Nonprofits, Community Groups Invited to Apply for Leadership Northeast Community Impact Projects

Area nonprofit organizations and community groups are invited to submit a request for proposal (RFP) to Leadership Northeast (LNE) for the implementation of a Community Impact Project (CIP) for both the Core and Junior Leadership Northeast programs. Core 2027 class members will select up to seven projects, and Junior Leadership 2027 class members will select up to 10 projects to work on throughout the program year (October 2026 through May 2027).

“The Community Impact Project process allows our participants the chance to apply their newly developed leadership skills, resources, and servant leadership responsibility while contributing to the betterment of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said LNE Executive Director Jessica Cronauer. “Leadership Northeast recognizes the many needs of local nonprofits and community organizations, and through the RFP process, we hope to learn how our participants can help.”

For established nonprofit organizations and community groups, this invitation to submit an RFP presents an opportunity to use the services and commitment of a talented team of professionals and high school juniors from 16 school districts. The project groups consist of eight to 10 program participants who dedicate their leadership program year to the design and execution of these projects.

Past projects include the renovation of an onsite laundry room and clothing closet space for women in recovery at Clem-Mar House, the revitalization of the children and teen’s room at the Domestic Violence Service Center and the SPCA of Luzerne County Cemetery, the provision of a new clean drinking water fountain at Volunteers in Medicine, the building of a dog park for small dogs in West Pittston, the collection of essential care packs for children supported by CASA of Wyoming Valley, and hundreds of others.

This is not a grant opportunity. Projects must have a reasonable scope and budget, and cannot include capital campaigns or raising large sums of money. The project should be completed between the time frame of October 2026 and May 2027. There is no minimum fundraising requirement or guarantee of funds from LNE Community Impact projects; however, Core program participants are restricted to raising no more than $5,000.00 toward project costs, and Junior Leadership participants are restricted to raising no more than $3,000 toward project costs. In-kind donations are not considered within that restriction. The Class of 2027 will choose their projects in October/November 2026, but there is no guarantee your RFP will be chosen.

For information and an application to submit a proposal to Leadership Northeast, contact Cassidy Smith at 570-270-5323 or cassidy@leadershipnortheast.org or visit www.leadershipnortheast.org. The deadline to submit is Aug. 14 .