News and Perspectives

The social infrastructure of public spaces makes human development, community building, and our democratic society possible. Although we may not always prioritize them in the same way, parks, trails, recreation centers, and libraries represent public...

This essay originally appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and is republished here with permission. Down along a winding stretch of the Schuylkill, there’s a point about a mile-and-a-half south of Market Street where worlds collide. No fewer than six...

PHILADELPHIA, August 19, 2026 — The William Penn Foundation and its co-funding partners HealthSpark Foundation and The Heinz Endowments announced $1.3 million in new grants to support organizations across Pennsylvania working to increase the self-response...

The Foundation is pleased to announce it recently awarded 90 grants totaling $25.8 million across its grantmaking programs, supporting efforts to expand access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. Jump...

Throughout Philadelphia, many families struggle with rising living costs and systemic barriers to economic stability. Programs like Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) play a foundational role in stabilizing families. These...

Public space has never been politically neutral. The street, the park, the plaza, the schoolyard are not merely the backdrop of democratic life. They are its medium. They are where citizens go to become visible to one another and to those in power, to...

We hear you! Last July, we borrowed from the musical Rent and asked the question of “how do we measure a year” in the life of a new way of grantmaking? We shared a blog post with data we used to assess our progress one year after we launched our new...

The power of public art in supporting democracy and debate The concept of 'public assembly' might conjure images of demonstrations, debates or protests, but there are many reasons for citizens to come together, and art is an important one. Public art can...

The function of libraries in creating an informed citizenry capable of participating in shared governance has been a key feature in the development of US democracy. In fact, the library is one of the most democratic institutions that many Americans...

The Foundation is pleased to announce it recently awarded 128 grants totaling $57.2 million across its grantmaking programs, supporting efforts to expand access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all...