Urban Gardens

The William Penn Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in Philadelphia, supports initiatives that foster a vibrant and equitable city with a particular focus on public spaces and environmental sustainability. Through its Environment and Public Space program, the foundation emphasizes the value of urban gardens as essential assets for community well-being, environmental health, and social connectivity. These gardens enhance neighborhood greenspace, contribute to food access, promote mental and physical health, and serve as community hubs, particularly in under-resourced neighborhoods. The Urban Gardens funding objective aims to significantly increase the protection of urban garden parcels in Philadelphia from development and legal challenges. The Foundation has committed to raising the percentage of secure garden parcels from the current 44% to 75% by 2035. This goal directly responds to priorities identified in the 2023 Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Plan, which highlighted the urgency of preserving gardens in the face of ongoing urban development pressures. Since 2008, over 140 urban gardens and farms in the city have been lost, with fewer than half of the remaining parcels under secure ownership or long-term stewardship. The Foundation is seeking applications from organizations and community groups based in Philadelphia that have innovative ideas and actionable strategies to reduce the risk of garden displacement. Proposals may encompass planning, policy advocacy, legal strategies, community organizing, or collaborative models that bolster the permanence of these spaces. Eligible projects should demonstrate a clear connection to preserving gardens in neighborhoods most vulnerable to poverty and racial inequity, aligning with data indicating that 70% of gardens are in areas with poverty rates exceeding 20%, and 67% are in neighborhoods where the majority of residents are people of color. The funder uses data from the Philadelphia Garden Data Collaborative to assess progress towards this objective. This quantitative tracking supports evidence-based evaluations of funded projects and ensures alignment with the foundation’s overall impact metrics. While the announcement outlines broad thematic priorities, it does not specify a fixed funding amount or award ceiling. The Foundation encourages prospective applicants to reach out with questions or to discuss the relevance of their ideas in the context of this funding goal. There are no publicly listed opening or closing dates for this opportunity, and no references to required pre-application materials or deadlines such as Letters of Intent. It appears the funder is maintaining an open call format, allowing applicants to propose relevant interventions on a rolling basis, though recurring emphasis is placed on progress towards the 2035 goal. Prospective applicants seeking more information or guidance should contact Jazmine da Costa, Program Officer for Environment and Public Space, at the William Penn Foundation. She can be reached at (215) 988-1830 or by email via grants@williampennfoundation.org. The Foundation’s offices are located at Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.