PCF: Community Impact Grant

The PCF Community Impact Grant, administered by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, offers $10,000 grants to small arts and culture organizations with annual budgets of $500,000 or less. Funded by the William Penn Foundation, the initiative aims to strengthen community roots, expand access to arts, and foster equity. Recipients will also benefit from capacity-building workshops to enhance their operational sustainability. This grant supports organizations that create meaningful cultural experiences and reflect Philadelphia's diverse voices.

By providing general operating support to Philadelphia-based arts and culture organizations, we advocate for the value of the arts and their importance to the growth and future of our community.
The William Penn Foundation (WPF) has awarded $8 million to the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) to serve as an intermediary for a four-year initiative supporting small arts and culture organizations. This initiative will provide unrestricted general operating support grants (Community Impact Grant) and capacity-strengthening services to grantees.
PCF will administer the 2026 Community Impact Grant to award additional funds ($10,000) to a subset of its 2026 Art & Culture grantees. Qualified applicants must have an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less and meet additional criteria that will be reviewed through a panel process. PCF’s established grantmaking process ensures that these funds reach organizations whose work strengthens communities, expands access to arts and culture, and fosters equity across the city.
The purpose of this grant is to sustain the missions of small organizations that make important contributions to their communities. These organizations are rooted in and engaged with their communities creating meaningful cultural experiences, nurturing local artists, and reflecting Philadelphia’s diverse voices. Through its role as intermediary, PCF combines its deep community-rooted knowledge with WPF’s investment to strengthen the capacity and impact of small art and culture organizations that are vital to the city’s ecosystem.
Capacity Building Program
In addition to financial support, recipients of the 2026 Community Impact Grant will receive access to capacity-building workshops; covering topics such as organizational development, financial planning, and marketing, as well as a capacity-building stipend to invest in an initiative of their choice, helping to strengthen their long-term impact and sustainability.

Eligibility

Current PCF ApplicantThe organization must be a current applicant to the Philadelphia Cultural Fund’s 2026 Art & Culture Grant.
Eligible applicants must initially be approved through the 2026 Art & Culture Grant application to be considered for the 2026 Community Impact Grant.Budget SizeBased on the organization’s current SMU DataArts Funder Report, eligible applicants must have an average budget of $500,000 or less. The reported budget should align with what was submitted in the 2026 Art & Culture Grant application.
William Penn Foundation Funding Restrictions:Applicants must have a mission dedicated to the creation, performance, and/or presentation of publicly accessible arts and culture experiences that carry artistic or creative value intended to engage, inspire, or connect to audiences and communities.

Ineligibility

Organizations that have not applied and do not plan to apply for the 2026 Art & Culture Grant are not eligible.