Urban Trees

The William Penn Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Philadelphia that focuses on advancing a more vibrant and sustainable future for the region through strategic grantmaking. One of the Foundation’s key program areas is Environment and Public Space, which includes initiatives to promote environmental stewardship, urban resilience, and equitable access to green spaces. Within this portfolio, the Urban Trees initiative seeks to enhance tree canopy coverage across Philadelphia, particularly in underserved communities that have historically lacked green infrastructure investment. This grant opportunity is rooted in the Philly Tree Plan, a comprehensive 10-year strategy launched in 2023 to address the shrinkage of Philadelphia’s urban forest. Between 2008 and 2018, the city experienced a 6% decline in tree canopy—equivalent to approximately 1,000 football fields—due to development, lack of maintenance, and environmental stressors. Today, only 20% of the city maintains tree canopy coverage, and this is unevenly distributed. Some neighborhoods enjoy over 45% coverage, while others, often low-income areas with histories of redlining and disinvestment, fall below 5%. The plan identifies seven priority areas where targeted tree planting will yield the greatest public health and climate resilience benefits. The purpose of this grant is to increase the number of healthy, well-maintained trees in Philadelphia’s priority neighborhoods by at least 35,000 by the year 2035. The Foundation welcomes proposals from organizations and community groups that can contribute to this tree expansion goal through planting, maintenance, and/or remediation of poorly maintained or improperly sited trees. Projects should demonstrate a clear community benefit and include input or support from residents within the target neighborhoods. The Foundation is particularly interested in approaches that are collaborative and equity-centered. Grant funds can be used for a range of project activities including tree purchasing, planting, watering, long-term maintenance, and community engagement related to urban forestry. The initiative is outcomes-based, with progress measured by the number of trees planted as reported by grantees. While no specific spending cap or ceiling has been announced, projects should be feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with the long-term vision of the Philly Tree Plan. Eligible applicants must be organizations operating within the city of Philadelphia. There are no specific constraints detailed in terms of organizational type (e.g., nonprofit, government entity), though the expectation is that applicants have demonstrated capacity to carry out community-based environmental projects. Interested organizations should contact Michele Perch, Senior Program Officer for Environment and Public Space, for further guidance. She can be reached at grants@williampennfoundation.org or by phone at (215) 988-1830. There is no explicit deadline provided for this grant opportunity, and no mention of a formal application process, submission timeline, or recurring cycle. As such, prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out directly to the Foundation for clarification and to express interest. The opportunity appears to be active, and ongoing engagement is likely welcome given the multi-year nature of the Philly Tree Plan and the goal to reach 35,000 new trees by 2035.