Grants Announcement

Awarded Grants | November 2025

Date Posted:

November 12, 2025

Four adults walking on the Circuit Trails in autumn

The Foundation is pleased to announce it recently awarded 101 grants totaling $45 million in its five grantmaking programs, supporting efforts to expand access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all.

Arts and Culture

Expanding access to diverse, inclusive, and high-quality arts and culture experiences.

We awarded 9 grants totaling $3.8 million to provide General Operating Support to arts and culture organizations for fiscal years 2026-2028:

BlackStar Projects Inc. ($445,950)
FringeArts ($434,250)
Koresh Dance Company ($360,000)
Mann Center for the Performing Arts ($675,000)
Montgomery Theater Inc. ($342,000)
Museum for Art in Wood ($402,000)
Scribe Video Center Inc. ($459,000)
Vox Populi Inc. ($147,000)
Woodmere Art Museum Inc. ($531,873)

We awarded 4 additional grants totaling $1.1 million to help Strengthen the Arts and Culture Sector:

American Association of Museums to support local activities and provide local scholarships for, its 2026 Annual Meeting & Museum Expo in Philadelphia. ($110,000)
Center for Emerging Visual Artists Ltd. to produce research and tools to support financial equity for marginalized visual artists. ($352,500 over 36 months)
Obvious Agency (fiscally sponsored by Performance Zone Inc.) to support convening, education, and organizing among arts workers to seed a sustainable coalition. ($365,430 over 36 months)
University of Pennsylvania – ImpactED to collect data and provide technical assistance to better track and support in-school arts programs. ($299,643 over 24 months)

Children and Families

Supporting the healthy development and academic success of young Philadelphians.

We awarded 5 grants totaling $2.97 million to expand access to Public Benefits. The grants below are expected to support 3,457 families with children 0-8 to access and maintain public benefits and tax credits.

Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance to support a hybrid public benefits access and counseling delivery model. ($568,813 over 36 months)
Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia to minimize barriers to immigrants’ access to public benefits. ($425,400 over 36 months)
Philadelphia City Fund to increase the outreach and capacity of the BenePhilly benefit connection program. ($799,447 over 36 months)
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center Inc. to increase access to public benefits for low-income public health center patients and their families. ($805,000 over 36 months)
Unemployment Information Center to provide access to benefits and advocacy to aid the unemployed. ($375,000 over 36 months)

We awarded two additional grants in the Children and Families program:

Early Childhood Education
- Home Grown (fiscally sponsored by Health Federation of Philadelphia) to support the Philadelphia Fund for Provider Hardship: Emergency funding for food costs. ($80,500 over 6 months)
Teacher Preparation
- Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (fiscally sponsored by Foundations, Inc.) to support webinars and communications activities focused on teacher pipeline work in Philadelphia. ($100,800 over 12 months)

Democracy and Civic Initiatives

Enabling more people to participate in democratic processes and finding collaborative ways for funders to accelerate improvement.

We awarded 18 grants totaling $4.2 million to Increase Voter Participation. The grants below are expected to directly engage over 800,000 potential voters across the state and reach millions of voters through media impressions and informational resources.

1Hood Media Academy to increase voter participation initiatives in Allegheny County. ($140,000 over 24 months)
A Healthier Democracy Inc. (d/b/a Vot-ER) to embed voter outreach in healthcare settings, establishing more sustained civic voting infrastructure. ($150,015 over 24 months)
Broad Street Ministry (d/b/a Broad Street Love) to provide voter participation and civic engagement. ($69,600 over 24 months)
Build Our Lives Together Inc. to build civic understanding and youth voter engagement in Philadelphia. ($245,300 over 24 months)
Committee of Seventy to lead an engagement strategy that deploys trusted content creators, WeVote partners, and educators to increase voter turnout in Philadelphia. ($499,600 over 24 months)
Drexel University to support the Undergraduate Student Government Association’s “Bridging VOTEs” work to provide community-driven voter engagement and education. ($11,500 over 18 months)
Inti Media (fiscally sponsored by CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia) to support its multimedia civic journalism project to inform Latine and BIPOC voters. ($150,000 over 24 months)
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund to work to reduce voter turnout gaps through grassroots mobilization, civic education, and community engagement. ($275,500 over 24 months)
PA Youth Vote (fiscally sponsored by Tricounty Community Network Inc.) to increase voter participation among Pennsylvania’s disadvantaged youth. ($320,358 over 24 months)
Pennsylvania Alliance Foundation to expand upon civic engagement work with community partnerships and communication. ($500,000 over 24 months)
Pittsburgh United toward civic engagement in Beaver County. ($100,600 over 12 months)
Reclaim Education Fund (fiscally sponsored by the Movement Alliance Project) to boost voter turnout, reduce voting gaps, and create civic structures. ($199,893 over 24 months)
Supermajority Education Fund to work to increase civic engagement among young women of color in Pennsylvania. ($100,000 over 24 months)
VietLead (fiscally sponsored by the Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund) to increase sustainable voter participation in Philadelphia. ($223,825 over 24 months)
VoteRiders to provide voter-ID outreach, education, and assistance in eastern Pennsylvania. ($138,000 over 24 months)
WHYY, Inc. to provide civic engagement opportunities for youth. ($286,465 over 24 months)
Woori Center (fiscally sponsored by the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium Inc.) to increase voter turnout in Pennsylvania. ($90,000 over 24 months)
General operating support to Pennsylvania Voice to advance strategic and collaborative work on voter participation, census response, and fair redistricting. ($750,000 over 24 months)

We awarded four additional grants through the Democracy and Civic Initiatives program:

Civic Initiatives
- Philadelphia Citizen to reimagine and rebrand Philadelphia Magazine and align both outlets for increased civic engagement. ($110,000)
- Philly Cooks for Philly to build a strategic framework for growth, establishing a healthier and fiscally strong local resource for school meals for Philadelphia students. ($110,000)
Regional Funder Collaboration
- University of Pennsylvania – ImpactED to identify a coordinating organization to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations in the region. ($45,910)
Voter Participation
- University of Florida Board of Trustees to conduct research to calculate the voter turnout rate in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia elections. ($44,826)

Environment and Public Space

Protecting and improving natural areas and community spaces.

We awarded 10 grants totaling $8 million to increase Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) in Philadelphia. The grants below will use a combination of tactical approaches and are expected to generate 145 new acres of green stormwater infrastructure and restore 55 existing acres.

African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc. to support a sewershed-scale GSI masterplan and feasibility report for Southwest Philadelphia. ($613,000 over 24 months)
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future to scale private property GSI in Philadelphia through community partnerships. ($850,000 over 12 months)
Frankford Community Development Corporation to implement GSI restoration of a key section of the Tacony Creek. ($1,678,614 over 36 months)
New Jersey Future, Inc. to advance a GSI maintenance and restoration plan across Camden, NJ. ($234,858 over 24 months)
Philadelphia City Fund (Philadelphia Parks and Recreation) to restore GSI assets and advance park resilience in Philadelphia. ($606,850 over 36 months)
Penn Praxis, Inc. to incorporate GSI into the Camden Industrial Park for flood resilience, stormwater management, habitat, and public recreation. ($474,575 over 18 months)
Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc. to green faith-based and historic properties using GSI. ($820,566 over 26 months)
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to advance GSI with workforce training opportunities across vacant land in Philadelphia. ($788,378 over 24 months)
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy to use GSI to manage public runoff, integrating historic preservation with environmental sustainability and education. ($650,000 over 12 months)
The Nature Conservancy – Pennsylvania to carry out GSI through the Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative with key partners. ($1,283,131 over 24 months)

We awarded 12 grants totaling $2.6 million to increase Investment in Philadelphia’s Parks. The grants below are expected to strengthen Philadelphia’s ParkScore (calculated by the Trust for Public Land) through increased investment and engagement.

Appalachian Mountain Club to provide trail skills and volunteer leadership training programs for Philadelphia park stewards. ($250,414 over 24 months)
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future to build a campaign for a dedicated revenue stream for Philadelphia parks. ($97,730 over 12 months)
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation to support an endowment campaign for Penn’s Landing Park. ($100,000 over 12 months)
Friends of the Wissahickon Inc. to connect the surrounding community to volunteer opportunities in the park by expanding the Zone Stewards initiative. ($186,319 over 24 months)
Glitter Parks Partnership (fiscally sponsored by CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia) to lead crowdfunded cleaning for Philadelphia parks. ($103,564 over 12 months)
John Bartram Association to deepen volunteer engagement at Bartram’s Garden for improved visitor experiences and park stewardship. ($300,000 over 24 months)
National Parks Conservation Association to increase federal investments in Philadelphia’s national parks. ($230,000 over 24 months)
National Wildlife Federation to increase investment in John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge through Thrive Outside Greater Philadelphia. ($210,468 over 12 months)
Philadelphia City Fund (Parks and Recreation) to increase investment in trail maintenance and watershed stewardship. ($599,505 over 24 months)
Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative to assess facility conditions and engage communities at selected public sites. ($162,250 over 6 months)
Trust for Public Land to support increased investment in Philadelphia parks through conservation finance. ($200,000 over 24 months)
WeConservePA to advocate for increased state investment in Philadelphia parks. ($222,000 over 24 months)

We awarded 15 grants totaling $12.9 million to Expand the Circuit Trails. The grants below are expected to advance at least 84 miles of trail closer to completion.

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to support the expansion of the Circuit Trails through leadership and advocacy, generating overall support across the Circuit Trails network and specific support for the funding and activation of 48.77 new miles of trails. ($950,000 over 36 months)
Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art to advance Circuit Trails in Chester and Delaware counties. ($340,939 over 36 months)
Clean Air Council to advance the Circuit Trails network in Philadelphia, Delaware County, and the broader region. ($654,112 over 36 months)
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to provide a competitive re-grant fund and technical assistance to advance the Circuit Trails network. ($5,067,500 over 60 months)
East Coast Greenway Alliance Inc. to continue working toward a path for East Coast Greenway completion in Greater Philadelphia. ($900,000 over 36 months)
Friends of Cresheim Trail toward greater capacity building over fiscal years 2026–28. ($39,160 over 24 months)
King of Prussia Business Improvement District Inc. to advance the Gulph Road Connector Trail, working with the Valley Forge Trail partnership. ($326,900 over 36 months)
Partnership For Transportation to demonstrate progress on, and advocate for completion of, the Liberty Bell Trail. ($241,511 over 36 months)
Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc. to advance 15 miles of Circuit Trails in high-priority communities with lower capacity, cultivate public and government support for coordinated trail development; and analyze funding issues that restrain trail development and maintenance in under-resourced communities. ($634,896 over 24 months)
Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc. to support staffing and leadership to enable the Circuit Trails Coalition and partners to achieve their shared goals of expanding the trail network and increasing access to trails. ($932,856 over 36 months)
Rails to Trails Conservancy to advance 38 miles of Circuit Trails, while leveraging research and advocacy to make the case for completing the full network. ($407,450 over 36 months)
Rails to Trails Conservancy to execute strategic communications to fuel a climate of urgency, impact and influence to build the Circuit Trails. ($991,166 over 36 months)
Schuylkill River Greenway Association to conduct community-based engagement and advocacy to advance 17.25 miles of the Schuylkill River Trail in Berks County. ($541,000 over 36 months)
Tri-State Transportation Campaign to build support for priority Circuit Trail projects in New Jersey, including Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. ($383,761 over 24 months)
Trust for Public Land to continue building a culture of equitable trail development and community connection to the Circuit Trails in South Jersey. ($524,900 over 36 months)

We awarded two additional grants to Improve Public Spaces:

City Parks Alliance, Inc. to support an urban park learning exchange for Philadelphia and Camden. ($110,000 over 12 months)
Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation to support programmatic growth. ($137,500 over 12 months)

Workforce Training and Services

Helping Philadelphians to access and keep better paying jobs.

In partnership with five co-funders, we awarded 19 grants totaling $8.35 million to strengthen Workforce Training. The grants below are expected to directly impact 4,130 jobseekers and engage 116 employers to improve workforce training supports and services.

Big Picture Alliance to support Media Futures, a BIPOC youth media training and apprenticeship program. ($150,000 over 24 months)
Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center to support Secure Futures: Growth sector opportunity jobs for the Chester County workforce. ($250,000 over 36 months)
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to accelerate healthcare workforce development in Philadelphia. ($201,249 over 24 months)
Construction Apprentice Preparatory Program (fiscally sponsored by the Walt McGill Foundation Inc.) to support construction and manufacturing workforce training. ($600,000 over 24 months)
Drexel University to support youth workforce development for community health workers. ($201,249 over 36 months)
Fair Chance Institute Inc. to support the Philadelphia Fair Chance Initiative to remove barriers for justice-involved individuals. ($500,000 over 36 months)
JEVS Human Services for Breaking Barriers: Advancing student pathways to quality healthcare careers. ($402,499 over 36 months)
Opportunities Industrialization Center Inc. to support the Integrated Workforce Support Hub: Breaking systemic barriers to economic mobility. ($574,999 over 24 months)
Per Scholas Inc. for tech career training and learner support. ($501,171 over 36 months)
Phase 3 Training Corporation to expand the Young Builders program for construction and electrical apprenticeship readiness training. ($504,000 over 36 months)
Philabundance to support the Philabundance Community Kitchen workforce development program. ($291,151 over 36 months)
Temple University - Lewis Katz School of Medicine to expand BUILD Philly: Biomedical Uplift and Innovation for Local Development. ($600,000 over 36 months)
Triple Bottom Brewing Company (fiscally sponsored by the Sustainable Business Education Initiative Inc.) to expand the Future of Service Apprenticeship workforce training program. ($503,188 over 36 months)
University City District to support the Skills Initiative Alumni Retention and Advancement Project. ($690,000 over 36 months)
Variety the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley to support workforce training for youth with special needs. ($180,000 over 36 months)
Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians to support immigrant skills training and career navigation program for medical assistants, welders, and foreign-trained professionals. ($599,989 over 24 months)
Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology to expand the Biomedical Technician Training Pre-apprenticeship Program. ($601,720 over 36 months)
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School to strengthen career pathways for opportunity youth. ($488,749 over 36 months)
Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout for Pathways to Permanence: Full-time Futures for Justice-Impacted Youth. ($510,000 over 36 months)