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The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition
For thirty-seven years, the
Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC) has been working to address poverty and other urban issues in the Philadelphia region. With its rich history deeply rooted in the civil rights movement, the business community and grassroots organizing efforts, GPUAC continues to play a unique role in bringing together government, business, neighborhoods, and individual initiative to improve the quality of life and address challenges facing the greater Philadelphia region.
Today, GPUAC is one of the Philadelphia region’s largest nonprofit agencies, with a budget of $33 million and nearly 500 full and part-time employees. In December 2006, GPUAC completed a new strategic plan aimed at proactive, strategic coordination and development of programs, partnerships and policy initiatives. As part of the strategic plan, GPUAC conducted an environmental scan and identified several key trends that are likely to impact the organization during the next five years:
- Increasing populations of vulnerable groups such as Asian Americans, Latinos, immigrants, and seniors, particularly in the suburban areas of the region.
- A trend toward regionalism, with population, businesses, and jobs generally decreasing in the city and increasing in the suburbs.
- A continuing shift to a knowledge-based economy, with employers seeking out highly skilled and specialized employees.
- An economy in which funds from foundations, corporations, and government agencies are likely to remain scarce and competitive.
- A growing nonprofit sector in need of capacity-building, leadership development, and other services.
GPUAC’s three overarching priorities are to:
- Improve the life chances for youth and young adults, with a special emphasis on African American boys and men, through programs, services and advocacy
- Build wealth in urban communities through workforce development, business development, and improving access to fairly priced goods and services.
- Strengthen the non-profit sector through excellence in service delivery, with a focus on grassroots-led organizations.
GPUAC works toward these priorities by driving positive change in social policies, services and products affecting those who live in urban communities; by providing direct services to thousands of families and individuals annually through the operation of programs that matter most to low-income households, working families and minority-owned businesses; and administering professional services to allow social entrepreneurs to carry out programs and projects. These services include tax-exempt status under the GPUAC umbrella, fiscal management, payroll and benefits administration, office space, communications/ marketing services, and access to GPUAC’s peer network of community leaders.
Regional Housing Legal Services
Sharon Barr, Development Consultant
