Philadelphia City Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Total Revenue: $17,955,670 (FY2023)
• Decision Time: Applications in summer, decisions by mid-December
• Grant Range: $14,100 - $25,000 (Community Fund)
• Geographic Focus: Philadelphia, PA only
• Application Cycle: Annual

Contact Details

Website: https://philacityfund.org
Email: cityfund@phila.gov
Phone: 215-686-0321
Address: One Penn Center, 1617 JFK Blvd, Suite 889, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Newsletter: Sign up on website for grant cycle announcements

Overview

Founded in 1984 as the Fund for Philadelphia, the organisation was renamed the Mayor's Fund for Philadelphia in 2012 before becoming the Philadelphia City Fund in 2023. As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it serves as the dedicated fiscal sponsor for the City of Philadelphia, administering over 300 programmes that improve life for all Philadelphians. The Fund operates at the intersection of philanthropy and City Hall, leveraging public-private partnerships to support innovative municipal projects and community-based nonprofits. In fiscal year 2023, the organisation reported total revenue of $17,955,670 and total expenses of $16,601,539. Under the leadership of Executive Director Jody Greenblatt since 2019, the Fund has strengthened its independence, expanded its board, and focused on supporting mayoral priorities through innovative programming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Fund ($250,000-$275,000 annually)

• Annual thematic grant programme funded through partnership with Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
• General operating support grants of $25,000 per organisation
• Awards 11-13 organisations per cycle
• Application cycle: Summer (applications) → Mid-December (decisions) → Early following year (disbursement)
• Rolling basis: No (fixed annual cycle with specific theme)

Innovation Fund ($25,000-$50,000 per cycle)

• Supports pilot projects by City of Philadelphia employees
• Competitive application process with semi-annual cycles
• Funded through fees from fiscal sponsorship work
• Funds 5-7 projects annually
• Not open to external organisations (City employees only)

Priority Areas

Community Fund Focus:

• Health equity and community wellness
• Youth development (pre-K through 12th grade)
• Out-of-school time programming
• Underserved communities (priority ZIP codes: 19120, 19124, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19139, 19141, 19144)
• Programmes addressing Philadelphia's greatest areas of need
• Alignment with City of Philadelphia quality-of-life goals

Annual Themes (Community Fund):

• 2024: "Nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming"
• 2023: "Health Equity for All"

Example Funded Projects (2024):

• Fab Youth Philly: Workforce development for teens
• Girls on the Run Philadelphia: Running-based life skills curriculum
• Horizons Philadelphia: Summer academic programmes for low-income students
• Work to Ride: Horseback riding, polo training, and leadership development
• Hand2Paw: Paid internships working with rescue animals

Example Funded Projects (2023):

• AccessMatters: Health Equity Training Hub ($20,000)
• ACHIEVEability: Vaccination clinics in West Philadelphia ($24,300)
• Why Not Prosper: Healthcare Navigator Programme for formerly incarcerated women
• Nationalities Service Center: Healthcare services for immigrants and refugees
• Students Run Philly Style: Long-distance running and mentorship

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations without 501(c)(3) status (unless working with fiscal sponsor)
• Programmes outside Philadelphia city limits
• Projects not aligned with annual thematic focus
• Innovation Fund is restricted to City of Philadelphia employees only

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jody Greenblatt, Esq. (Executive Director)

• Joined 2019 following organisational reform
• Background in youth-focused roles and legal work
• University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan Law School
• On her priorities: "I want to understand the systems and structures in place, how they work, how they don't work. I want to hear from the board about priorities."
• On organisational independence: "I believe that we support the priorities of the administration, not the mayor him- or herself."
• On transformation: "Over the past three years, we have established new leadership, a new board, and strengthened our relationships with both City agencies and philanthropies all over Philadelphia."

Emily Gowen (Deputy Director) - Joined 2014, previously Philadelphia Museum of Art
Rachel Mancini (Director of Strategic Initiatives) - Joined 2022, previously Opera Philadelphia
Meghan Gallagher (Partnership Manager) - Joined 2024
Tierra Holmes (Partnership Manager) - Joined 2024

Board of Directors

Lilton Taliaferro (Chair) - Health Care Attorney
Stefan Johnson (Treasurer) - Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Philadelphia City Council
Patrick Clark (Secretary) - CDBG-DR Project Director, Budget Office, City of Philadelphia
Alanna Casselle Chew - Philanthropy Advisor, Geneva Global
Andre DelValle - Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Mayor's Office
Vaughn Ross - Founder, Rvesta
David G. Wilson - Deputy Managing Director, Managing Director's Office, City of Philadelphia

The board includes both City designees and independent Philadelphia leaders, providing both internal knowledge and external perspective. Final funding decisions are made by the Board of Directors.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply (Community Fund)

Application Method: Online submission through website during announced cycle
Application Period: Summer (typically June-August)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must have 501(c)(3) status or work with fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status
• Must provide programming in Philadelphia
• Programming must align with annual thematic focus
• Priority given to organisations serving priority ZIP codes: 19120, 19124, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19139, 19141, 19144

Application Components:

• Proposal demonstrating alignment with annual theme
• Demonstration of efforts to address Philadelphia's greatest needs
• Evidence of alignment with City quality-of-life goals
• Organisational capacity to deliver programming

Staying Informed:

• Sign up for newsletter at philacityfund.org
• Monitor website for annual cycle announcement

Decision Timeline

• Summer: Applications accepted
• Mid-December: Successful applicants notified
• Early following year: Funds disbursed

Success Rates

• 2024: 11 organisations funded (total applicants not disclosed)
• 2023: 13 organisations funded (total applicants not disclosed)
• The Fund made 45 total awards in 2023 and 23 awards in 2022 across all programmes

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated, though annual thematic changes suggest organisations can reapply in future cycles.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Indicators from Recent Grantees

Strong Thematic Alignment: All funded organisations demonstrated clear connection to the annual theme. For example, 2024 grantees focused specifically on out-of-school time programming with holistic wellness approaches, while 2023 grantees addressed health equity.

Serving Priority Communities: Successful grantees serve underserved populations including youth in priority ZIP codes, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and low-income families.

Programme Innovation with Proven Track Record: Funded organisations balance innovation with established programming. Examples include Hand2Paw's animal-based paid internships and Work to Ride's horseback riding leadership development.

General Operating Support Model: The Fund awards unrestricted general operating support grants, allowing organisations to use funds flexibly for operations, programming, or mission-related costs. Applications should emphasise overall organisational capacity rather than single-project funding.

Alignment with City Goals: Successful proposals explicitly connect to City of Philadelphia's broader quality-of-life goals and municipal priorities, demonstrating understanding of civic context.

Diversity of Approach: Recent grantee cohorts show the Fund values varied approaches to thematic goals. The 2024 cohort included arts programmes (Allens Lane Art Center), sports (Neighborhood Bike Works, Urban Youth Kings and Queens), STEM (That Could Be Me Foundation), and therapeutic programmes (Variety).

Strategic Insights

The Fund operates annually, with each cycle's application opening typically in summer. Organisations should monitor announcements early and prepare proposals that authentically connect their existing programming to announced themes rather than designing new programmes specifically for the grant.

Geographic focus on priority ZIP codes suggests the Fund uses data-driven approaches to target underserved neighbourhoods. Organisations working in these areas should emphasise their community connections and hyperlocal impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Apply annually: The Community Fund operates on an annual cycle; monitor website and newsletter for each year's application announcement
• Thematic alignment is critical: Annual themes drive grantmaking; proposals must authentically connect existing programming to announced focus area
• General operating support model: Emphasise organisational capacity and mission rather than project-specific requests; funds are unrestricted
• Geographic targeting matters: Priority ZIP codes (19120, 19124, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19139, 19141, 19144) receive preference; highlight community connections
• Demonstrate City alignment: Connect programming to Philadelphia's broader quality-of-life goals and municipal priorities
• Modest, consistent funding: Grants are typically $25,000; view as capacity-building support rather than major programme funding
• Small organisation friendly: Community Fund specifically targets "small nonprofit organisations" with manageable grant size and general operating support model
• Timeline for planning: Summer application → December decision → Early following year disbursement; plan cash flow accordingly

References

• Philadelphia City Fund Official Website: https://philacityfund.org (Accessed January 2026)
• Community Fund Page: https://philacityfund.org/grantmaking/community-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)
• 2024 Community Fund Grantees: https://philacityfund.org/2024-community-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)
• 2023 Community Fund Grantees: https://philacityfund.org/2023-community-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)
• About Us and Team: https://philacityfund.org/about/ and https://philacityfund.org/about/team/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Organisational History: https://philacityfund.org/about/history/ (Accessed January 2026)
• 2023 Impact Report: https://impact.philacityfund.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Philadelphia City Fund Inc (EIN 23-2174863): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/232174863 (Accessed January 2026)
• Philadelphia Inquirer: "Jody Greenblatt tapped to lead scandal-plagued Philadelphia Mayor's Fund" (September 2019)
• Philadelphia Inquirer: "Years after a corruption scandal, the Mayor's Fund is rebranding as the Philadelphia City Fund" (February 2023)
• Billy Penn: "After scandal, Mayor's Fund rebrands as Philadelphia City Fund" (February 2023)
• Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia: Organisation profile (Accessed January 2026)