The William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation is a private family foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As one of the largest funders in the region and the country, the Foundation invests in ideas that expand opportunity for all in the Philadelphia region. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity incorporated in Delaware in 1945.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4B
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$148.8M
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
1,027
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$145K
+11.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William Penn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $161.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The William Penn Foundation is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all.
Five Grantmaking Programs:
- Arts and Culture — Supporting arts and cultural initiatives in the region
- Children and Families — Focusing on improving outcomes for children and families
- Democracy and Civic Initiatives — Building trust and participation in democratic processes so that more voices can be heard and interests are equitably represented; helping the region respond to resident needs
- Environment and Public Space — Supporting environmental initiatives and improvement of public spaces in the greater Philadelphia region
- Workforce Training and Services — Supporting Philadelphia residents to prepare for, secure, and retain family-sustaining employment; removing barriers to skills development and removing obstacles such as childcare, transportation, and justice system records
Grantmaking
The Foundation has shifted to a Request for Proposal (RFP) approach to grantmaking to help make its work more equitable and transparent. The Foundation is currently open for unsolicited proposals. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the "How to Apply" section on the Foundation's website to assess their fit for funding opportunities.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The William Penn Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds in Pennsylvania, with additional support in New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. The primary focus is the Philadelphia region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (Form 990-PF):
- Total Assets: $3,435,225,624
- Total Liabilities: $99,629,188
- Net Assets: $3,335,596,436
- Total Revenue: $158,540,937
- Total Expenses: $154,225,097
- Net Income: $4,315,840
Revenue Sources (2024):
- Dividends: $22,278,395
- Sales of Assets: $136,224,599
- Contributions Received: $36,750
- Other Income: $1,193
Notable Expenses (2024):
- Charitable Disbursements: $159,969,971
- Compensation of Officers: $2,814,953
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 1947. EIN: 23-1503488. Required to file IRS Form 990-PF.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,435,225,624 | $3,286,225,714 | $3,236,819,790 |
| Revenue | $158,540,937 | $108,930,400 | $79,917,908 |
| Expenses | $154,225,097 | $181,008,307 | $207,861,146 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $160,761,472 | $165,432,662 | $152,864,246 |
| Net Investment Income | $336,628,521 | $239,071,512 | $68,233,496 |
| Distributable Amount | $161,167,915 | $156,338,872 | $169,924,894 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
35 open opportunities from The William Penn Foundation
Accessing Mental Health Services for Young Children and Caregivers Grant
THE WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $999,998
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Advocacy for Child-Serving Systems RFP Grant
THE WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Arts and Culture Capital Support Grant
THE WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 4dasoil ($270,000), Alliance for Global Justice ($250,000), Artreach Inc ($237,600).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,225 |
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TRANSITION FUNDING FY24 AND FY25 | $62,500 |
| 412 JUSTICE PITTSBURGH, PA | PA SCHOOLS WORK | $60,000 |
| 4DASOIL PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT LAND PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY CLIMATE RESILIENCE. | $270,000 |
| 54 BELOW INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $350 |
| AARP FOUNDATION LONG BEACH, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100 |
| ABINGTON FRIENDS SCHOOL JENKINTOWN, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,400 |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | ADVANCE GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH THE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES STORMWATER INITIATIVE | $150,000 |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | DEVELOP A CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN FOR THE GERMANTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD | $120,800 |
| ACHIEVE NOW PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LITERACY INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Shawn McCaney — Executive Director
- MaDoe Htun — Chief Investment Officer
- Elliot Weinbaum — Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Bryan Ulishney — Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
- Rebecca Morley — Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer
The Foundation's team represents a diversity of thought and experience, with recognition that the best ideas emerge from collaborating within communities and with the engagement and support of people who live there.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLISON ACEVEDO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANDREW HAAS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BRYAN ULISHNEY | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMIN./TREAS. | 40 | $372,797 |
| CATHERINE HAAS | ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID HAAS | CORP MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DOROTHY HANRAHAN | ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ELLIOT WEINBAUM | CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER | 40 | $352,490 |
| JANET HAAS | BOARD MEMBER/ASSOCIATE CORP MEMBER | 3 | — |
| JESSICA RICHARDS | PROGRAM DIRECTOR/ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 40 | $199,824 |
| JOHN HANRAHAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE CHRISTIANO | BOARD CHAIR/CORP VICE CHAIR | 3 | — |
| LEONARD HAAS | BOARD MEMBER/CORP MEMBER | 2 | — |
| LORENA AHUMADA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MADOE HTUN | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $1,406,257 |
| MARCEL PRATT | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| PETER HAAS | BD VICE CH/CORP CH | 4 | — |
| ROBERT VICTOR | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SARAH HAAS | BD SECRETARY/ CORP MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SHAWN MCCANEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $483,585 |
| SUZANNE WELSH- LEFT 102024 | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| THOMAS HAAS | BOARD MEMBER/CORP MEMBER | 2 | — |
| NICHOLAS HAAS- STARTED 042024 | ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation regularly announces awarded grants, with recent announcements published in:
Awarded Grants | November 2025 | William Penn FoundationFebruary 2026
November 2025
August 2025
May 2025
February 2025
The Foundation has implemented a new grantmaking approach and held virtual sessions to share updated funding priorities and strategies, insights from the review process, and new grant opportunities.
Awarded Grants | November 2025 | William Penn FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The William Penn Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The William Penn Foundation is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. **Five Grantmaking Programs:** 1. **Arts and Culture** — Supporting arts and cultural initiatives in the region 2. **Children and Families** — Focusing on improving outcomes for children and families 3. **Democracy and Civic Initiatives** — Building trust and participation in democratic processes so that more voices can be…
How do I apply for a grant from The William Penn Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made total grants of $148.8 million to 1,253 grantees in 2024 • Typical grant awards range from $30 to $14,419,000 • 64% of grantees received multi-year funding • 31 live grant opportunities available **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • National Philanthropic Trust: $7,777,255 (Implement the Rebuild Initiative) • Delaware River Waterfront Corporation: $7,000,000 (Construction of Penn's Landing Park) • Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts: $5,000,000 (Capital Campaign 2…
Where does The William Penn Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds in Pennsylvania, with additional support in New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. The primary focus is the Philadelphia region.
What size grants does The William Penn Foundation award?
In 2024, The William Penn Foundation awarded 1,027 grants totaling $148.8M — an average of about $145K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William Penn Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William Penn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $161.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William Penn Foundation's EIN?
The William Penn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1503488. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William Penn Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.
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