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William Penn Foundation

Annual Giving
$153.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.7M
Decision Time
3mo

William Penn Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $153,000,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 12 weeks (90 days from application to decision)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,678,000+ (varies significantly by program and project scope)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia region (Philadelphia and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey)

Contact Details

Address: Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone: (215) 988-1830

Email: grants@williampennfoundation.org

Website: https://williampennfoundation.org

Program Officer Contact: Each RFP lists specific program officers who can be contacted with questions about objectives or proposals.

Overview

The William Penn Foundation was established in 1945 by businessman Otto Haas and his wife Phoebe to address their philanthropic concerns. Initially called the Phoebe Waterman Foundation, it was renamed the William Penn Foundation in 1974. With annual giving of approximately $153 million (2023) and 1,180 grants awarded that year, the Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic institutions serving the Greater Philadelphia region. The Foundation's current mission is to expand access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all, with particular priority given to communities affected by economic inequity, racial discrimination, and systemic injustice. Their strategic approach, centered on "connecting more people to more opportunities," was revised following comprehensive stakeholder engagement and represents an evolution from a decade-long previous strategy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates five distinct programs:

1. Arts and Culture

  • General operating support for arts organizations
  • Arts and culture programming (most competitive proposals under $300,000 over two years)
  • Arts education programs
  • Recent examples: BlackStar Projects Inc. ($445,950), Woodmere Art Museum ($531,873)

2. Children and Families

  • Public benefits access
  • Out-of-school time programming
  • Family support services
  • Recent example: Program grants ranging from $66,250 to over $500,000

3. Democracy and Civic Initiatives

  • Voter participation in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania
  • Civic engagement opportunities
  • Regional funder collaboration
  • Recent examples: League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania ($275,500), PA Youth Vote ($320,358)

4. Environment and Public Space

  • Urban tree planting (recent round: 5,880 new trees across Philadelphia neighborhoods)
  • Community greening plans and urban gardens
  • Reducing illegal dumping and sewage overflows
  • Circuit Trails development
  • Green stormwater infrastructure
  • Recent examples: Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority ($1,000,000 for flood mitigation), Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living ($242,125)

5. Workforce Training and Services

  • Workforce development programs
  • Training for quality jobs in the Philadelphia region

Priority Areas

The Foundation prioritizes:

  • Communities that have been most affected by economic inequity and racial discrimination
  • Projects that expand access to resources and opportunities
  • Initiatives that create systemic change in the Greater Philadelphia region
  • Organizations working to address disinvestment and discrimination
  • Projects that advance specific Foundation objectives outlined in RFPs

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Limitations: Funding is focused on Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Each RFP defines the specific geographic area differently.

Grant Size Limitations: The Foundation typically will not award a grant exceeding 25% of an organization's annual operating expenses to limit dependency on a single funding source.

Application Method: The Foundation highly discourages applications outside of the RFP process, as very limited funding is available through open applications. Open applications are only appropriate for urgent opportunities that cannot wait for a future RFP.

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership

  • Peter Haas - Board Chair
  • David Haas - Board of Directors Chair
  • Janet Haas, M.D. - Associate Board Member (former Board Chair who guided strategic grantmaking for two decades)

The Foundation is now led by the fourth generation of the Haas family, following a transition from the third generation's leadership in 2021.

Executive Leadership

  • Shawn McCaney - Executive Director (bringing over 10 years of leadership experience at the Foundation)
  • Elliot Weinbaum - Chief Philanthropy Officer
  • Rebecca Morley - Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer
  • Bryan Ulishney - Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
  • MaDoe Htun - Chief Investment Officer

Program Directors

  • Stuart Clarke - Program Director, Environment and Public Space
  • Jessica Richards - Program Director, Democracy and Civic Initiatives
  • Jennifer Stavrakos - Program Director, Children and Families
  • Barbara Wong - Program Director, Arts and Culture

Key Quote on Strategy

From the Foundation's revised approach: "Let's help make more lives better by connecting more people to more opportunities and more resources... particularly for groups of people who have often been shut out of opportunity in the past because of disinvestment, discrimination, or systemic inequities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The William Penn Foundation awards the majority of grants through Requests for Proposals (RFPs) addressing specific objectives in each of the five program areas.

Primary Application Method - RFPs:

  1. Review current funding opportunities at williampennfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities
  2. Identify the program goal and objective that aligns with your project
  3. Review the specific RFP, which will clearly state:
    • The objective to be advanced
    • Specific evaluation criteria
    • Amount of funding available
    • Timeline for the process
  4. Create an account on the Foundation's online application portal
  5. Submit your proposal through the online portal (no email applications accepted)
  6. Attend informational webinars if offered (often hosted after RFP release)

Alternative - Open Application Process: Organizations may apply through the rolling open application process, but this should only be used for urgent opportunities that would not be possible through a future RFP. Very limited funding is available outside of RFPs. Applications submitted through this process are considered on a rolling basis but must still advance a specific Foundation objective.

Important: The Foundation highly recommends submitting proposals through the RFP process rather than open applications.

Decision Timeline

  • Expected Timeline: Approximately 90 days (12 weeks) from application submission to decision
  • Grant Awards: Announced quarterly on the Foundation's website
  • Recent grant announcements: February, May, August, and November 2025

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received versus funded. In 2023, they awarded 1,180 grants totaling $153 million.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply to multiple RFPs within a cycle or throughout the year with no stated restrictions. There is no documented waiting period for unsuccessful applicants to reapply. The Foundation encourages applicants to align proposals closely with specific objectives and RFP criteria in each application.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Alignment with Equity Goals: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes "opportunities for communities that have been most affected by economic inequity, racial discrimination, and other forms of injustice." Successful applications demonstrate how projects address systemic inequities.

Direct Connection to Foundation Objectives: Each proposal must advance a specific Foundation objective. Generic applications without clear ties to stated RFP goals are unlikely to succeed.

Appropriate Grant Size: Grant requests should be commensurate with the contribution the project will make to the overall objective. The Foundation expects to fund a range of project types and sizes.

Engagement with Program Officers: The Foundation explicitly encourages applicants to contact the program officer listed on the RFP with questions about objectives or the substance of their ideas. This demonstrates the Foundation values dialogue before submission.

Community-Centered Approach: Successful projects demonstrate understanding of community needs and potential positive outcomes. The Foundation's revised strategy strongly centers stakeholder engagement.

Regional Focus: Projects must clearly serve the Greater Philadelphia region, with each RFP defining specific geographic parameters.

Financial Documentation Requirements

Required financial statements vary by organizational size:

  • Under $100K annual contributions: Audit, review, compilation, or internal statements accepted
  • $100K-$250K: Audit, review, or compilation required
  • $250K-$750K: Audit or review required
  • Over $750K: Audited financials required

Indirect Costs

Up to 25% of direct project costs can cover operating/overhead expenses, with the exact percentage determined by the Foundation based on organizational budget.

Use of Fiscal Sponsors

Organizations may use fiscal sponsors for fiduciary oversight. The fiscal sponsor becomes the official applicant and grant recipient.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply through RFPs, not open applications: The Foundation makes this extremely clear - very limited funding is available outside of the RFP process. Monitor their website regularly for new RFP releases.

  • Demonstrate equity impact: Successful proposals show how they connect underserved communities to opportunities and address systemic barriers created by disinvestment and discrimination.

  • Match your request to your impact: There are no fixed grant minimums or maximums, but your request should be proportional to the contribution your project makes to the Foundation's objectives.

  • Engage program officers early: The Foundation welcomes questions and dialogue before submission. Use this to ensure your proposal aligns with their priorities.

  • Allow 90 days for decisions: Plan your project timeline accordingly, knowing the Foundation typically takes about three months from submission to decision.

  • Stay under the 25% threshold: Ensure your request doesn't exceed 25% of your annual operating budget, as this is the Foundation's guideline to prevent over-reliance on a single funder.

  • Know the geography: Each RFP defines geographic boundaries differently. Make sure your service area clearly falls within the specified region for the particular opportunity.

References

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