeting and exceeding the benchmarks in the Standards for Excellence, their 5th Standards Accreditation renewal is a milestone worth celebrating!
The Learning Lamp was founded in 2003 with a single program, and now serves thousands of children each year, working with families and schools to meet the needs of students.
Their mission – to engage all children in the support they need to succeed – is the foundation of their belief that success in the classroom is the foundation to success in life and that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Congratulations to the amazing team at The Learning Lamp for their hard work and commitment to success and to excellence.
In addition to The Learning Lamp's impressive 5th reaccreditation, PANO recognized five other organizations at our annual conference last month for achieving various milestones in the Standards over the last year:
The latest two posts in our Standards for All blog series detail how PANO's new Standards for Excellence publications are showing up in real ways at both a local community foundation and the only HIV/AIDS center in Western PA.
Walking Beside the Work Long-time Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF) staffer and recent PANO board member Dave Koser explores how two new Standards publications are helping him align his day job (at LCCF) with his volunteer role (at PANO). Read how Dave is using the Standards for All report and accompanying Values to Action Roadmap to lean into and live out the community foundation’s values of equity and belonging through all of their grantmaking programs.
From Services to Belonging: What the Values to Action Roadmap Reinforced about Community Care Daequan Andino, Programs & Volunteer Coordinator at Shepherd Wellness Community, has witnessed something throughout this career that he now has language for, thanks to the Values to Action Roadmap: that "nonprofits are at their strongest when they move beyond providing services and become places where people genuinely feel seen, valued, and connected". Read more about what this looks like at Shepherd Wellness, where this is "not simply good practice, it is the heart of our mission."
Free Standards Resource of the Month - Fundraising Activities: Respectful Solicitations
This month’s free Standards educational resource packet is all about raising money for our missions respectfully and with integrity, especially with the holidays (and year-end giving) upon us: respectful solicitations (Ed Packet 37).
As end-of-year giving season ramps up, take a few minutes to polish up your fundraising practices by ensuring that your fundraising asks are free of undue pressure and that they represent the community you’re serving in a way that respects their dignity. This educational packet will help you do a quick audit to ensure that your fundraising isn’t adding stress or harm to the holidays, covering:
Ethical fundraising and storytelling;
Raising money without high-pressure tactics; and
Supporting the people who are fundraising on your behalf to have the right tools and data to represent your cause with integrity.
Resources from Association for Fundraising Professionals, Ethical Storytelling, and the Center for Effective Philanthropy are included.
Download Ed Packet 37 free of charge now through November 19! After that, it will continue to be free for PANO Members or $25 for Not-Yet Members.
Accessibility: How to Make Your Website Usable for Everyone Friday, October 23 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | FREE Webinar from Member Benefit Partner Firespring Learn More | Register Now
Bloomerang's Fundraiser's Focus Week - Board Engagement: From Governance to Giving Monday, October 26 - Thursday, October 29 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Daily | FREE Virtual Series from Member Benefit Partner Bloomerang Learn More | Register Now
October Café PANO - Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector: Understanding It, Talking About It, Tackling It Tuesday, October 27 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Free Virtual Gathering (Open to PANO Members Only) Learn More | Register Now
Why Everything Costs More: The Energy Connection Tuesday, October 27 | 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM | Free Member Benefit Webinar (Black & Duke) Learn More | Register Now
Philly AI Learning Exchange Tuesday, October 27 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Monthly Learning & Networking Series for Nonprofit Professionals (Hosted by Barbary Cook) | Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 Learn More | Register Now
Fundraising Fundamentals 101: Philadelphia Wednesday, October 28 | 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM | In-Person Workshop (Hosted by Direct Marketing Association of Washington) | FREE for Nonprofit Members of DMAW; $112.50 for PANO Members (25% discount - check your email for discount code!); $150 for Not-Yet Members of PANO or DMAW Learn More | Register Now
Get Found by Donors on Google AND ChatGPT: SEO/AIO for Nonprofits Friday, October 30 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | FREE Webinar from Member Benefit Partner Firespring Learn More | Register Now
2026 Risk Summit: Ready. Resilient. Risk-Aware. (PANO Affiliate Partner Event - Nonprofit Risk Management Center) Thursday, November 5-Friday, November 6 | Hyatt Regency, 1800 Presidents Street, Reston, VA 20190 | Registration Rates Vary (PANO Members can access NRMC's Affiliate Member rate!) Learn More | Register Now
Helping Nonprofits Gear Up for 2027 Thursday, November 5 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FREE Webinar from Member Benefit Partner Bloomerang Learn More | Register Now
Legal Webinar: Fiscal Sponsorship Wednesday, November 11 | 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Webinar (Nonprofit Issues) | $45 for PANO Members; $100 for Not-Yet Members Learn More | Register Now
Convene PA (Harrisburg) Tuesday, November 10 | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | FREE In-Person Gathering | WITF Building, 4801 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 Learn More | Register Now
Lunch 'n' Learn: Better Meetings for Better Decisions Tuesday, November 17 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Online Workshop | $30 for PANO Members; $66 for Not-Yet Members Learn More | Register Now
PANO launched the Navigator back in February to help nonprofits quickly find reliable, curated information in an increasingly complex environment. From policy and advocacy updates to training, events, and PA-specific tools and resources, everything on the Navigator has been vetted by PANO and trusted partners. And the response has been amazing! Over 2,300 of you have already visited. If you haven't stopped by yet (or it's been a while!), here are the top three most accessed resources in the last week:
Unemployment Deadline Approaching on November 30 - Let FNP Help!
The state enrollment deadline for nonprofits to make a change to reduce their unemployment costs is fast approaching on November 30 - now is the time to explore ways to lower both your costs and risks! And you don't have to go it alone. From unemployment savings opportunities to FNPadvantage and HR resources, PANO Member Benefit Partner First Nonprofit (FNP) has tools to help your org make the most of the opportunities available. While the discount on the one-time enrollment fee for FNP's unemployment savings programs is only available to PANO Members, any nonprofit can work with FNP!
Did you know you can find previously recorded webinars in our online store? The following have been added this fall, with lots more available from past years! PANO Members, make sure you are logged into your PANO Member account in order to access the discounted price.
