The William Penn Foundation’s Climate Resilience Plans grant opportunity supports the development and early implementation of community-based climate resilience strategies throughout Greater Philadelphia. With a target to complete and launch at least 15 such plans by 2035, the Foundation’s Environment and Public Space program is focused on addressing the climate crisis at a hyperlocal level. Since 2024, five grants totaling $1,851,273 have been awarded to advance this goal, emphasizing the Foundation’s commitment to equitable and sustainable environmental outcomes.
This initiative acknowledges that the communities most vulnerable to climate change—often low-income neighborhoods and communities of color—bring critical insights and lived experiences to planning processes. These communities face outsized risks due to a confluence of historical disinvestment, limited green infrastructure, and exposure to industrial pollutants. The Foundation seeks proposals from organizations that can help neighborhoods plan for extreme heat, flooding, and long-term adaptation to climate-related stressors, especially in areas that have endured systemic inequity.
Scientific projections point to severe impacts in the Philadelphia region: by 2050, mean annual temperatures could rise by up to five degrees Fahrenheit, and annual precipitation could increase by 12%. The city may experience up to 17 days per year exceeding 100 degrees, while toxic flooding and rising asthma rates disproportionately threaten residents in under-resourced areas. These alarming data points underscore the urgency of locally grounded climate action.
The Foundation is looking for strong community-rooted organizations that can engage residents, facilitate planning processes, and position communities to thrive in a changing climate. Projects may include creating formal resilience plans, convening stakeholders, mapping environmental hazards, developing adaptation strategies, or initiating pilot actions aligned with those plans.
The application period opens in September 2026, with submissions due by October 2026. Proposals will be reviewed by the Foundation’s board in February 2027. No pre-application steps are required, and the process will follow the standard RFP schedule through the Foundation’s Grants Portal. Successful applications will demonstrate community leadership, feasibility, measurable planning outputs, and equity-centered design.
Questions can be directed to Alison Jones, Program Officer for Environment and Public Space, or to the Foundation’s general grantmaking contact at grants@williampennfoundation.org or (215) 988-1830.
Emphasize alignment with Foundation objectives and clarity in project rationale. Prior engagement with staff is encouraged.
