Preserving Urban Gardens and Farms in Philadelphia

The William Penn Foundation is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects lasting one to two years, with the primary goal of securing and preserving garden and farm parcels in Philadelphia. This initiative directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to support efforts that increase the preservation of urban green spaces, recognizing their vital role in community well-being and environmental sustainability. The program seeks to bolster the security and longevity of these crucial urban assets. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the established gardens and farms within Philadelphia, along with the communities that utilize and sustain them. The overarching impact goal is to increase the number of securely preserved urban garden and farm parcels, thereby safeguarding these spaces for current and future residents. The Foundation aims to support activities that demonstrate community involvement and ongoing activity within these spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and collective stewardship. The Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are centered on a multi-faceted approach to preservation. They recognize that various strategies are necessary to achieve secure garden and farm parcels. Key priorities include direct acquisition of existing, actively managed urban gardens and farms, strategies to reduce the sale of community gardens and farms on private land at sheriff sales, and initiatives to strengthen the infrastructure for tracking and monitoring the status of these parcels. Additionally, the program emphasizes improving public education and information regarding land access, sale, transfer, and lease of these spaces, as well as organizing and convenings that directly support preservation. Legal and technical support for advancing these objectives are also encouraged, alongside efforts to enhance long-term stewardship through strengthened organizational and operational capacity. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a demonstrable increase in the number of urban garden and farm parcels with secure tenure, a reduction in the loss of such spaces due to private land sales, and improved capacity within organizations and communities to manage and preserve these sites effectively. Proposals that can clearly articulate how their activities will contribute to these outcomes and provide methods for tracking progress will be highly competitive. The Foundation has $3 million available for this objective and aims to fund a diverse range of projects that collectively advance the preservation of Philadelphia's urban green infrastructure.