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Philadelphia City Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$1.6M
Grant Range
$14K - $0.0M
Decision Time
5mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,577,324 in grants (2023)
  • Total Revenue: $25.9M (FY 2024)
  • Decision Time: Applications in summer, decisions by mid-December
  • Grant Range: $14,100 - $25,000 (Community Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: Philadelphia, PA only
  • Application Cycle: Biennial (next cycle 2026)

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 organization 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 programs 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 2024, the organization managed $25.9 million in total revenue and distributed over $1.5 million in grants. 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 Programs

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

  • Annual thematic grant program funded through partnership with Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
  • General operating support grants of $25,000 per organization
  • Awards 11-13 organizations per cycle
  • Application cycle: Summer (applications) → Mid-December (decisions) → Early following year (disbursement)
  • Next application cycle: 2026 (operates biennially)
  • 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 organizations (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)
  • Programs 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 programs 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 Program 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

  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status (unless working with fiscal sponsor)
  • Programs 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 organizational 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 organizational 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)
Next Cycle: 2026

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 organizations 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
  • Organizational capacity to deliver programming

Staying Informed:

  • Sign up for newsletter at philacityfund.org
  • Monitor website for 2026 cycle announcement

Decision Timeline

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

Success Rates

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

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated, though annual thematic changes suggest organizations can reapply in future cycles. Given the biennial cycle announcement for 2026, nonprofits should plan to reapply when the next cycle opens.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Indicators from Recent Grantees

Strong Thematic Alignment: All funded organizations 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.

Program Innovation with Proven Track Record: Funded organizations 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 organizations to use funds flexibly for operations, programming, or mission-related costs. Applications should emphasize overall organizational 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 programs (Allens Lane Art Center), sports (Neighborhood Bike Works, Urban Youth Kings and Queens), STEM (That Could Be Me Foundation), and therapeutic programs (Variety).

Strategic Insights

The Fund operates biennially rather than annually, making each application opportunity significant. Organizations should monitor announcements early and prepare proposals that authentically connect their existing programming to announced themes rather than designing new programs specifically for the grant.

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

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Plan for biennial cycles: Next Community Fund application opens in 2026; begin preparation early by monitoring website and newsletter
  • Thematic alignment is critical: Annual themes drive grantmaking; proposals must authentically connect existing programming to announced focus area
  • General operating support model: Emphasize organizational 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 $25,000; view as capacity-building support rather than major program funding
  • Small organization friendly: Community Fund specifically targets "small nonprofit organizations" 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

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