Independence Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,572,503 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive - only a small number of LOIs invited to full proposal)
• Decision Time: 2-3 months from LOI submission
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000 for new organizations; multi-year general operating grants for established grantees
• Geographic Focus: Philadelphia and surrounding PA counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery)

Contact Details

Address:
Offices at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 1101
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Phone: 215-985-4009

Website: https://independencefoundation.org/

Overview

Founded in 1932 by industrialist William H. Donner as the International Cancer Research Foundation, the Independence Foundation emerged in its current form in 1960 when the Donner Foundation split, with approximately half its assets remaining in Philadelphia. After strategic pivots through secondary education (1960s-1980s) and nursing education (1988-1993), the foundation refocused in 1993 to serve exclusively Philadelphia-based organizations. With total assets of $84,695,452 and annual giving of $4,572,503 (2024), the foundation made 417 grants in 2024. The foundation's mission is to build leadership, provide services, and encourage systems and cultural change through support of organizations in healthcare, human services, legal aid, and the arts, with a focus on the vulnerable and excluded. Under new President and CEO Reginald T. Shuford, who assumed leadership in February 2025, the foundation maintains its commitment to multi-year general operating support, offering nonprofits unrestricted funding and strategic partnership.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants:

• Multi-year General Operating Grants: Primary funding mechanism for established grantees across all program areas
• Initial Grants: $5,000 - $10,000 for organizations new to the foundation
• Application method: Rolling Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process

Fellowship Programs:

• Fellowships in the Arts: Up to $10,000 for visual and performing artists with 3-5 years professional experience; two cycles annually (spring for Visual Arts, fall for Performing Arts)
• Public Interest Law Fellowships (The Honorable Phyllis W. Beck Fellowships): $64,000 first-year salary, $67,000 second-year salary; supports lawyers within five years of graduation working at foundation-funded public interest law firms
• Health & Human Services Fellowships: Launched in 2021
• Senior Attorney Sabbaticals: For experienced public interest attorneys

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture

• Community-based arts groups emphasizing community participation
• Programs connecting arts with nontraditional participants
• Increasing access to and awareness of the arts
• Special interest in projects serving community needs

Health Care

• Nurse-managed health care centers serving underserved populations
• Community-based comprehensive primary health care
• Health promotion and disease prevention services
• Programs facilitating access to secondary and tertiary care

Human Services

• Adequate food and food distribution programs
• Affordable housing and shelter access for homeless persons
• Services supporting independence for people with disabilities

Public Interest Legal Aid

• Free legal services for the underserved
• Civil legal issues confronting the indigent, elderly, disabled, and homeless
• Core operating support for legal service agencies

Reentry, Recidivism & Restorative Justice

• Programs supporting formerly incarcerated individuals (launched 2021)
• Services addressing challenges of reentry
• Employment and support services to reduce recidivism

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Philadelphia and surrounding PA counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery)
• Specific exclusions not publicly detailed; alignment with funding priorities required

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO:
Reginald T. Shuford, Esq. (assumed role February 18, 2025)

Shuford served as Executive Director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania for over 11 years, where he doubled membership and staff, and increased the annual budget from under $2 million to $6.6 million. He stated: "As a former grantee, I have admired the Foundation's innovative investments in the Philadelphia region and I am excited to join hands with stakeholders as I lead it into the next era of philanthropic partnership."

Former President & CEO:
Susan E. Sherman, MA, RN, FAAN (served 1996-January 2025)

Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, said of Sherman: "Susan is an extraordinary leader whose wisdom, insight and unwavering dedication have significantly impacted Philadelphia. Under her bold and strategic guidance, the Foundation tackled difficult issues and provided consistent, long-term support to grantees, fostering substantive growth."

Board of Directors:

• Catherine C. Carr, Esq. - Chair
• David Logan - Vice President & Treasurer
• Derick Dreher, PhD - Secretary
• Vikram H. Dewan
• Loree D. Jones-Brown
• Joyce Wilkerson

Staff:

• Jennifer T. Bohnenberger - Chief Operating Officer & Director of Programs
• Heather McDanel - Senior Program Officer
• Kate Tejada - Administrative Director and Board Liaison
• Katherine Fritz - Administrative Associate

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - First Stage:

• Accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Maximum two pages
• Must include: organizational background, annual operating budget, geographic focus, contact information, amount requested, program/service description
• Best timing: Beginning of calendar year (foundation's fiscal year follows calendar year)
• Important: Independence Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals beyond the LOI stage

Full Proposal - Second Stage (Invitation Only):

• Only organizations whose LOIs align with funding priorities and available resources will be invited
• Invitation sent via email and US mail with specific instructions
• Due to ongoing multi-year grant commitments, only a very small number of LOIs are invited to full proposal annually

Advisory Committee and Board Review:

• Advisory Committees review submitted grant applications
• Advisory Committees make recommendations to the Board of Directors
• Independence Foundation Board of Directors makes all final funding decisions

Decision Timeline

• LOI review to notification: approximately 2-3 months
• Notification method: Email or phone call from foundation staff for awarded organizations
• Official grant agreement sent by mail
• Funds disbursed upon receipt of signed grant agreement

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation notes that due to ongoing commitments from multi-year general operating grants, "only a very small number" of new proposals are invited from LOIs submitted each year. In 2024, 417 grants were awarded totaling $4,572,503.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Organizations should contact the foundation directly regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Current Funding Priorities: Letters of Inquiry are reviewed for consistency with current funding priorities. Organizations should thoroughly review the foundation's Mission, Values, and Funding Initiatives pages before applying.

Geographic Requirement: Must serve Philadelphia and/or surrounding Pennsylvania counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery).

Community-Based Approach: The foundation emphasizes support for organizations that are "community-based in origin, designed to serve the needs of the community, and emphasize community participation."

Serving the Underserved: Strong preference for organizations providing services to people who do not ordinarily have access to them, with focus on the vulnerable and excluded.

General Operating Support Philosophy: The foundation primarily provides unrestricted funding to allow nonprofits flexibility in achieving their missions. Applications should demonstrate how flexible funding will strengthen organizational capacity.

For Fellowship Applications: The foundation's advice for Public Interest Law Fellowship applicants provides insight into what they value: "It is important in the essay portion of the application to convey your commitment to working in public interest law and your personal motivation for this work." Essays should demonstrate knowledge about clients, clear project goals, and planned activities with supervision structure.

Strategic Partnership Approach: Jane Golden, Mural Arts Executive Director, described the foundation's approach: "This is the gift of the Independence Foundation: a foundation that dreams with its grantees, that strategizes with them..." Applications should be open to collaborative partnership, not just transactional funding.

Recent Successful Grantees Include:

• National Nursing Centers Consortium ($200,000)
• Philadelphia Theater Company ($200,000)
• Community College of Philadelphia ($110,000)
• Community Legal Services ($100,000)
• Broad Street Ministry
• Mural Arts Philadelphia
• Project HOME
• Public Interest Law Center

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Limited new funding availability: Multi-year commitments mean very few new organizations are funded annually; initial grants for new grantees are modest ($5,000-$10,000)
• General operating support is the norm: Position your request as supporting overall organizational capacity and mission, not restricted project funding
• Geographic restriction is absolute: Must serve Philadelphia and surrounding PA counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery)
• Start with a strong two-page LOI: This is your only opportunity to make a case unless invited to full proposal; ensure tight alignment with stated priorities
• Emphasize service to vulnerable populations: The foundation's mission centers on those who don't ordinarily have access to services
• Long-term partnership model: The foundation values multi-year relationships and strategic collaboration with grantees, not one-time grants
• New leadership listening tour: President Reggie Shuford is conducting a year-long listening tour in 2025; opportunities to connect may be announced

References

• Independence Foundation official website: https://independencefoundation.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• "How to Apply" page: https://independencefoundation.org/how-apply (accessed January 2026)
• "Our History" page: https://independencefoundation.org/about-us/our-history (accessed January 2026)
• "Our Impact" page: https://independencefoundation.org/about-us/our-impact (accessed January 2026)
• "Our Team" page: https://independencefoundation.org/about-us/our-team (accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/independence-foundation,231352110/ (accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/independence-foundation (accessed January 2026)
• Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia announcement: "Reggie Shuford Appointed President and CEO of the Independence Foundation" (accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/pennsylvania-grants/independence-foundation (accessed January 2026)