Philadelphia Foundation

09/02/2026

Anyone can open a donor advised fund, so what makes our donors choose Philadelphia Foundation? 🏛️

For most of our fundholders, it's not about fees or tax advantages, those look similar no matter where you go. It's a civic instinct. They want to know their gift is going somewhere real and connecting to something bigger already happening across the region.

That kind of knowledge comes from being on the ground for more than a century. Our team maintains direct relationships with nonprofits across Greater Philadelphia, so when a fundholder wants to act on something they care about, they're not starting from scratch.

In 2025, that trust showed up in the numbers too. Donor-directed giving through our funds rose nearly 41% year over year, as our fundholders stepped up when their neighbors needed it most.

Read more about what makes PF donors unique: https://www.philafound.org/what-sets-philadelphia-foundation-fundholders-apart/

08/28/2026

Through our partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office's Office, 26 community-based nonprofits have received microgrants to support neighborhood beautification across Philadelphia. 🌱

These grants support organizations revitalizing underutilized public spaces and bringing environmental justice efforts to their communities, work that plays a critical role in building safer, more resilient neighborhoods. Investing in community-led solutions is what helps drive lasting change in our region.

Read more: https://phillyda.org/news/district-attorney-larry-krasner-awards-240000-in-violence-prevention-grants-to-26-local-non-profit-groups-focused-on-neighborhood-beautification-throughout-philadelphia/

08/26/2026

Summer offers donors room to think. Without year end deadlines crowding the calendar, it's a good moment to step back and consider your charitable goals before December.

❓ A few questions worth asking yourself: Have you reviewed your giving budget for the year? Have your priorities shifted in the past six months? Are you ready for a multiyear commitment to a cause you care about?

Philadelphia Foundation's advancement team works with fundholders year-round to think through exactly these questions, bringing the tools and know-how to help your giving go further.

Read more: https://www.philafound.org/midyear-check-in-five-questions-fundholders-should-consider/

08/20/2026

Philadelphia Foundation is proud to count Knight Foundation among our longtime philanthropic partners.

On September 9, join Knight Foundation in Philadelphia for The First at 250, an evening featuring Governor Josh Shapiro and Utah Governor Spencer Cox in an honest, lively conversation about the First Amendment, free expression and civil dialogue. Set against the backdrop of America's 250th birthday, the conversation will explore what unites and divides us, why the way we speak to one another matters, and how learning to disagree better can help strengthen our democracy.

The event is presented by Knight Foundation in partnership with Disagree Better and the National Constitution Center.

📅 September 9, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
🎟 Free tickets: https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/rent-our-spaces/special-events-and-performances/the-first-at-250

08/18/2026

Philadelphia Foundation, by means of our S. Albert Fund, are proud to support Kensington Soccer Club - Community Advancement Through Soccer the work they do bringing safe, accessible soccer programming to families across the neighborhood. ⚽

What started in 2010 as a small community program has grown into a year-round organization offering travel and recreational soccer, after school programs, summer camps, and community clinics for more than 1,500 families.

Their team of coaches shows up for Philly's kids every day, and this funding helps that work keep growing. We're proud to support the people building a stronger, safer city for everyone.

08/13/2026

Creating meaningful impact takes more than resources. It takes coordination, trusted relationships, and partners willing to work together toward shared goals.

In 2025, we created impact through:
➡️ Philly Gives Year Two, raising more than $1.05 million through media partnerships to connect donors with ten nonprofit partners.
➡️ Co-hosting the Nonprofit Leaders Group summer convening, where executive directors from across the region came together to share real-time information and align strategies during a period of national disruption
➡️ Partnering with Chobani and La Colombe Coffee Roasters to distribute grants to 12 Philadelphia nonprofits working to strengthen food access across the city, including Sharing Excess
➡️ Supporting $32.4 million in donor advised fund grants to organizations across Greater Philadelphia, a 41% increase over the prior year

Thank you to every partner, donor, and nonprofit leader who helped make this possible.

Read our 2025 Impact Report: https://www.philafound.org/impact-report-2025/

08/11/2026

15 Kensington artists and collectives have been awarded grants to present or perform their work in the neighborhood this summer! 🎨

Through a partnership with Philadelphia Foundation and Forman Arts Initiative, Art Works: Kensington 250 will support new and existing work appearing in Kensington, part of Philadelphia's citywide 250th anniversary celebration. Since 2021, Art Works has given artists across the city the freedom to take creative risks and bring projects to life. This cohort carries forward the unique creative spirit of a neighborhood that has shaped so much of Philadelphia's story.

Check out the full list of grantees: https://www.philafound.org/forman-arts-initiative-and-philadelphia-foundation-announce-2026-art-works-microgrants-for-kensington-250/

08/06/2026

Congratulations to BUILD Philly's first graduating cohort! 🎓

Run by Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, this workforce development program helps Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 build careers in healthcare and biomedical fields through hands-on training, mentorship, and certification prep. It's funded through a workforce development grant led by William Penn Foundation, with Philadelphia Foundation, Comcast, the Connelly Foundation, Future Standard, and M&T Bank all pitching in as partners.

We're proud to help support programs that connect quality training with the services Philadelphians need to land lasting jobs.

More on the graduation: https://now.temple.edu/news/2026-07-16/build-phillys-first-cohort-graduates

Developed and run by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, this workforce development initiative prepares Philadelphians ages 18–24 for healthcare and biomedical careers through hands-on training, mentorship and certification preparation.

08/04/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Brittney Allyn and Dr. Lucas Restrepo of University of Pennsylvania, the 2026 recipients of Philadelphia Foundation's Brody Family Medical Trust Fund fellowship! 🔬

The fellowship supports exceptional scientists tackling diseases that have resisted treatment for far too long. Dr. Allyn is developing a lipid nanoparticle-based therapy for celiac disease, and Dr. Restrepo is examining the role of astrocytic mitochondria in neurodevelopmental brain disorders.

The fellowship was established through an endowed fund created by Sara Brody in memory of her family. We're honored to help carry that vision forward.

Read more about this year's fellows: https://www.philafound.org/philadelphia-foundation-announces-2026-brody-fellows/

07/29/2026

Responding to urgent challenges requires more than funding. It requires trusted relationships and the ability to move quickly when communities need support most.

In 2025, Philadelphia Foundation showed up by:
➡️ Launching the Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Relief Fund after federal funding cuts threatened essential services across the region, including at HIAS Pennsylvania.
➡️ Creating the Regional Food Fund in partnership with William Penn Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey to address mounting food insecurity throughout Greater Philadelphia and supporting organizations like Philabundance.

We know that being a trusted partner means building relationships long before they're needed, so that when challenges arrive, trust is already established and resources can move without delay.

Read our 2025 Impact Report for more: https://www.philafound.org/impact-report-2025/