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.
Why is the William Penn Foundation (WPF) prioritizing this objective?
Illegal dumping, or “short dumping,” is a major concern for residents of Philadelphia. In a 2023 Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) poll of more than 1,200 Philadelphians, 60% named reducing illegal dumping a top priority for the city, a share that rose to nearly 70% among Black, Latino, and low-income respondents, a pattern City officials have continued to cite as recently as 2025. That concern also shows up in how often residents report the problem: Philadelphia’s 311 system has logged more than 244,000 illegal dumping reports since 2014, and WPF tracks this call volume and the annual tonnage of illegally dumped waste removed by the Philadelphia Streets Department as measures of resident concern and progress toward this objective.
The City of Philadelphia has made considerable recent progress in responding to and cleaning up illegal dumpsites, collecting a monthly average of more than 1,000 tons of illegally dumped materials over the past year, according to City data. Unfortunately, illegal dumping remains a persistant problem for many, with dozens of dumpsites experiencing a constant cycle of repeated dumping. In these dumpsites, intensive cleanup activity offers only a temporary repreive before dumping returns, often in as little as a 24-hour period.
Widespread community interest in reducing dumping is unsurprising, with research indicating 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.
What types of projects will get funded?
WPF would like to support efforts that will reduce illegal dumping in Philadelphia by focusing on dumping prevention through education and enforcement efforts and through solutions for legal and appropriate waste disposal. Proposals may employ a variety of different tactics.
Proposals may focus on one or more neighborhoods, or they may seek to make change on a citywide scale. We welcome proposals focused on reducing dumping in locations that undermine 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.
What has to be in my proposal?
We are requesting proposals for up to three years of funding.
The Foundation recognizes that there are many different approaches to reducing illegal dumping. Potential areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
- 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.
All proposals that include the elements described above and meet the criteria described in the “Proposal Review” section are encouraged.
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.
How much money is available?
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.
WPF has $3.5 million available to advance this objective through this RFP.
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, September 16, 2026 at 1:00PM ET.
Following the live webinar, a recording will be posted to this page.