“Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures,” Providing Multi-Year Grants to BIPOC Arts Organizations is now accepting Applications

This new regional fund is a collaboration of The Barra Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, William Penn Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation, and is part of Ford Foundation’s “America’s Cultural Treasures” initiative

PHILADELPHIA (December 1, 2021) – The William Penn Foundation in collaboration with The Barra Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, and Wyncote Foundation announced today they will begin accepting applications for “Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures,” the regional component of the Ford Foundation’s “America’s Cultural Treasures” initiative. “Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures” will support the recovery of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) cultural groups, artists, and organizations with exceptional significance to Greater Philadelphia by providing substantial, multi-year support for these entities to weather the impacts of the pandemic and emerge stronger at its conclusion. In total, $10 million in grants will be awarded through the initiative as part of local philanthropy’s commitment to supporting a racially, economically, and socially just COVID-19 recovery. Details including, criteria, FAQs, and the link to the application can be found at WilliamPennFoundation.org/Philadelphias-Cultural-Treasures.

“Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures” includes a total of three funding opportunities: multi-year general operating grants to organizations that are recognized as “Philadelphia Cultural Treasures,” fellowship grants to BIPOC artists, and project grants to emergent organizations or collectives critically valued in their communities. For all three opportunities, applications will be reviewed and selected by external panels of local leaders and community partners with a range of knowledge and work reflecting diverse neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia, the field of arts and culture, and civic participation. In this first phase, Letters of Interest for the general operating support awards will now be accepted. Philadelphia-based arts and culture organizations that meet the program’s eligibility criteria are invited to submit a Letter of Interest for multi-year general operating support now through January 14, 2022. The next two opportunities for funding will be announced in early 2022. Please visit WilliamPennFoundation.org/Philadelphias-Cultural-Treasures for details about the initiative and the current application process.

“COVID-19 hit the cultural sector hard over the last two years, and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted, making the need to support the organizations led by and serving people of color essential to the health of our city,” said Judilee Reed, Program Director for Creative Communities at the William Penn Foundation. “Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures acknowledges that cultural groups, artists, and organizations of color have long struggled with fewer financial resources than their white counterparts and will begin to address the challenges threatening the city’s cultural diversity by supporting the recovery of these organizations.”

“America’s Cultural Treasures” is an initiative acknowledging and honoring the diversity of artistic expression and excellence in America. It has generated more than $276 million in critical funding to more than 100 organizations led by and/or serving communities of color that have made a significant impact on America’s cultural landscape, despite historically limited resources.

“We are thrilled to partner with the William Penn Foundation and its collaborators to support arts organizations in Philadelphia,” said Margaret Morton, Director of Creativity and Free Expression for the Ford Foundation. “A thriving and equitable arts sector is critical for the city’s civic and cultural health, and we look forward to honoring and celebrating the diversity of cultural expression in Philadelphia.”

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About The Barra Foundation
The Barra Foundation invests in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. With four primary areas of interest -- Arts & Culture, Education, Health and Human Services – The Barra Foundation funds organizations in these areas through either core support or risk capital to test and advance new ideas and approaches.

About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 85 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

About The Neubauer Family Foundation
The Neubauer Family Foundation invests in people and ideas with great potential for transformative impact. Philanthropic initiatives include strategic investments in Philadelphia’s school system, innovative leadership of arts and cultural organizations, violence prevention, and advancing new frontiers in science toward a stronger, more democratic Israel.

About The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is a multidisciplinary grant maker and hub for knowledge-sharing, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and dedicated to fostering a vibrant and diverse cultural community in Greater Philadelphia. The Center invests in ambitious, imaginative, and catalytic work that showcases the region’s cultural vitality and enhances public life, and it engages in an exchange of ideas concerning artistic and interpretive practice with a broad network of cultural practitioners and leaders.

About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, foster creativity that enhances civic life, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. In 2021, the Foundation will grant more than $117 million to support vital efforts in the region. www.williampennfoundation.org

About the Wyncote Foundation
The Wyncote Foundation was founded in 2009 and supports efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community, and the natural environment. In particular, Wyncote Foundation makes grants in the areas of arts & culture; education; the environment; health & human services; and preservation. Particular areas of interest include Historic Organ Preservation; the Northwest region; Performance Arts; and Public Media & Journalism.