William Penn Foundation Grants $10 Million to Strengthen Nonprofits to Support Vulnerable Communities Affected by Federal Policy Shifts

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At a time of extraordinary uncertainty for our nation and the non-profit sector, the William Penn Foundation is announcing nearly $10 million in special grant funding to support 19 organizations working to defend democratic values, respond to emerging federal actions, and support non-profit organizations in crisis. Resources have been allocated to support these special grants so as not to affect our regular grantmaking programs. 

For months, federal executive orders, legislation, and policy changes have threatened the independence of state and local governments, sown confusion about the integrity of future elections, destabilized programmatic and financial planning for many non-profit organizations, and indiscriminately endangered members of our immigrant, LGBTQ, minority, and low-income communities. 

These developments are a reversal of progress made, an undoing of decades of hard-won advancements in areas like civil rights, personal liberties, equality, and environmental stewardship. For more than 80 years, this Foundation, alongside a legion of non-profit organizations, has been part of the work to champion those advancements here in the Philadelphia region. 

Our commitment to support communities and non-profit organizations throughout our region remains steadfast. The grants just awarded by our Board of Directors were developed in direct response to the needs articulated by our grantees and non-profit leadership around the region. Following our request for input in February, we heard loud and clear the need for targeted, responsive support in five categories: 

• Technical expertise to help organizations understand the implications of federal action and adjust where necessary
• Professional networks to allow non-profit leaders to share accurate information, to collaborate, and to offer mutual support
• Policy and legal action to ensure that the voices of our communities and non-profit organizations are well represented
• Organizational transition support to help organizations that may need to merge, close, or dramatically change operations in light of federal action
• Basic needs funding to help individuals survive the negative impacts of federal action

To all the members of our non-profit community, our hope is that this additional support can be a bridge to new solutions in the face of diminishing federal resources and the current uncertainty and unjust policies and actions. Please reach out to the organizations named below to see how you may be supported. 

To our fellow funders and philanthropists, we encourage you to consider how you might support these efforts collaboratively with us or others. If we can be of any help as you consider how to direct your funding, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Foundation staff.

The challenges before all of us are profound. This moment requires all of us to do what we can with resolve, decency, and courage to uphold truth, equity, and justice. We stand together with you, as always.

With gratitude, determination, and hope,
Katherine H. Christiano and Peter Haas
Chair and Vice Chair, Board of Directors
William Penn Foundation

AWARDED GRANTS 

With the above needs in mind and a desire to act quickly, our Board recently approved grants to the following organizations:

Technical Expertise
BDO Nonprofit and Grantmaker Advisory 
LaSalle Nonprofit Center 
Nonprofit Finance Fund

Professional Networks
JEVS 
PennFuture 
Elevate215 
Children First 
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 
United Way - Black Nonprofit Chief Executives of Philadelphia

Policy and Legal Support
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 
Alliance for Justice 
Democracy Forward Foundation 
Democracy Funders Network 
Environmental Protection Network 
Lawyers for Good Government 
Public Rights Project 
Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations

Organizational Transition
The Nonprofit Repositioning Fund / Seachange Capital

Basic Needs
Philadelphia Foundation for support of food access