The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund provides funding & administers grants to non-profit organizations & partnerships in order to connect individuals & families to important economic security programs, public benefits workforce programs that can help lift them out of poverty & help ensure equitable economic recovery in philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund at a glance
In short: The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund gave $1.8M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $461K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,844,512
- -69.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -81.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $461,128
- +61.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $514,969
- Total assets
- $3,360,565
- -52.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Phila Community Alliance ($665K). Together the top 4 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 30 grants of 72 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund gives
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2025) to $6.6M (2023). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Phila Community Alliance Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $664,574 |
| African Cultural Alliance of N America Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $529,938 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corp Phila Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $500,000 |
| Beech Community SRVCS Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,360,565 | $625,880 | $3,134,590 | $1,844,512 | 4 | $129,455 |
| 2024 | $6,997,569 | $5,442,006 | $7,429,718 | $5,988,842 | 21 | $218,021 |
| 2023 | $8,163,754 | $1,546,151 | $8,430,259 | $6,574,587 | 21 | $58,346 |
| 2022 | $14,768,275 | $10,809,403 | $4,332,413 | $3,070,000 | 22 | $131 |
| 2021 | $10,960,000 | $12,860,000 | $5,866,215 | $5,009,820 | 4 | — |
About The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund
Based on IRS filings
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.8M. Net investment income was $129K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund is led by Michael Banks, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Banks
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$200K (2023) → $222K (2025)
Dalila Wilson-Scott
Board Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harriet Weiss
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Callahan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Fields
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Jacobson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William A. Golderer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Oliver
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Mitchell Little (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Amy C. Leichner (2021–2023) — CFO - Uwgpsnj
- Former: Bart Blatstein (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tiffany Tavarez (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Sultan Ahmad (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $222K, to Michael Banks (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund
How much does The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund give each year?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund gave $1.8M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.0M across 21 grants.
What is The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's typical grant size?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's median grant in 2025 was $514,969, and its average grant was $461,128, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund give grants?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (4 grants).
Does The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $626K.
What is The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Philadelphia, PA. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's EIN?
The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2442054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Philadelphia Poverty Action Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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