Climate Resilience Planning Grants

The William Penn Foundation is offering Climate Resilience Planning Grants to support community-driven, place-based climate resilience plans. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster a sustainable and vibrant future by addressing critical environmental challenges. By focusing on planning efforts, the foundation aims to empower communities to proactively adapt to the impacts of climate change, thereby strengthening their long-term resilience and well-being. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are residents living in census tracts designated as overburdened and underserved by the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, located within the cities of Philadelphia or Camden. The impact goal is to advance equitable climate resilience planning, ensuring that vulnerable communities are at the forefront of developing solutions that address their specific needs and vulnerabilities. The foundation seeks to support plans that will primarily serve these populations, promoting environmental justice and fostering a more equitable distribution of resources and protective measures against climate impacts. The program prioritizes projects occurring in Philadelphia or Camden, with a particular interest in plans that will serve overburdened and underserved communities. While organizations proposing projects in partnership with others will be considered on their individual merits, the most competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate robust partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise. This focus on collaboration underscores the foundation's strategic priority of fostering collective action to tackle complex environmental issues effectively. Expected outcomes include the development of comprehensive, community-driven climate resilience plans that are tailored to the unique contexts of Philadelphia and Camden. Measurable results could include the creation of actionable strategies for climate adaptation, increased community engagement in resilience planning, and the establishment of strong, collaborative networks among organizations working on climate issues. The foundation's theory of change likely posits that by investing in robust planning and fostering partnerships, communities will be better equipped to implement effective resilience strategies, ultimately leading to a more climate-resilient region and improved quality of life for its residents.