Preserving Urban Gardens and Farms in Philadelphia

Why is the William Penn Foundation (WPF) prioritizing this objective?

Through the Environment and Public Space program, WPF seeks to protect Philadelphia's network of urban gardens and farms, which provide green space, food access, and community anchors in neighborhoods that need them most. According to research from the Philadelphia Garden Data Collaborative, fewer than half of the city's active garden parcels are currently secure from development or legal threats. The Foundation's support of efforts to preserve urban gardens and farms is rooted in feedback we received during our strategic planning process. These spaces are expressions of community pride, identity, and desire for self-determination.

Philadelphia's 2023 Urban Agriculture Plan: Growing from the Root identified preserving existing growing spaces as a central community priority. Approximately 70% of the city's active urban gardens and farms are located in communities where more than 20% of residents live below the poverty level. These spaces enable communities to define and control their own food systems. The loss of carefully cultivated urban farms and gardens to development or speculation represents a direct harm to neighborhood health and resilience.

Despite their value, Philadelphia's urban gardens and farms remain vulnerable. Many occupy land their stewards do not own, leaving them susceptible to displacement by development, tax sale, or legal challenge. Effective stewardship is labor- and resource-intensive, and gardens can fall into disuse without sustained leadership and organizational support. The threat of displacement is most acute where development pressure is highest and where the communities most dependent on these spaces have grappled with decades of disinvestment and discrimination. Advancing permanent preservation requires addressing not only individual parcel insecurity, but also the systemic legal, financial, and political barriers that make securing land difficult for under-resourced community organizations.

What types of projects will get funded?

This RFP offers two funding tracks focused on securing existing, active urban gardens and farms in Philadelphia from development or legal threats. Applicants should apply under the track that best reflects their organization's role and capacity.

• Track 1 — Project Grants: Open to a wide range of organizations pursuing any strategy that advances garden preservation, including: direct acquisition of an identified single project site where they are the active land stewards, legal support, organizing, technical assistance, capacity building, and advocacy. Grants are available for one to three years. Requests under $300,000 will be most competitive; requests up to $500,000 will be considered for organizations with demonstrated capacity and compelling scope.
• Track 2 — Land Trust Grants: A dedicated track for established land trust organizations with demonstrated capacity to acquire, hold, and steward urban garden parcels in perpetuity. Designed to support responsive acquisition of two or more project sites where the land trust is not necessarily the garden operator. The parcels do not need to be identified at the time of application. Use of the funds in the future may include time-sensitive Sheriff Sale bids and private purchases alongside the operating investment needed to hold land responsibly in perpetuity. Grants of up to $2,000,000 are available. This track has additional eligibility criteria and a higher bar for organizational capacity. See the Land Trust Grant Track section for full details.

What has to be in my proposal?

Below we discuss expectations for each of the tracks defined above. For either track, we are requesting proposals for up to three years of funding. The appropriate project term will depend on the scope and complexity of the proposed work. Regardless of the track selected, all proposals must meet the criteria described in the “Proposal Review” section. Applicants may apply under only one track.

Organizations that propose projects in partnership with other applicants will be considered on their individual merits. The Foundation recognizes that the legal, relational, and organizational complexity of garden preservation often benefits from partnerships that leverage complementary strengths; for example, a community organization partnering with a legal services provider, a land trust, or a citywide advocacy coalition.

Track 1: Project Grant Track

The Foundation recognizes that a variety of projects can advance garden preservation and welcomes a range of responses to this RFP. This track includes, but is not limited to, proposals focused on:

• direct acquisition of existing, established, and actively managed urban garden and farm parcels at a single project site;
• legal support for adverse possession claims, Land Bank transactions, title resolution, or lease and governance structuring;
• strategies to reduce the number of community gardens and farms lost at Sheriff Sale or to private speculation;
• organizing and base-building that directly supports permanent land preservation for urban gardens and farms;
• technical assistance, capacity building, and stewardship support that positions gardens for long-term security;
• and policy and advocacy with clear and direct connections to parcel preservation outcomes.

All proposals in this track that include land acquisition should identify the parcel or parcels that are the focus of the proposed work; explain why those parcels are currently insecure; and explain how, why, and when the proposed work will result in those parcels becoming secure. A complete proposal for acquisition-focused work will include, at minimum:

• an explanation of the proposed pathway to security (e.g., Land Bank disposition, adverse possession, private purchase, Sheriff Sale acquisition, organizing, or legal support) and why it is feasible;
• roles and responsibilities of key partners, including any legal, technical, or organizational partners;
• a timeline for achieving security for the identified parcel(s) within or beyond the grant period, with a clear post-grant plan where applicable;
• a full picture of the resources including budget, staff, and volunteer capacity necessary to carry out the proposed work;
• and a supplemental site form for each parcel included in the proposal. After completing the form for the site, please upload it as an attachment in the grant portal.

Track 2: Land Trust Grant Track

This track is for established organizations with demonstrated capacity to acquire, hold, and steward urban garden parcels in perpetuity. Organizations applying under this track must be already actively acquiring and holding urban garden parcels in perpetuity and have the operational infrastructure to do so. This track is designed to support responsive acquisition at two or more project sites, including time-sensitive Sheriff Sale bids and private purchases, and the general operating investment needed to hold land responsibly over the long term.

To be considered under the Land Trust Grant Track, organizations must demonstrate all of the following:

• at least five years of operation as an incorporated 501(c)3;
• at least five completed parcel acquisitions with documented title transfer;
• demonstrated ability to hold land in perpetuity, including active stewardship agreements, insurance coverage, and a governance model for long-term land management;
• demonstrated understanding of the landscape of potential acquisitions and associated complexities;
• financial stability demonstrated by at least five years of audited or reviewed financial statements, a balanced or surplus operating budget, and organizational reserves covering at least three months of operating expenses;
• staff capacity or a contracted partner with demonstrated experience in real estate transactions, title review, and Philadelphia municipal land systems (Land Bank, Sheriff Sale, Orphan's Court);
• and a written acquisition strategy describing how the organization screens and prioritizes parcels, executes time-sensitive transactions, and manages post-acquisition responsibilities including tax compliance, insurance, and stewardship.

How much money is available?

For Track 1 Project Grants requests under $300,000 will be most competitive; requests up to $500,000 will be considered for organizations with demonstrated capacity and compelling scope.

For Track 2 Land Trust Grants, requests up to $2,000,000 will be considered for organizations with demonstrated capacity and compelling scope.

The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective.  

WPF has allocated a total of $3,000,000 to advance this objective. Of that amount, approximately $1,000,000 is reserved for Track 1 (Project Grants) and approximately $2,000,000 is reserved for Track 2 (Land Trust Grants).

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, September 15, 2026 at 1:00PM ET.

Following the live webinar, a recording will be posted to this page.

Register for the Webinar