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
The William Penn Foundation has a long history of making grants to support public spaces that are open to the public at no cost and that positively impact our communities.
Public spaces—including parks, urban gardens, community centers, libraries, public health facilities, and recreation areas—are among the essential elements of civic life. They serve as gathering places where people connect, learn, relax, and engage in cultural and recreational activities. Accessible and well-designed public spaces contribute to healthier, more vibrant communities by fostering social interaction, encouraging physical activity, and providing services that enhance overall well-being.
However, not all public spaces are equally inclusive or welcoming to all individuals. Many historically underserved communities face barriers to accessing high-quality public spaces due to physical, social, and economic challenges. Inaccessible infrastructure, limited accommodations for people with disabilities, lack of culturally responsive design, concerns over safety and belonging, among other obstacles, can deter certain groups from fully participating in public life.
For example, playgrounds may lack adaptive equipment for children with mobility challenges, pathways and entrances might not accommodate individuals using wheelchairs or strollers, and community centers may not reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of their neighborhoods. Additionally, public spaces can sometimes feel unwelcoming due to a lack of amenities that meet diverse needs, safety concerns, or design choices that do not consider the abilities and challenges of particular potential users, like senior citizens or neurodiverse individuals.
Ensuring that public spaces are inclusive, accessible, and welcoming requires intentionality in planning, design, and policy. By prioritizing inclusive design principles, engaging communities in the decision-making process, and addressing barriers to access, we can create public spaces that truly serve everyone. These improvements are not just about compliance with accessibility laws; they are about equity, dignity, and fostering a shared sense of belonging in the places we live, work, and play.
Incorporating inclusive design principles into public space improvement projects is essential for creating environments that are accessible and welcoming to all community members, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. Inclusive design not only ensures compliance with accessibility standards but also fosters social equity, enhances user experiences, and promotes community engagement .
So as not to exacerbate Philadelphia’s maintenance backlog, the Foundation has recently chosen to prioritize investments that will produce improvements to existing public spaces rather than funding new public spaces that would require additional upkeep. We are therefore making capital, operational, and programmatic investments that will support maintaining, repairing, renovating, and activating public spaces in an inclusive and accessible way.
Opportunity Overview
This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks projects that enhance public spaces through inclusive design, ensuring that all people—regardless of ability, age, gender, or background—can fully enjoy and benefit from these essential community assets. We invite creative, community-driven solutions that identify and remove barriers that prevent specific populations from engaging and enjoying public spaces, as well as solutions that design and develop interventions that make public spaces more inviting and welcoming to specific populations that might otherwise be dissuaded from enjoying them.
Public spaces are defined by WPF as those that are managed, free, and open to the public. Public spaces include but are not limited to urban gardens, urban farms, parks, parklets, recreation centers, libraries, public health centers, and community centers. Improvements in right-of-way areas like sidewalks that are contiguous to the public space are eligible for funding through this RFP.
Organizations that propose projects in partnership with other applicants will be considered on their individual merits. However, the Foundation recognizes that making significant progress on the objective is difficult and believes that the most competitive proposals are likely to be those that include robust partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise.
Furthermore, the Foundation recognizes that there are many different tactics or approaches that could be used to advance this objective. All proposals that meet the outlined criteria described are encouraged.
WPF has a total of $4.5 million available to support improvements that will expand the inclusivity and accessibility of public spaces. At least 70% of the funding in this RFP will support capital projects.
There is no minimum or maximum grant amount that organizations may request but we expect to attract and fund a range of projects of different types and sizes. The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective. We are especially eager to receive applications from small organizations and/or from organizations that are led by individuals who are members of groups with a history of discrimination. Projects that demonstrate a diversity of funding sources are likely to be more competitive.
Each proposal should identify the population of users and/or potential users that it intends to serve and describe the way in which the proposed work will remove a barrier to that population’s full use and enjoyment of the public space and/or make the space more welcome and inviting for that population.
Proposals should have project terms of 1 - 3 years and can include planning. The proposed project must be completed, demonstrably enhancing accessibility and inclusion, within the term of the grant.
Please see the RFP packet for further details, including examples of eligible projects.
Full Request for Proposals (RFP) and Application
Download the full RFP packet for more information about this opportunity including eligibility, review criteria, learning and insights, budget, and link to an application template.
All applications must be submitted through the Grants Portal.
Webinar
Interested organizations are invited to participate in an optional informational webinar on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET. Following the live webinar, a recording will be posted to this page.