← Back to US Funders Directory

Philadelphia Foundation

Annual Giving
$54.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

Ready to apply to Philadelphia Foundation?

Let our AI help you write a winning grant application in minutes, not hours.

Start your 4-week free trial →

Philadelphia Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Founded: 1918
  • Annual Giving: $54.3 million (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties (PA); Camden and Burlington counties (NJ)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000 (competitive grants)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 1 month from application processing
  • Application Cycles: Typically Spring and Fall (competitive grants may not be available every year)

Contact Details

Address: 1835 Market St, Suite 2410, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2909
Phone: 215-563-6417
Email: info@philafound.org
Website: www.philafound.org
Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Overview

Established on December 20, 1918, by William P. Gest and the Fidelity Trust Company, the Philadelphia Foundation is one of the world's first community foundations and the largest devoted to improving lives in Greater Philadelphia. Over its century-plus history, the foundation has awarded over $800 million in grants and scholarships to community organisations. The foundation manages more than 1,100 charitable funds established by donors and makes over 1,000 grants and scholarship awards annually. In 2023, the foundation had total expenses of $54.3 million. The foundation's mission is to strengthen the economic, social, and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia by growing effective philanthropic investment, connecting individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advancing civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. Under the leadership of President and CEO Pedro A. Ramos since 2015, the foundation has redoubled its focus on racial equity, economic mobility, and supporting organisations serving marginalised communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Competitive Grants

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Application Frequency: Organisations limited to one application per calendar year
  • Recent Awards: $2.9 million to 97 organisations (December 2024); $2.6 million to 101 organisations (July 2024)
  • Application Method: Competitive cycles (typically spring and fall, though availability varies by year)
  • Note: The foundation periodically provides unrestricted general operating support to existing grantees rather than opening new competitive cycles

Grant Categories:

  • Advocacy Grants: For nonprofits utilising advocacy and community organising best practices toward policy change on behalf of marginalised and low-income communities
  • Direct Service Grants: Supporting organisations providing essential services to vulnerable populations
  • Impact Grants: For nonprofits with a strong history of direct service programming to high-poverty and marginalised populations
  • Leadership Grants: Supporting organisational capacity and leadership development
  • Fund for Children: Supporting youth development programmes for ages 0-18

Special Initiative Grants:

  • GSK IMPACT Awards: Annual awards of $50,000 in unrestricted funding to up to ten local nonprofit organisations contributing to a healthier Greater Philadelphia
  • Forman Family Fund: Grants of $5,000 to $40,000 annually for organisations serving youth aged 11-18 through in-school or out-of-school-time programmes
  • Henrietta Tower Wurts Memorial: Modest grants for programmes where a small award can make significant impact

Fund for Children: Established through $1 million annual contributions from both the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies (totalling $2 million per year for 30 years), this fund supports programmes improving the quality of life for children in Philadelphia. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000.

Priority Areas

  • Vulnerable Populations: Priority given to nonprofits with operating budgets under $5 million serving those who are disconnected, disenfranchised, disempowered, and underrepresented
  • Equity and Racial Justice: Recipients must demonstrate ongoing commitment to implementing equity at organisational and programmatic levels
  • Economic Mobility: Partnerships that increase economic mobility for all residents (recent $8.35 million workforce investment announced)
  • Human Services: Ensuring access to essential services and support, including serving immigrant and disabled populations and addressing poverty
  • Gun Violence Prevention: Active leadership through the Civic Coalition to Save Lives
  • Food Security: Regional Food Fund addressing food security crises
  • Arts & Culture, Health & Medical, LGBTQ, Community Development, Education

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly documented; focus is clearly on Greater Philadelphia regional nonprofits serving vulnerable populations with operating budgets typically under $5 million.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Pedro A. Ramos (joined August 2015)

Pedro Ramos has articulated his vision for the foundation as "an exciting hub where needs, information, ideas and resources join the nonprofit, business and government sectors around real and lasting solutions." He emphasises "partnerships that increase economic mobility for all, strengthen the safety net and improve civic capacity." In June 2020, addressing racial justice, Ramos stated: "As a community foundation that is foremost about the wellbeing of all our neighbours, we will redouble our efforts as a funder, fundraiser, partner, civic leader, a supporter of justice and equity."

Senior Leadership Team:

  • Christine Conti - Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (rejoined June 2024)
  • Philip Fitzgerald - Chief Impact Officer
  • Jake Marini - Chief Advancement Officer
  • Sophie Bryan - Director of External Affairs and Civic Initiatives
  • Nell Booth - Chief of Staff (joined January 2016)

Board of Managers includes diverse leaders from business, nonprofit, and civic sectors:

  • Sharmain Matlock-Turner - CEO, Urban Affairs Coalition
  • Kathleen (Kate) S. Allison - CEO, The Karma Agency
  • Evan Urbania - CEO, ChatterBlast Media
  • Lawrence J. Beaser - Former Board Chair (2009-2016)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Standard Application Process:

  • Applications typically accepted through two competitive grant cycles annually (spring and fall), though cycles may not be offered every year
  • Organisations limited to one application per calendar year
  • Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $50,000
  • Applications submitted online through the foundation's grant portal
  • Contact the foundation prior to creating an application for guidance on the right grant option

Pre-Application Contact: The foundation encourages organisations to contact them before applying, given the variety of grant programmes and special initiatives available.

Decision Timeline

Applicants can expect to hear from the Philadelphia Foundation within one month of when they begin processing applications. Notifications are typically sent via email to Executive Directors.

Success Rates

While specific acceptance percentages are not publicly available, recent data shows:

  • December 2024: 97 organisations received funding
  • July 2024: 101 organisations received funding
  • Organisations receiving grants demonstrate strong alignment with foundation priorities

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply at the start of the next calendar year. However, organisations can only apply once per year per discretionary category. For example, if an organisation applies for a leadership grant in the spring and is denied, they can apply again in the fall, but must do so in a different category (they could not apply for leadership grants again in the fall).

Application Success Factors

The Philadelphia Foundation has articulated specific criteria that successful applicants must demonstrate:

1. Deep Community Connection (Responsiveness to Community)

  • Demonstrate deep knowledge of and connection to the service population(s)
  • Maintain ongoing mechanisms to gather input and feedback to shape services
  • Clearly define the community you serve (can be geographic, racial, artistic, social, residential, or a combination)
  • Show how you engage folks from that community in structuring, implementing, and evaluating your organisation

2. Transformative Lens (Theory of Change)

  • Services driven by a clear theory of change connecting activities to desired outcomes
  • Focus on long-term impact, not just short-term outputs
  • Evidence of how programmes create lasting change

3. Commitment to Equity

  • Demonstrate ongoing efforts to implement equity at organisational and programmatic levels
  • Show work to operationalise equity beyond aspirational statements
  • Evidence of equity as a lived practice throughout the organisation

4. Organisational Characteristics

  • Priority given to nonprofits with operating budgets under $5 million
  • Service to vulnerable, disconnected, disenfranchised, disempowered, and underrepresented populations
  • Strong organisational infrastructure and leadership

Recent Grantee Examples: While specific project examples were not detailed in available sources, the foundation emphasises funding organisations working on breaking the cycle of poverty, strengthening community connections, and making a difference in partnership with marginalised individuals and groups.

Foundation Guidance: "You should thoroughly review each application's criteria to determine what it covers and who is eligible before applying." The foundation also notes the importance of contacting them prior to application to ensure you're pursuing the right grant opportunity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Application cycles vary: The foundation typically offers competitive grant cycles in spring and fall, but these may not be available every year; contact the foundation to confirm current opportunities
  • Demonstrate deep community connection: Show meaningful mechanisms for community input and engagement in programme design and evaluation
  • Equity must be operationalised: Go beyond mission statements to demonstrate how equity is implemented at organisational and programmatic levels
  • Theory of change is critical: Clearly articulate how your activities connect to long-term impact, not just outputs
  • Contact before applying: Reach out to foundation staff to ensure you're pursuing the appropriate grant opportunity
  • Budget size matters: Priority is given to organisations with operating budgets under $5 million serving vulnerable populations
  • One shot per year: Organisations can only apply once per calendar year per grant category, so choose strategically
  • Reapplication is possible: Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in a different category or wait until the next calendar year

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trialLearn More

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know

← Back to US Funders Directory