Photo by J Fusco for Historic Philadelphia Inc.

Celebrating a year of new growth in Philadelphia

Dear Friend of the Philadelphia City Fund,

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on a year of new growth.

This year, we expanded our team, moved into a new office space, continued to facilitate private partnerships under Mayor Cherelle Parker’s new administration, launched our annual Community Fund grant opportunity to support organizations that are “nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming,” and exchanged best practices with our peers working in fiscal sponsorship, philanthropy, and grantmaking.

We are so proud of the important work accomplished this year by our team, by our partners at the City of Philadelphia, and by our grantees. We look forward to the many exciting things that 2025 will bring!

Sending warm wishes for the holidays,

Jody Greenblatt, Esq.
Executive Director
The Philadelphia City Fund

ADVANCING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Throughout 2024, we continued to deliver our core services as the dedicated fiscal sponsor for the City of Philadelphia by administering private funding for innovative municipal programs that address Philadelphians’ greatest needs. We’re thrilled to share highlights from a few of the programs we have facilitated this past year.

The Philly Joy Bank launched in June 2024 and continues to accept applications from expectant families that are in the second trimester of pregnancy and live in Nicetown-Tioga, Strawberry Mansion, or Cobbs Creek. This Philadelphia Department of Public Health pilot program seeks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce racial disparities by providing pregnant Philadelphians with a guaranteed monthly no-strings-attached income.

"Healing Verse Germantown: The Streets are Talking" launched in September 2024 and “aims to spark conversation and provide a sense of collective healing in one of Philadelphia’s most historic, yet hardest-hit neighborhoods” by combining public art and poetry to combat gun violence in Germantown. This initiative is led by the City’s Creative Philadelphia office and is funded by a Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge grant.

The City’s Zero Fare transportation pilot program, which offers free, unlimited use SEPTA Key cards to low-income Philadelphians, was awarded a new William Penn Foundation grant for evaluation of the program.

Now in its second year, the Community Resilience and Environmental Justice Fund, led by the City’s Office of Sustainability, accepted applications from organizations and projects working towards long-term environmental justice in Philadelphia, and grantees are expected to be announced soon.

Earlier this year, “Legacy Reclaimed: A 7th Ward Tribute” was launched in partnership with the Philadelphia City Archives. The interactive program included guided walking tours, a series of talks, and exhibitions that celebrate the rich history of the Seventh Ward, one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

AWARDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Courtesy of 2023 Community Fund grantee Fairmount Soccer Association.

Each year, we award grants through our Community Fund to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the quality of life for all Philadelphians.

2024 AND BEYOND

As part of our 2024 grant cycle, we accepted applications from organizations focusing on “Nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming.” All applicants will be informed of their application status in late December, with grantees being announced publicly this January.

We’re looking forward to sharing updates on our 2025 grants process and theme when they become available.

2023

Last year, we awarded a total of $250,000 to 13 organizations that addressed our theme of Healthy Equity for All by demonstrating efforts to eliminate health disparities, promote the health of Philadelphia’s communities, and safeguard residents from threats that cause disease, injury, and poor health outcomes. With their grant term now complete, we’re thrilled to share the following highlights, which show the direct impact of their work.

The Community Fund is made possible through our partnership with the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, which allocates a portion of its annual revenues toward this grant opportunity.

Philadelphia City Fund staff (left to right): Deputy Director Emily Gowen, Partnership Manager Tierra Holmes, Executive Director Jody Greenblatt, Finance Director Trudi Wright, Partnership Manager Meghan Gallagher, and Director of Strategic Initiatives Rachel Mancini

The Philadelphia City Fund wishes you
a happy holiday season!