The William Penn Foundation seeks to support artistically exceptional arts and culture organizations that understand themselves as important contributors to the region’s civic infrastructure.
Donor Name: William Penn Foundation
State: Pennsylvania
County: Bucks County (PA), Chester County (PA), Delaware County (PA), Montgomery County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Foundation’s Arts and Culture program focuses on work that celebrates creativity, artistic and cultural practices, and positive community impact. The program also recognizes the interconnectedness of creative works and the expressions of a cultural community that may carry artistic or creative value. They encourage organizations to describe their mission, operations, and activities in ways that align with this focus.
This RFP seeks to support high quality arts and culture organizations that have rooted themselves in community life in ways that people depend on. Examples include the following:
- Authentic consideration of the experiences of historically marginalized communities in all aspects of the organization’s work to ensure that the benefits of cultural experiences are accessible to them
- Practices embedded through the organization to address historical barriers to participation
- Durable partnerships that leverage organizational resources — space, staff expertise, purchasing power, partnerships, and networks — to create meaningful and lasting community benefit
Disciplines
WPF funds the following disciplines: dance, design, folk and traditional arts, media arts, music, opera, multidisciplinary arts, theater, literary arts, and visual arts.
Funding Information
- WPF has a total of $4 million available to advance this objective.
- The maximum total grant amount requested cannot exceed $675,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be an arts and culture organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 public charity. WPF defines an arts and culture organization as an entity with a mission dedicated to the creation, performance, and/or presentation of programs and experiences focused on creative expression, cultural practices, and/or cultural heritage that are intended to engage, inspire, or connect audiences and communities.
- Eligible organizations may be traditional arts institutions, community-based arts and culture organizations, or organizations whose primary work involves the practice, performance, or community practice of cultural heritage traditions. Artistic or cultural practice must be the central focus of the organization’s mission.
- The majority of funding will be awarded to organizations in the City of Philadelphia. However, proposals from Bucks,Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, and the City of Camden, NJ will also be considered. Proposals from outside those geographic boundaries are ineligible.
For more information, visit William Penn Foundation.
