Arts and Culture Capital Support Grant

The William Penn Foundation's Arts and Culture Capital Support initiative aims to enhance access to high-quality arts and culture experiences across Philadelphia. This funding opportunity prioritizes projects that improve existing cultural spaces, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all community members, particularly individuals facing economic and social barriers. With a total of $6 million available, the Foundation seeks proposals that foster equity and accessibility in the arts, benefiting diverse audiences through innovative design and community engagement.

We are requesting proposals for projects up to two years in duration for capital improvement of a space that is currently owned by the applicant or improvement for a space under long-term lease by the applicant. Leases must have at least 8 years remaining. Projects may also address one-time major equipment purchases, including but not limited to technology, equipment to support artistic production and presentation, safety, and accessibility. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations.
Objective
This specific Request for Proposals (RFP) was created to help organizations to advance the following objective:
By 2035, 125 WPF-funded capital projects will enhance existing arts and culture spaces that are vital to their artistic fields and communities, making spaces safe, accessible, and welcoming to people of diverse abilities and backgrounds.
Funding
WPF has $6 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. There is no minimum or maximum amount of funding that organizations may request. The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective. However, grant requests under $750,000 and spaces owned by the organization will be most competitive.
At least $1 million of the total amount awarded under this RFP will be reserved for grants to organizations that have budgets under $2 million per year and are led by and/or serving individuals who are members of groups with a history of discrimination or exclusion.

Eligibility

Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Applicants must have received a William Penn Foundation grant within the past 10 years.Applicants must currently own their proposed physical space; or must hold a long-term lease for a minimum of the next 8 years.Eligible organizations include:Arts education organizations: community art schools, community youth arts organizations, creative youth development organizations, and arts and education collaboratives that work to make high-quality arts education accessible for youth ages 5-18.Arts and culture organizations: organizations with a mission that centers on the creation, performance, and/or presentation of artistic-cultural programs and practices that are inclusive, equitable and have social impact. Organizations with dedicated arts spaces: Organizations that have a physical space with an intended commitment to artistic-cultural programs and practices and is used solely for the creation, performance, and/or presentation of high-quality works that are open to the public.The majority of our funding will be awarded to projects in the City of Philadelphia. However, projects in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, and the City of Camden, NJ will also be considered.

Ineligibility

The Foundation will not fund a new capital project if there is an active capital project underway supported through a current William Penn Foundation grant, or if the organization has received capital funding from the Foundation in 2024 or 2025.