Out-of-School Learning Opportunities

The William Penn Foundation is accepting proposals for its Increasing Access to Out-of-School Learning Opportunities initiative, a competitive grant program designed to expand the reach of high-quality out-of-school time (OST) learning for young children in Philadelphia. As part of its broader Children and Families program, the Foundation aims to support the healthy development and academic success of children aged 0 to 8. This particular RFP is focused on children aged 3 to 8 and is intended to advance the Foundation’s goal of enabling 550 additional children each year to access OST opportunities in underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods through 2035. The Foundation defines OST as supervised programs that children regularly attend outside of regular school hours—during the school year, summer, or school breaks. Eligible program models include academic enrichment, tutoring, creative arts, STEM, sports, and multi-purpose activities such as homework help. All programming must be provided at no cost to families and must operate both during the school year (a minimum of 12 hours per week, five days per week) and summer (a minimum of six hours per day, five days per week, for at least six weeks). Funding is restricted to projects located within eight specific zip codes in Philadelphia: 19120, 19124, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19139, 19141, and 19144. To be eligible, organizations must be recognized 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities and have at least three years of experience providing OST programming. Projects must demonstrate readiness to expand, including a solid plan for additional youth enrollment and documented success in youth recruitment and retention. Organizations may apply for funding for up to three program sites under a single application and must submit a separate site information form for each location. Budgets may include up to four months of planning time and must be comprehensive, covering staffing, materials, professional development, community engagement, enrichment, and meals. However, capital costs such as building acquisition or renovation are ineligible. This grant program has a total allocation of $6 million. There is no fixed minimum or maximum request amount; rather, requests should reflect the scope and impact of the proposed work. WPF notes that total funding provided should not exceed 25% of an applicant’s operating budget. Selected applicants will participate in a site visit between November 10 and December 10, 2025, and funding decisions will be finalized by the Foundation’s Board on February 6, 2026. Funded projects may begin implementation on February 9, 2026. Proposals are due by 5:00 PM ET on October 23, 2025, and must be submitted through the Foundation’s Grants Portal. An optional informational webinar will be held on September 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET. Organizations with questions about this funding opportunity are encouraged to contact Amanda Charles at acharles@williampennfoundation.org. All applicants should demonstrate strong alignment with the program’s objectives, a compelling implementation plan, meaningful community engagement, and clear outcomes for participating youth.

Programs that operate year-round, are located in eligible zip codes, offer no-cost services, and serve more children with demonstrable outcomes will be most competitive. Priority given to organizations that submit site access documentation and show strong staffing plans.