Philadelphia City Community Fund Grant

The Philadelphia City Community Fund offers annual grants to support local organizations aiming to enhance community well-being. With an average annual funding of $250,000, it prioritizes small nonprofits providing out-of-school time (OST) programming for youth. Eligible applicants must demonstrate 501(c)(3) status and address specific community needs, particularly in designated priority ZIP codes. This initiative aligns with the city's commitment to improving quality of life through equitable access to essential services and resources for children and families.

The Community Fund is an annual grant opportunity hosted by the Philadelphia City Fund in which community organizations are invited to submit proposals for charitable projects that address Philadelphia’s greatest areas of need and align with the City of Philadelphia’s goals to improve the quality of life for all residents.
The Community Fund is made possible through the Philadelphia City Fund’s partnership with the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, which allocates a portion of its annual revenues toward this grant opportunity. The average funding allocated each year is $250,000.

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements and Criteria In order to be considered for funding, applications must be submitted according to the deadlines, eligibility, and format as set forth in these guidelines and on the online submission form.Applicants must demonstrate their charitable organization’s 501(c)(3) status. If the applicant organization will be sponsored by a charitable fiscal sponsor, the applicant must demonstrate its sponsor’s charitable 501(c)(3) status. The Fund seeks to support small nonprofit organizations. Only organizations with annual operating budgets which do not exceed $5 million are eligible.Only organizations that provide out-of-school time (“OST”) programming to youth in Philadelphia will be considered eligible. Funding may be used as the grantee sees fit, which can include general operating support, programmatic activities, or other expenses that support the organization’s mission. Applicants will be expected to address the grant cycle theme “Nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming” in their application, either by connecting the theme with their organization’s mission and/or programming or, if you intend to use this funding to support specific programming, by explaining how the proposed activities meet the theme.Grant funds may be used to supplement (but not replace or redirect) any federal, state, and/or local funding currently provided.Grant funds will be awarded on a one-time basis, with no obligation for future funding from the Philadelphia City Fund.If awarded funding through this opportunity, grantees will be expected to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania childcare regulations throughout the grant term. In accordance with the Child Protective Services Laws, 24 P.S. § 1-111, as amended, and 23 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 6354-6358, it is required that all employees, officers, agents, servants, volunteers, or subcontractors of the grantee who will have direct contact with children must have: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance (Act 34) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance Mandated reporter trainings For those sites operating in PA DHS Certified childcare sites, the National Sex Offender Registry verification is also required. Grantees must be able to provide the Philadelphia City Fund with proof of staff clearances upon request.If awarded funding through this opportunity, grantees will be expected to carry and maintain all insurance coverage reasonably necessary and appropriate under State and Federal laws during the grant term. Upon request, grantees must be able to provide the Philadelphia City Fund with a certificate of insurance evidencing its coverage.

Ineligibility

The Community Fund will not support the following:Lobbying or political activity Proposals that do not satisfy the Eligibility Criteria or Timeline described in these guidelines Requests from applicants that previously received a grant from PCF (formerly “The Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia”) and did not submit a final report or did not fulfill grantee requirements