If an application has already been started in response to this RFP, please visit the Proposals in Progress section in the Grants Portal to view and/or continue the application process.
Background
Studies have demonstrated that arts education allows young people of all ages to connect to their own creativity, stretch their imaginations, and express their personalities. It also develops social-emotional and critical thinking skills and helps youth build empathy and connections to others and the world around them. Thoughtfully designed and delivered arts education can act as a safe space, allowing young people to share personal stories, process conflict and trauma, and develop interpersonal and cultural awareness. Additionally, in-school arts education partnership programs can support students in their overall school experiences, having been shown to deepen students’ engagement with school and decrease disciplinary infractions.
Opportunity Overview
The William Penn Foundation (WPF) would like to support efforts that provide young people with hands-on arts education led by skilled teaching artists, through in-school partnership programs that are free. Programs must exclusively serve children of any ages from 5 through 18. In particular, we are most interested in prioritizing support for projects that make it possible for youth to engage as leaders and drivers of their own learning experiences.
We are requesting proposals for one- to three-year projects to connect young people in Greater Philadelphia with in-school arts education partnership programs driven by the young people’s own creativity and interests to support their personal development and growth. These programs are to supplement and not replace the important arts learning being implemented by certified art teachers in Philadelphia area schools. These programs will be implemented by teaching artists in partnership with classroom teachers and specialists. This can include models ranging from arts integration and enrichment to afterschool arts clubs, to expand and broaden arts education for the region’s young people. Conducted in schools, these programs will primarily connect to youth during the school day or afterschool hours at their schools. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations.
Applicants that propose projects in partnership with other applicants will be considered on their individual merits. The Foundation recognizes that making significant progress on the objective is difficult and values partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise for the mutual benefit of the applicants and their communities.
Furthermore, the Foundation recognizes that there are many different tactics or approaches that could be used to advance the objective stated above. All proposals that meet the review criteria and additional considerations described below are encouraged.
WPF has a total of $3 million available to advance this objective at this time. WPF values diverse approaches from various organizations and communities to address the objective. We aim to attract and fund a range of projects. There is no minimum or maximum amount of funding that projects may request but the most competitive proposals will likely be those with total grant requests under $600,000 (for 3 years). The grant amount requested should be proportionate with the scope of the project and the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective.
Full Request for Proposals (RFP) and Application
Download the full RFP packet for more information about this opportunity including eligibility, review criteria, learning and evaluation, budget, and link to an application template.
All applications must be submitted through the Grants Portal.
Webinar
An informational webinar took place on December 13, 2024, with the recording available below: