Program Overview

We understand any change in your living expenses can be challenging to manage. That’s why, beginning August 4, 2025, customers will be able to apply for assistance through our temporary PECO Customer Relief Fund (CRF). This will be a $10 million fund to provide eligible PECO customers relief in the form of credits to their heating and cooling bills, including electricity and natural gas.

• Qualifying customers will receive a grant of $500
• Grants will appear in qualifying customers’ bills as credits

The PECO Customer Relief Fund is possible through a one-time charitable contribution by Exelon, PECO's parent company, to the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and is designed to support limited to middle-income customers. We realize customers are bearing the brunt of increasing energy costs as demand rises while supply is limited. Although PECO and Exelon do not control energy supply costs, the company is committed to advocating for customers and working to find solutions with those who do control those costs.

Eligibility Criteria

The PECO Customer Relief Fund will be available to eligible limited to middle-income households located in the PECO service area. To qualify for the CRF program, applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Be a current PECO residential electric and/or natural gas customer
• Have a past-due balance of no more than $2,000 or, along with a customer co-payment, can bring the balance down to $2,000
• Not have received a grant from this program previously
• Have no theft-of-service charges on the PECO account in the past 12 months
• Have a household annual income between 151% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

2025 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Income Guidelines

Based on Monthly Household Income

Note: Customers with annual household incomes of 150 FPL and below may qualify for other financial assistance programs from PECO. Visit peco.com/help for further information.

• Applying for this program does not prevent disconnection of service if the amount of funds does not satisfy your outstanding balance. We encourage customers to continue to pay their PECO bill during the application process
• If your electricity has already been shut off, applying for this program does not guarantee reconnection
• Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive financial assistance
• Income documentation is required
• You must be receiving a separate PECO bill from your rent statement

How to Apply

• The program will be available from August 4, 2025, through December 31, 2025, or until available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first
• Applications will be online and will be processed in the order in which they are received. First come, first served
• Response times may vary depending on the volume of submissions and the verification process. If approved, customers can expect the grant to be applied to their account in approximately one to two billing cycles from approval date.
• Visit this webpage starting August 4, 2025, for a link to the online application

PECO would like to thank the United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey, along with the following community partners, for their invaluable support of the Customer Relief Fund program. Further information about the program and participating organizations is available on the United Way website. 

• ACLAMO
• Open Hearth, Inc.
• United Way of Bucks County
• Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC)
• Campaign for Working Families
• Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP)
• Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (GPCA)
• YWCA Tri-County Area

Committed to Assistance Year-Round

The Customer Relief Fund is a new and one-time program in addition to PECO’s existing efforts to make energy affordable and to help customers manage their bills. Customers can visit peco.com/help for more ways to manage their bill, use energy more efficiently, or access energy assistance. This includes:

• PECO’s self-service Assistance Finder, which provides simple and personalized recommendations
• Payment arrangements and due-date extensions. For extenuating circumstances needing payment arrangements beyond 12 months, please call PECO at 1-800-494-4000
• Budget billing information and online self-serve sign-up for customers who prefer a predictable monthly bill that spreads energy costs throughout the year

Camden Uplift | Community Co-Labs: Benefits Connection | Call for Collaborations

Download Program Information

For more information around CCU, Co-Labs or the Call for Collaborations please reach out to Sabrina Briggs, Director of Emerging Initiatives. 

Key Dates 

​​July 22nd​, 2025: Call for Collaborations Released 

August 14th, 2025: Webinar @ 12pm | View Recording

October 10th, 2025: Proposals Due 

November 10th, 2025: Grantees Selected 

December 2025 – December 2029: Grant Period 

Section I

1. Introduction: A Camden-Centered & Collaborative Approach

Camden Uplift is a strategic investment in resident-centered partnerships designed to strengthen social protection systems across Camden. In 2023, the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (“United Way”) convened local partners to gain community feedback from organizational leaders and residents of the city, working to understand the highest impact issues to consider for investment and support. 

Led by United Way, this initiative supports collaborative approaches that expand across three key areas: access to public benefits, enhanced digital navigation networks, and increased workforce readiness, creating a holistic and sequenced approach to upward economic mobility for Camden residents.  

In its first phase of a multi-year strategy, this request for collaboration invites lead organizations, along with a coalition of their community partners, to launch and drive Community Co-Labs – cross sector teams to collaboratively create solutions with and for Camden communities. We are seeking bold, equity-driven proposals grounded in collaborative design, leadership and both in systems change and immediate intervention.  

2. Our Theory of Change & A Call to Action 

Despite high barriers to overcome, Camden is home to valuable community assets and resources to draw from.  With a poverty rate of 33.6%—nearly three times the national average—and a labor force participation rate of just 55%, far too many residents are locked out of the very systems designed to support them. Although a wide range of public benefits are available—SNAP, Medicaid, housing subsidies, tax credits—eligibility does not equal access. 

Residents face a benefits system that is fragmented, difficult to navigate, and often experienced as confusing or burdensome. Language barriers, inconsistent service delivery, and past experiences of exclusion or stigma can all create additional hurdles—especially for those managing multiple stressors at once. At the same time, the expiration of federal programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program and the rollback of pandemic-era supports have left critical gaps. In this landscape, there is a growing opportunity—and need—for community organizations to come together to coordinate efforts, share knowledge, and build a more supportive and accessible ecosystem. Benefits access is not only more essential than ever—it is also more complicated. 

The problem: Too many Camden residents are unable to access the public benefits, services, and resources they are entitled to—due not to lack of need, but to barriers built into the systems themselves. These barriers are technological, bureaucratic, and relational, and they disproportionately impact households already experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage. 

The impact: Access to need-based government benefits has been shown to significantly reduce poverty. According to the federal Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), the national poverty rate declined from 26% in 1967 to 14.4% in 2017, largely due to programs like Social Security, food assistance, and tax credits for working families. Over the same period, the child poverty rate dropped from 24.9% to 14.8%, lifting nearly 37 million people—including more than 7 million children—above the poverty line. [1]

Our theory of change: If we invest in coalitions of community-based organizations to collaboratively co-design and deliver coordinated, culturally responsive benefits access services, then more residents will successfully enroll in essential supports, stabilize their households, and build toward long-term, upward economic mobility. This initiative will invest in new and existing collaborations between local, Camden organizations and their trusted partners and service providers to develop service delivery models that bring together a range of programs meant to support family stability and access to benefits. 

3. Why Now? 

This initiative launches at a critical moment. Nationally, key federal programs are being scaled back, and many low-income families are facing new barriers to stability. Reduced investments in social protection, and rising service fragmentation are compounding challenges in Camden and beyond. 

Camden is a city of resilience, momentum, and possibility. Local leaders, grassroots organizations, and residents are aligning around shared goals and a renewed commitment to economic justice. The Camden Uplift: Community Co-Lab(s) is designed to meet this moment—moving beyond one-off programs toward systems that are community-rooted, responsive, and built to last. 

In this environment, forging strong partnerships and durable alliances is not just beneficial—it is essential. No single organization can dismantle systemic inequities alone. Collaborative models that align resources, share decision-making, and build collective capacity are the most effective tools we have to address entrenched disparities and create lasting change. Together, we can align outreach, integrate systems, and simplify the path for residents. 

Camden Uplift: Community Co-Lab(s) is not just a funding opportunity. It’s a commitment to reimagine benefits of access in Camden—collaboratively, equitably, and sustainably. 

Section II

1. Benefits Connection Co-Lab Opportunity Overview

The Camden Uplift: Community Co-Lab(s) will support partnerships that:

• Deliver services through a coalition of community organizations as part of one cohesive, community-centered initiative that uses culturally responsive methods (see Appendix A)
• Increase access to public benefits (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, housing subsidies, EITC) (see Appendix B)
• Offer free tax preparation and application assistance 
• Provide digital navigation support to overcome technology barriers 
• Improve outreach and address accessibility-related barriers using non-traditional venues, such as community-based organizations, community colleges, public schools, and childcare centers  

2. Funding Structure 

Proposed Funding Structure ($2M over 4 Years): 

Lead Organizations: 

• Up to two lead applicants will be selected through the RFP process. 
• Each lead organization is eligible for a grant of up to $1 million total over a four-year period. 
• Funds will be disbursed in annual installments of up to $250,000, contingent on performance, reporting, and compliance. 

Partnered Delivery Model: 

• Lead organizations must implement a collaborative delivery model with community-based partners. 
• Subawards will be made to partner organizations, with amounts and scopes based on the submitted proposal budgets. {No more than 7 partners per applicant)  
• Disbursement of subawards will be managed by the lead organizations to ensure coordination, flexibility, and localized accountability. 

3. Process and Timeline

Proposals are due by October 10, 2025. The United Way staff and local Camden advisory board will identify candidates for further review and interview finalists until November 10, 2025. 

• Community Challenge announcement and release: July 22, 2025 
• Informational Webinar: August 14, 2025 @ 12pm | View Recording
• Proposals Due: October 10, 2025 
• Grantee Selection: November 10, 2025
• Services Begin: December 1, 2025 
• Grant Period: December 1, 2025 - December 31, 2029

4. Eligibility and Requirements 

To be eligible to apply, organizations and their program or service providing partners must have these core elements in place:  

• Must be a nonprofit or educational institution with IRS code Section 501(c) (3) and 509(a) (1), (2) or (3), or Section 170(c); or a public entity 
• Must serve low-income communities and the mission must align with advancing individuals and families economically 
• Ability to screen for, assess, and confirm receipt of a wide range of local, state, and federal benefits (see Appendix B for sample list)
• Demonstrated success in convening partners and bundling resources to maximize outcomes and increase access for community members  
• Ability to track and report outcomes, including total financial and non-financial resources accessed, and participate in comprehensive evaluation 
• Must have had an independent audit of their finances within the last two years 
• Must be able to implement and operate the program between September 2025 - September 2028 

5. Our Commitment to Community-Led, Industry-Informed Change

Proposals must reflect a collaborative delivery model, (see Appendix A) engaging multiple Camden-based organizations (no more than 7) with clearly defined roles. All proposals should demonstrate co-design with residents and include a plan for implementation, evaluation, and adaptive learning. 

The Community Co-Lab Benefits Connection is rooted in the belief that solutions to poverty and benefits access must be designed with, not just for, the communities they serve. We are looking for partners who lead with lived experience, data, and a willingness to innovate. 

We encourage the applicants to center community co-design in their work—from defining success, to shaping strategies, to refining implementation. We value bold, adaptive, and meaningful collaboration. This initiative is both community-led and industry-informed, and seeks to elevate equity and sustainability through partnership, shared learning, and local wisdom.

Section III: 

1. What We’re Looking For: Selection Criteria & Narrative Responses 

Successful proposals will include: 

• Community Co-Design: Residents must be directly engaged in shaping goals, strategies, and implementation activities 
• Partnership Strength: A collaborative team (up to 7 organizations) with clear governance structure, outlining the responsibilities and roles of the lead organization and service provider partners 
• Equity-Centered Approach: Demonstrated commitment to serving historically excluded groups including immigrants, returning citizens, older adults, and those with limited English proficiency 
• Service Integration: A plan for accessible, seamless delivery of wraparound supports through one-stop models or coordinated hubs
• Evaluation and Learning: A plan to track impact, center community voice in learning, and adapt based on feedback 

2. Selection Criteria 

Applications will be reviewed and scored by a diverse committee of community leaders and subject matter experts.

Criteria include: 

• Community Need and Relevance: 15% 
• Co-Design and Resident Engagement: 20% 
• Strength of the Collaborative Model: 20% 
• Feasibility of Implementation: 20% 
• Evaluation and Learning Plan: 15% 
• Budget and Resource Strategy: 10% 

3. Proposal Questions

In order to be considered complete, applications must include a detailed written narrative, a completed projected outputs table, a detailed budget, and all requested attachments.

4. Required Attachments

• Completed budget template
• Completed projected outputs table
• Copy of lead organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter for nonprofit educational institution’s determination letter with IRS code Section 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (2) or (3), or Section 170(c)
• Copy of most recent audit (within past two years)
• Previous evaluations and outcomes reporting from previous years (if available)
• List of current board members and affiliations
• Biographies of Key Personnel
• Letters of commitments from partners

5. Evaluation: Data Collection Resources & Expectations

United Way recognizes that evaluation infrastructure varies across organizations, particularly among smaller grassroots partners. Technical assistance and learning support will be available throughout the grant cycle. We view evaluation as a tool for collective insight and adaptive learning—not just reporting. Grantees are encouraged to track not only outputs and outcomes, but also lessons learned and community impact stories.

_________________________

[1] Danilo Trisi and Matt Saenz, “Economic Security Programs Cut Poverty Nearly in Half Over Last 50 Years,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 14, 2018, https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/economic-security-programs-cut-poverty-nearly-in-half-over-last-50