William Penn Foundation fast-tracks $6.6 million for the arts, adds $5 million for pre-K, loosens grant restrictions

In what is expected to be only its initial response to financial pressures during the coronavirus crisis, the William Penn Foundation has approved sweeping measures to reinforce the social safety net and help arts groups that are reeling from closures, adding or fast-tracking $11.6 million.

On Friday, the board of the foundation — regarded as Philadelphia’s largest solely focused on the region — voted in an emergency meeting to award $5 million to support early childhood education and care. “It’s an area of big interest to us. We’ve put millions toward expanding capacity, and we are very concerned about the possibility of a big reversal of that capacity,” said Shawn D. McCaney, the foundation’s executive director.

In addition, the board approved a decision to get money to arts and culture groups sooner than normal. Instead of a late-April award, the board on Friday approved about $6.6 million to 17 area arts and culture groups, as small as Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and as large as the Philadelphia Orchestra.