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
Many communities in Philadelphia experience a range of public health and socio-economic challenges linked to poor sanitation, pollution, and harmful environmental conditions.
Every year billions of gallons of stormwater mixed with raw sewage end up, untreated, in local creeks, streams and rivers due to antiquated infrastructure and inadequate sanitary controls. Areas most significantly impacted by sewage contamination are often located within or adjacent to neighborhoods already burdened by low incomes and other environmental hazards.
For cities like Philadelphia and Camden, rivers and streams constitute our largest remaining undeveloped open spaces. We want to ensure and promote equitable access to these important natural and community assets for fishing, boating, swimming, and more. With increased efforts to reduce sewage pollution alongside continued improvements in monitoring, safety, and education, we are closer than we’ve ever been to recapturing and reactivating the full potential of these urban waterways for recreational access and community benefit.
Opportunity Overview
The Foundation seeks to support efforts that will reduce overflows of sewage into local waterways. Advancing this objective will expand safe and equal access to the recreational benefits of community waterways. You can help to advance this objective through infrastructure upgrades, policy reforms, regulatory advocacy, education, training, and programming.
Please note: Projects to implement or advance Green Stormwater Infrastructure are not eligible for funding under this objective. A Request for Proposals focused on Green Stormwater Infrastructure will be released on June 18, 2025.
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 criteria described below are encouraged.
WPF has $5 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. WPF values diverse approaches from various organizations and communities to address the objective, and we aim to attract and expect to fund a range of projects. There is no minimum amount of funding that projects may request. We are unlikely to accommodate individual requests over $3 million. 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.
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 Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET. Following the live webinar, a recording will be posted to this page.