The William Penn Foundation (WPF) invites proposals for its Arts Education School Partnership Programs to provide hands-on, high-quality arts education for young people aged 5 to 18 in Greater Philadelphia. The initiative aims to foster creativity, social-emotional skills, and critical thinking through programs led by skilled teaching artists in partnership with classroom educators. Programs are intended to supplement, not replace, existing arts curricula taught by certified art teachers and are to be implemented during school hours or as after-school activities at school sites.
Eligible programs must actively engage students, allowing them to take leadership roles in their learning and creative processes. WPF seeks proposals for one- to three-year projects that prioritize youth-driven experiences to enhance personal growth and development. The foundation values diverse approaches, including arts integration, enrichment activities, or afterschool arts clubs, and encourages collaboration among organizations to leverage complementary resources and expertise for greater community impact.
The total funding available is $3 million, and while there is no minimum or maximum grant amount, competitive proposals are expected to request less than $600,000 for three-year projects. Funding requests should align with the project's scope and its contribution to WPF’s objective. WPF will review proposals and conduct site visits for a limited number of organizations to gather additional information.
Interested applicants must submit proposals through the Grants Portal by January 31, 2025. A full Request for Proposals (RFP) packet, including detailed eligibility requirements, review criteria, and budget templates, is available for download on the WPF website. Applicants proposing partnerships will be evaluated individually, and all eligible proposals are encouraged to present innovative tactics aligned with the initiative’s goals.
WPF will host an optional informational webinar on December 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM ET to provide further guidance. A recording of the webinar will be available afterward on the WPF website. For more information or to begin the application process, organizations should access the Grants Portal. This opportunity represents a significant investment in expanding access to arts education and fostering creativity among young people in Greater Philadelphia.
