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
Illegal dumping is a major concern for Philadelphia residents. Sixty percent of respondents to a Lenfest Institute for Journalism/SSRS poll indicated that reducing dumping should be a top priority for the city. This concern was expressed with particular intensity by the survey’s low-income, Latino, and Black respondents. The focus on reducing dumping is not surprising, since research indicates that reduced illegal dumping is related to decreases in crime, increases in outdoor physical activity, increases in property values, and more positive feelings about residents’ neighbors and neighborhoods.
Opportunity Overview
WPF would like to support efforts that will reduce illegal dumping in Philadelphia by focusing on dumping prevention through education and enforcement efforts, and also on solutions for legal and appropriate waste disposal.
We are requesting proposals for projects up to three years in duration. 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 approaches to reducing illegal dumping. That includes, but is not limited to, proposals that focus on:
- Illegal dumping enforcement, including support for documentation, citation, and effective penalties.
- Waste management and maintenance solutions, including workforce development opportunities and waste storage solutions.
- Community organizing and education focused on dumping reduction.
- Solutions that facilitate or incentivize legal and appropriate waste disposal, through education, subsidy, improved infrastructure, or otherwise.
We welcome proposals focused on reducing dumping in any location that undermines the quality of life in a community. This includes public parks, outdoor community spaces and commercial corridors, and vacant land, particularly in overburdened communities with a history of public disinvestment or neglect.
Ultimately, the Foundation recognizes that practitioners are closest to the work, and we are interested in your ideas.
WPF has $2.5 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. The maximum amount that organizations may request is $750,000. 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
An informational webinar was held on September 16, 2025: