Direct Service

The Philadelphia Foundation is pleased to offer unrestricted grants to well-run, direct-service nonprofits that serve the high poverty and vulnerable populations in Greater Philadelphia that connect those they serve to multiple resources. These funds may be used for allmission-related activities, including contributions to capital campaigns and endowments. Grant amounts are calculated based on an organization’s operating budget.

Basic Eligibility for Unrestricted Grants

  • Received a General Operating Support grant through TPF’s discretionary program between 2007 and 2017
  • Operating budget must be at least $100K.
  • Must show evidence of sound financial condition for three years or more.
  • Cannot have deficits greater that 10% of operating budget for one year out of three years. (TPF screens for deficits using the change in unrestricted income and expense on an organization’s statement of activities or income statement.)
  • Cannot have more than two years of deficits during the prior three-year period.

Application Process

Direct Service nonprofits that meet the basic eligibility requirements are asked to complete the application for an unrestricted grant. You will then upload the completed application and supporting documents to the Unrestricted Grants to Direct Service Nonprofits.

Applications cannot be considered until the following supplemental documents have been submitted:

  • 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
  • List of Board of Directors and their affiliations
  • Three years of audits (if your organization does not have audits, we will accept your IRS 990)
  • Current PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations Certificate
  • Executive Summary of current strategic plan
  • Organizational Budget

All applications delivered successfully will receive an automatic response. If you do not receive an automatic response, please call the Philanthropic Services Department (215-563-6417) to ensure that your materials have been received.

Important Considerations

  • The executive director must have been in place for at least three months.
  • Generally, The PhiladelphiaFoundationdoes not use discretionary dollarsto support organizationswhere there are familial relationships across the board and staff. For each request, TPF will consider the type of family relationship and the controls in place to mitigate any perceived or actual conflict.
  • Grants to organizations that are national or state-wide will be pro-rated based upon their work in Greater Philadelphia.
  • TPF looks closely at all Form 990s submitted to the IRS. In order to be considered in good standing for an unrestricted grant, organizations are expected to have the following policies in place, as indicated in the Part VI, Section B of the Form 990.
  • Conflict of Interest Policies
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Independent process with comparability data for determining compensation
  • Providing copy of the 990 to board members prior to filing

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Organization: / Counties Served:
Date: / Date incorporated:
Executive Director: / Tax ID #:
Address: / City, State, ZIP:
Phone No. / Website URL:
Email address:
Fiscal Sponsor (if applicable) / Fiscal Sponsor's Tax ID #:
FS Address: / City, State, ZIP:
FS Phone No. / FS Website URL:
FS Fax No. / FS Email address:
YES / NO
Your organization MUST complete the online Eligibility Wizard in order to submit an application. Have you completed the Eligibility Wizard on The Philadelphia Foundation's website? Click in the appropriate box to the right.
Has your organization incurred any deficits in the past three years?
If YES, Please briefly explain in the box provided below.
YES / NO
Explanation:
Financial Information for Fiscal Years Beginning Ending. ( ex. July 1 to June 30)
REVENUE / EXPENSE / SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)
Current Year FY
Previous Year FY
2 Years Prior FY
3 Years Prior FY
Current year figures should be based on board-approved budget forecasts. For all applicable years, refer to the organization’s audited statement of activities, completed IRS Form 990, or financial statements.
BOARD of DIRECTORS: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your Board, where appropriate.
Female % Male % Genderqueer or non-binary %
LGBTQI+ % Differently Abled %
Former/Current Beneficiaries % Immigrants %
Caucasian %
Black or African American%
Latin@(x) or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.%
Middle Eastern %
Other: %
SENIOR MANAGEMENT: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your senior management, where appropriate.
Female % Male % Genderqueer or non-binary %
LGBTQI+ % Differently Abled %
Former/Current Beneficiaries % Immigrants %
Caucasian %
Black or African American %
Latin@(x) or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.%
Middle Eastern %
Other: %
POPULATIONS SERVED: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your client population, where appropriate.
Terminal Illness %
Incarcerated %
Returning Citizens or formerly
Incarcerated %
Adjudicated youth %
Immigrants %
History of sexual, physical
or psychological abuse%
Addiction % / Women/girls %
Men/boys %
Genderqueer or non-binary %
LGBTQI+ % Housing Insecure %
Diagnosed with a developmental
disability %
Blind/visually impaired %
Orphaned children
(have lost one or more parents) %
Infants(0-3) %
Children (3-12) %
Teenage Youth (14-18) % / Elderly %
Adults %
Caucasian %
Black or African American %
Latin@(x) or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.%
Middle Eastern %
Other: %
What is the total number of unduplicated individuals served or represented by your organization's programs and services in the past year?
LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS SERVED
What percentage of the constituency you serve or represent could be classified as low-income?
%
What is the methodology used to determine the figure quoted above?
Mission of organization:
Overview of organization's history, programs and activities:

Please provide a detailed description for each. Your response should be between 50 and 150 words for each benchmark below. (The table will expand to fit text.)

1. Describe any significant institutional changes or developments at the organization since it last receiveda grant from TPF. (E.g. change in the board/staff leadership, financial condition or mission) Include date of last grant.
2. Hasthe organization encountered any unexpected difficulties since last receiving a grant from TPF? What has changed or will change as a result?
3.Describe updates or changes made to your organization’s governing policies since last receiving a grant from TPF. If none, describe any planned changes or updates.
4. Provide an example of progress made toward the organization’s strategic planning goals over the past year.
5. What new partnerships or collaborations were created or has the organization entered into in the past year? Will these collaborations continue?
6. Provide any additional updates on events or changes impacting your mission that occurred since last receiving a grant from TPF:

Please upload a copy of this form as well as a copy of the required supplemental material to: Unrestricted Grants to Direct Service Nonprofits.

If you have any questions, please call 215-563-6417 or email .

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