The William Penn Foundation (WPF), based in Philadelphia, has launched a 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) to support its long-standing commitment to improving the lives of young children in Philadelphia through its Children and Families program. This initiative seeks to expand access to essential programs and services that contribute to healthy development and academic success for children from birth to age eight. In particular, the 2025 RFP aims to connect at least 25,000 families with young children to public benefits and tax credits totaling $75 million by 2035.
The Foundation acknowledges the challenges families face in accessing benefits like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, TANF, utility assistance, and tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The RFP invites proposals from organizations with ideas for how to overcome these barriers and make tangible improvements in benefit access. WPF encourages a wide range of approaches, whether localized or citywide, and supports work that includes direct services, outreach, policy reform, and educational initiatives. Proposals should detail how the work will support young families in Philadelphia and contribute to the stated goal.
Eligibility is restricted to IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities or those operating under a public charity fiduciary, including schools and other public-serving organizations. Government entities are also eligible. Projects must occur in and serve residents of Philadelphia. Notably, current WPF grantees working under this objective may not seek additional funding for the same work. Partnerships among organizations are encouraged to leverage shared expertise, though each applicant will be assessed individually.
A total of $3 million is available under this RFP, with applicants eligible to request up to $800,000 for direct costs over a three-year period. An overhead amount may be added based on a formula available on the Foundation’s website. Funded organizations must participate in a Learning Community to exchange insights and best practices. The application process includes a written proposal and, if selected, a two-hour site visit where applicants present key staff, project settings, and voices of project beneficiaries.
Applications open on June 18, 2025, and are due by July 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. An optional informational webinar will be held on June 24 at 1:00 PM ET. Selected applicants will be notified by August 6-11, with site visits occurring from August 11 to September 5. Final decisions will be made by the WPF Board on October 24, and project implementation can begin in November. The point of contact for questions is Aly Tooher, reachable at atooher@williampennfoundation.org.
The Foundation encourages partnerships that leverage complementary strengths and resources to achieve the stated goals.
