Connecting Families with Public Benefits and Tax Credits
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
Due to rising costs of living and other barriers to economic mobility, many Philadelphia families face financial challenges. A study conducted by the Urban Institute in 2024, entitled "Accessing Public Benefits in Philadelphia," suggests that families need simple, convenient ways to apply for benefits and individualized support to eliminate barriers to access benefits. New barriers to access resulting from federal policy change create challenges for the intended users of these public benefits and for the public enrollment systems created to facilitate access. For example, new federal work requirements and semi-annual renewals could result in over 300,000 Pennsylvanians losing Medicaid.
Public support for families’ basic needs improves children’s health and educational success over the long-term. Removing systemic barriers to accessing these programs benefits families and their children and strengthens the community, fostering equity, economic empowerment, and resilience.
Opportunity Overview
The Foundation seeks to support efforts that increase access to public benefits for families with young children, ages 0-8, in Philadelphia. Funding through this RFP will be limited to projects that benefit multiple organizations or create system-level improvements to access. Projects focused on individual organizations providing direct services to enroll families in public benefits programs will not be eligible for funding through this RFP.
Funding will be focused on efforts that improve or strengthen the systems that help families access and maintain public benefits and/or tax credits. For example, proposals may focus on supporting local and/or state systems improvement, simplifying or streamlining processes, informing policy change, or other efforts that make it easier for families with young children to secure their benefits.
We are requesting proposals for up to three years of funding. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations.
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 encourages organizations to include partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise to reach proposed goals.
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 described below are encouraged.
WPF has $3 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. There is no minimum or maximum amount of funding that organizations may request. However, grant requests under $1 million will be most competitive. The grant amount requested should be commensurate with 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 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 Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET. Following the live webinar, a recording will be posted to this page.