The William Penn Foundation (WPF) aims to support efforts that will contribute to increasing the proportion of Philadelphia’s urban garden and farm parcels that are secure from development or legal threats.
Donor Name: William Penn Foundation
State: Pennsylvania
City: Philadelphia
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/23/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Foundation invite proposals for support of a range of activities that can result in more secure garden and farm parcels, including planning, technical assistance, stewardship, organizing, advocacy, and direct acquisition. The Foundation recognizes that levels of activity and stewardship vary across spaces in Philadelphia that are currently being used as gardens and farms. These spaces also have varied histories and connections to the surrounding community and its current residents.
As noted, they also recognize that there are a variety of different approaches to preserving Philadelphia’s urban gardens and farms and foundation therefore welcome a variety of responses to this RFP. This includes, but is not limited to, proposals that focus on:
- direct acquisition of existing, established, and actively managed urban garden and farm parcels
- strategies to reduce the number of community gardens and farms on private land sold at sheriff sales
- strategies to improve how the public is educated and informed about land access and the sale, transfer, and lease of gardens and farms
- organizing and convenings with clear goals that directly support preservation of urban farms and gardens
- legal and technical support that can help advance this objective
Foundation will also consider work focused on improving long-term stewardship of insecure parcels through strengthened organizational and operational capacity. They will not fund proposals to start up new gardens. All funding will focus on existing and active gardens and farms.
Funding Information
WPF has $1.5 million available to advance this objective at this time.
Grant Period
Foundation are requesting proposals for projects up to two years in duration that will result in securing garden and farm parcels in Philadelphia.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a fiscal sponsor – 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.
- Gardens managed by an individual or a single household where production is generally for personal use are not eligible.
- Proposed projects must occur in Philadelphia.
For more information, visit William Penn Foundation.
