The William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation is a private family foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with roots firmly planted in the city and region. Established in 1947, it is one of the largest funders in the region and the country. The foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all.
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
Mission & Focus Areas
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.
The foundation supports work across five primary program areas:
- Arts and Culture
- Children and Families
- Democracy and Civic Initiatives
- Environment and Public Space
- Workforce Training and Services
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a grants portal and provides information on how to apply. Applicants can access funding opportunities and frequently asked questions through the foundation's website.
Grant Range
is approximately $25,000 to $50,000
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 organizations in the Philadelphia region and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and New Jersey account for approximately 80% of all grants made by the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $3.4 billion (as of 2024)
- Total assets have decreased from $4.4 billion in 2011 to $3.4 billion in 2024
- Annual income: $1.2 billion
- Total revenues (2024): $158,540,937
- Total expenses (2024): $154,225,097
| 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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Staff:
- Shawn McCaney, Executive Director
- MaDoe Htun, Chief Investment Officer
- Elliot Weinbaum, Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Bryan Ulishney, Director of Finance and Administration/Treasurer
- Jessica Richards, Program Director/Assistant Secretary
The foundation is governed by 22 officers and trustees and employs 43 staff members.
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 has announced several significant grant initiatives in recent periods:
William Penn Foundation Announces $7.6 Million in Grants to Support Access\Announced $7.6 million in grants to support access to six of Philadelphia's educational and cultural institutions
William Penn Foundation Announces $7.6 Million in Grants to Support Access\Granted $10 million to strengthen nonprofits supporting vulnerable communities affected by federal policy shifts
William Penn Foundation Grants $10 Million to Strengthen Nonprofits to SupportContinues to publish awarded grants announcements and maintains an annual letter to stakeholders
Awarded Grants | February 2026 | William Penn FoundationMaintains active engagement through news and perspectives, research publications, and the WPF Digest
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The William Penn Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities