The William Penn Foundation’s Mental and Behavioral Health Services grant initiative is a relatively new funding stream under its Children and Families program, aimed at addressing critical mental and behavioral health needs of young children and their caregivers in Philadelphia. Launched to address a growing crisis, this program will make at least 10 targeted investments by 2028 to enhance access to services in areas of acute shortage, with the intent of informing long-term strategic funding by the Foundation. Since 2024, the Foundation has awarded eight grants totaling $3,353,176 in this domain.
The need for this initiative is rooted in both national and local trends. Across the U.S., children and caregivers are experiencing rising rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. In Philadelphia, these issues are exacerbated by persistent poverty, racial inequity, gun violence, and the lack of mental health infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods. Contributing factors include a shortage of trained mental and behavioral health professionals, inaccessible treatment facilities, and limited culturally responsive services. Stigma and misinformation also continue to be major obstacles to treatment.
The Foundation is seeking to support projects and programs based in Philadelphia that contribute meaningfully to improving mental health service access. This may include initiatives focused on service delivery, capacity-building, outreach and education, culturally responsive care models, or infrastructure improvements. Applicants are encouraged to propose solutions that are grounded in the realities of the communities they serve and that reflect a commitment to respectful, equitable care for all families.
This opportunity will open in September 2026 and close in October 2026. Proposals will be reviewed by the Foundation’s board in February 2027. No pre-application steps are required, and applications should be submitted through the William Penn Foundation’s Grants Portal. As this is an emerging funding area, the Foundation is working closely with stakeholders to establish metrics and evaluation strategies, and learning from grantee experiences will play a central role in shaping future investments.
For questions regarding this funding opportunity, applicants can contact Kellie Brown, Senior Program Officer for Children and Families. General inquiries can also be directed to grants@williampennfoundation.org or (215) 988-1830.
Emphasize alignment with Foundation objectives and clarity in project rationale. Prior engagement with staff is encouraged.
