Reducing Illegal Dumping in Philadelphia Grant

Reducing Illegal Dumping in Philadelphia Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: William Penn Foundation
Last Updated: December 11, 2025

Summary

The William Penn Foundation aims to significantly reduce illegal dumping in Philadelphia, targeting a 50% decrease by 2035. This initiative addresses community concerns, particularly among low-income and minority residents, who emphasize the importance of this issue. The Foundation invites proposals focused on diverse strategies, including prevention and education, with a budget of $2.5 million available for funding. Successful projects will align with broader objectives of enhancing community well-being and environmental health.

Overview

Our Mission 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. Increasing Urban Trees in Philadelphia Illegal dumping is a major concern for Philadelphia residents. Sixty percent of respondents to a Lenfest Institute for Journalism/SSRS poll indicated that reducing dumping should be a top priority for the city. This concern was expressed with particular intensity by the survey’s low-income, Latino, and Black respondents. The focus on reducing dumping is not surprising, since research indicates that reduced illegal dumping is related to decreases in crime, increases in outdoor physical activity, increases in property values, and more positive feelings about residents’ neighbors and neighborhoods. WPF would like to support efforts that will reduce illegal dumping in Philadelphia. Objective This Request for Proposals (RFP) was created to help organizations to advance the following objective, which was developed in consultation with many stakeholders around the region: By 2035, reduce annual illegal dumping collections by 50% citywide. The Foundation recognizes that sustainably reducing annual illegal dumping may well require a variety of strategies that focus on different aspects of the problem. With that in mind, we are imposing few limitations on the project  designs or approaches that we will consider in response to this RFP. Proposals may focus on prevention, enforcement, or education, and may employ a variety of different tactics. Proposals may focus on one or more neighborhoods, or they may seek to make change on a citywide scale. Regardless of the approach, all applicants should provide a compelling explanation for how their proposed work will advance the objective above. Funding We are requesting proposals for projects up to three years in duration. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations. WPF has $2.5 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. The maximum amount that organizations may request is $750,000. The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary.Public charities include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply.Proposed projects must occur in Philadelphia