Supporting Outdoor Programming

The William Penn Foundation (WPF), headquartered in Philadelphia, has a longstanding commitment to environmental improvement and equitable public space access in Greater Philadelphia. Through its Environment and Public Space program, the Foundation funds initiatives that enhance both natural and built environments, reflecting its mission to create inclusive, vibrant communities. In alignment with this mission, WPF has launched a new funding opportunity aimed at supporting high-quality outdoor programming in Philadelphia and Camden. The goal is ambitious yet clear: to support 50,000 participant program days of park, trail, and water programming by 2035. This metric is defined as the product of the number of participants and the duration of programming in days. The Foundation is inviting proposals that will expand equitable access to outdoor experiences for communities that have historically faced barriers to such opportunities. Eligible programs must serve residents of Philadelphia and/or Camden and offer no-cost participation. WPF emphasizes that the most competitive proposals will not only offer access but also ensure the quality of the experiences. Programs should be thoughtfully designed, inclusive, and grounded in effective practices. Strong proposals will demonstrate meaningful community engagement, clear demand, and the potential to create lasting connections to outdoor spaces. WPF places particular importance on serving priority populations, including communities of color, immigrants, individuals living in poverty, people with disabilities, queer communities, seniors, and young children. Programs must occur outdoors and be structured to directly engage participants; initiatives that are primarily observational, competitive sports, school-day programming, or indoor activities are not eligible. While direct program implementation is the focus, modest supporting costs such as planning, research, or capital expenditures may be included if they strengthen program delivery. The Foundation also encourages collaborative approaches that combine the strengths of multiple organizations to maximize impact. Applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities or operate under a public charity fiscal sponsor. Government entities are also eligible. All funded activities must occur within the Philadelphia or Camden city limits. Budgets may span up to three years, and while there is no strict funding ceiling or floor, requests between $100,000 and $300,000—including indirect costs—are considered the most competitive. The total available funding through this opportunity is $2.5 million. Notably, WPF aims to attract diverse applicants and strongly encourages submissions from small, community-based, or BIPOC-led organizations that have historically faced philanthropic access barriers. The application process requires proposals to be submitted through WPF’s online grants portal by January 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Applicants must include estimated participation metrics and will be asked to upload a supplemental program information attachment. Following submission, a subset of applicants will be invited to participate in site visits scheduled between February 20 and March 13, 2026. These visits will offer an opportunity to showcase key staff, program sites, and community relationships. Final funding decisions will be made by the WPF Board by April 24, 2026, with approved projects beginning implementation as early as May 2026. Evaluation will be based on alignment with the stated objective, the degree of benefit to priority populations, evidence of community awareness and demand, and program design quality. Additional considerations include accessibility, sustainability, risk management, and the presence of strong community ties. Funded organizations will also participate in a Learning Community designed to promote shared insights and collaboration across grantees. Grantees will be required to submit brief annual reports summarizing progress and learning. A recorded webinar held on December 17, 2025, is available for interested applicants seeking further clarification.

Strong proposals are community-led, accessible, and serve priority groups.