Reducing Barriers to Training for Quality Jobs in the Philadelphia Region

The William Penn Foundation has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled "Reducing Barriers to Training for Quality Jobs in the Philadelphia Region," with applications due by July 25, 2025. The Foundation, headquartered in Philadelphia, has a longstanding mission to improve the quality of life for city residents, with a special focus on addressing systemic poverty and economic inequities, especially the disparities between White and communities of color. This RFP falls under its workforce development initiative, which aims to help residents access and retain quality jobs. The overarching objective of this funding opportunity is that, by 2035, 10,000 individuals with significant barriers to employment will complete training and transition to employment, with at least 85% remaining employed after twelve months. This RFP welcomes proposals from organizations that reduce barriers to existing workforce training and support services. These efforts may include direct services, systems or policy change, or other models that contribute to tangible improvements in employment outcomes for disadvantaged individuals in the Philadelphia region. The Foundation encourages flexibility in program design, supporting projects at local or regional levels. Eligible programs can focus on underserved populations such as youth aged 16–24 not in school or employed, individuals with justice system involvement, immigrants, and others facing entrenched barriers. Programs must also demonstrate a track record in workforce development. New workforce training organizations are not eligible. WPF and its five co-funding partners—including Comcast, Connelly Foundation, FS Investments, M&T Bank, and the Philadelphia Foundation—will award a total of $8.35 million. Of this amount, $5 million is reserved for organizations serving the City of Philadelphia, while $3.35 million is available for organizations operating in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery counties. Projects may span up to three years and should be budgeted comprehensively, including planning and partner costs. While no maximum or minimum funding amount is specified, grants should reflect the scale of proposed outcomes. Direct service proposals should quantify the number of individuals who will complete training, transition into, and remain in quality employment. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities working within the five-county southeastern Pennsylvania region. Projects currently funded by WPF for the same objective are not eligible. Applicants will be evaluated on various criteria, including alignment with the stated objective, program design, organizational experience, partnerships, community engagement, employer collaborations, and accessibility. The proposal must show clear efforts to include people with lived experience and must highlight partnerships with employers that offer pipelines to family-sustaining jobs. Applicants are required to submit their proposals through the Foundation’s online system by 5:00 PM ET on July 25, 2025. A timeline for the application process includes a webinar on June 26, 2025, followed by applicant notifications between August 6 and 11, site visits from August 11 to September 5, and final funding decisions in October 2025. Project implementation is expected to begin in November 2025. Questions about the RFP can be directed to Stephanie Waller at swaller@williampennfoundation.org.

Applicants are encouraged to include partnerships with employers and social service providers to enhance their proposals.