At a Breaking Point: Erie County Nonprofits Navigating Cuts, Delays, and Uncertainty
There has been much focus in the media on federal funding reduction, government shutdowns, the delayed state budget, and more recently, inflation. However, less has been reported on how these funding challenges are trickling down to Erie County and reducing the capacity of local nonprofits that provide essential services.
Responding to three surveys conducted between August 2025 and May 2026, Erie County nonprofits, providing services in education, housing, health, food security, and human services, shared how government changes since February 2026 are affecting their work and the people who depend on them. Federal funding cuts, shutdowns, and delayed state budgets are creating real challenges: lost revenue, staffing shortages, rising costs, heavier workloads, while simultaneously, demand for services grows.
Join us to hear what local nonprofits are experiencing, what it means for our community, and why these issues matter to all of us.
JES Community Conversations are sponsored by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St. Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Thursday, August 6th, 12:00-1:30PM
Admission: FREE, $5 lunch optional
*If you do NOT receive an email from info@jeserie.org within 24-48 hours regarding your registration, please check your spam or junk folder. Thank you!
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Lisa Fleming, Ph.D. is a retired psychologist, higher education leader, and community advocate with more than 25 years of experience advancing education, behavioral health, and civic engagement across northwestern Pennsylvania. She currently serves as Co-Founder of the Civic Impact Project, an initiative dedicated to helping communities use data-driven insights to understand policy impacts, inform decision-making, and build a more resilient future. Previously, Dr. Fleming served as Associate Vice President of Quality Assurance and Psychology Internship Training at the Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. Her nearly two-decade tenure at Gannon University included service as Dean of the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling, and Associate Professor of Psychology. A licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, Dr. Fleming earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Connecticut. Through her leadership, scholarship, and commitment to community impact, she has helped shape educational and human service initiatives throughout the region.
Adam Bratton, M.P.A., is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over 20 years of diverse experience in nonprofit management. His career spans roles in Washington, D.C., higher education, and public service advocacy, as well as regional positions in communications, fundraising, and executive leadership. Adam specializes in governance, administration, and fundraising, with expertise in building programs, marketing initiatives, and capital campaigns. He has also led local, regional, and national events and programs. Adam studied nonprofit management, government and history, and lives in Westfield, New York, with his wife Carissa and their three children, Isabella, Daniel, and John.
