Reduce Environmental Burdens

The William Penn Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in Philadelphia, has outlined a new objective under its Environment and Public Space program to significantly reduce environmental burdens experienced by communities in Greater Philadelphia by the year 2035. The initiative stems from ongoing efforts to address the compounding impacts of environmental injustice, particularly in neighborhoods historically affected by systemic disinvestment and racial discrimination. Through a community-informed planning process, the Foundation has emphasized its commitment to measuring and mitigating cumulative environmental harms that include degraded air quality, water contamination, and compromised land conditions. The Foundation recognizes that many communities in the Philadelphia region are disproportionately exposed to harmful environmental conditions, which are compounded by both natural and built environmental factors. These overlapping burdens have been mapped and studied, reinforcing the Foundation’s approach to adopt a comprehensive, data-informed strategy. As a response, the Foundation is working toward the development and deployment of an Environmental Burden Index, a tool designed to assess and track environmental stressors at a community level. This index aims to shift the evaluative lens from isolated environmental factors to a cumulative, neighborhood-based view of environmental quality and harm. The core objective of this grant initiative is to create actionable frameworks and interventions that lead to a measurable reduction in environmental burdens across Greater Philadelphia. The Environmental Burden Index, once finalized, will serve as both a guide and a benchmark for funded interventions. The Foundation will support community-focused efforts and projects that contribute to reducing environmental stressors identified through the Index, thereby enhancing the health, resilience, and overall quality of life of residents in the most affected neighborhoods. Funding from the William Penn Foundation under this program may be directed toward projects that aim to address multiple environmental issues simultaneously, rather than isolated improvements. Acceptable uses of funds will likely include research and data gathering for Index development, implementation of green infrastructure, pollution reduction efforts, and community-led environmental remediation projects. The Foundation’s decisions and priorities for funding will align with the development and findings of the Environmental Burden Index, anticipated to be finalized by Fall 2025. As of now, no specific application deadlines, funding ceilings, or submission portals have been disclosed. The initiative is in an exploratory and early engagement phase, and stakeholders interested in participating or learning more are encouraged to remain informed via the Foundation’s updates. Those with questions may contact Stuart Clarke, Program Director for Environment and Public Space, at the William Penn Foundation. His contact information includes a direct line at (215) 988-1830 and an email address at grants@williampennfoundation.org. The William Penn Foundation is located at Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The Foundation encourages community stakeholders, researchers, and environmental organizations with an interest in equitable environmental outcomes to remain engaged with the development process and forthcoming grant opportunities related to the Environmental Burden Index.