Increasing Investment in Philadelphia Parks

The William Penn Foundation (WPF), through its Environment and Public Space program, is seeking proposals for projects that aim to increase investment in Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. The Foundation has a well-established history of funding environmental improvement efforts in the Greater Philadelphia area. This specific Request for Proposals (RFP) is tied to WPF’s objective to raise the three-year average annual per capita park spending in Philadelphia, from $86 to $95, using the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore metric. Although this dollar goal may be subject to change, the underlying intent remains to foster greater public and private investment in the city's parks, recreation centers, and playgrounds. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for one- to two-year projects that align with the objective of enhancing park investment. There are no strict limits on the approach organizations may take; accepted strategies may include advocacy, policy or systems change, fundraising, volunteerism, communications, outreach, and education. Projects may target individual park sites or span across the entire city park system. Strong preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate potential for sustainable results and draw new stakeholders or utilize innovative funding approaches, especially in historically underserved communities. Proposals will be evaluated based on several criteria: alignment with the stated objective, identification of beneficiaries including prioritized communities, evidence of meaningful community engagement, strength of partnerships and collaborations, organizational capacity, and clarity and feasibility of project design. Applicants should score at least “Developing” or “Strong” in these categories to be considered competitive. Funding requests may be for any amount that is justified by the scale and impact of the proposed project, with a total of $2.5 million available for this RFP. While there is no award ceiling or floor, grant funding from WPF should not exceed 25% of an applicant’s total operating budget. Capital expenses are not eligible for funding; however, planning, materials, communications, outreach, and staffing costs are. Grantees will be required to submit an annual progress report and participate in a Learning Community to promote collaboration and shared learning among funded organizations. To be eligible, applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities. Proposals should aim to increase investment in municipally owned parks in Philadelphia. The application process begins with submission through WPF’s online portal, and select applicants will be invited to participate in a site visit. The application period opens June 18, 2025, and closes at 5:00 PM ET on July 25, 2025. An optional informational webinar will be held on June 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET. Selected applicants will be notified between August 6–11, 2025, with site visits occurring from August 11 to September 5, 2025. The final funding decisions will be made by WPF’s Board on October 24, 2025, with project implementation beginning in November 2025. For questions, contact Jazmine da Costa at jdacosta@williampennfoundation.org.

The RFP emphasizes the importance of a compelling explanation of how proposed projects will advance the stated objective. The Foundation encourages partnerships that leverage complementary strengths and resources to achieve project goals. The RFP process is designed to be transparent and responsive to past feedback regarding the grant application process, including the need for clearer timelines and criteria, and the opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their work through site visits. The RFP emphasizes the importance of sustainable and innovative funding strategies, particularly in historically underserved areas, and encourages projects that draw in new public and private constituents.