Advocacy Unrestricted Grants

Advocacy Unrestricted Grants are available on a competitive basis for nonprofits utilizing advocacy and community organizing best practices toward policy change on behalf of marginalized and low-income communities in Greater Philadelphia.

Successful applicants will demonstrate a track record of identifying community issues of concern and the specific policies reinforcing these issues, implementing activities challenging these policies and practices and a history of winning policy changes.

For nonprofits serving this population:

Greater Philadelphia (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in PA and Burlington and Camden counties in NJ). Organizations must support Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and other historically marginalized and under-invested communities.

Priority given to:

Those able to demonstrate that at least 70% of those they serve or represent are low-income and are considered marginalized.

Common requirements for all grant applicants:

501(c)(3) IRS determination letter for organization or fiscal sponsor.
List of Board of Directors and their affiliations (or Advisory Board for fiscally sponsored groups).
Most recent audit (if not available, IRS Form 990 or Profit/Loss statement)
One Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff Person.
Current PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations Certificate
Executive summary of current strategic plan or logic model.
Board-approved Nondiscrimination Policy that is in compliance with the Philadelphia Foundation’s non-discrimination policy
Organizational Budget.
Not an ineligible organization.

Special requirements:

Operating Budget above $100,000.
No deficit of more than 10% for prior three years.
No more than two years of deficits for prior three years.
Must complete child abuse clearance and criminal background checks for all staff and volunteers who work with youth.

Strongly preferred:

Written, board-approved policies regarding whistle-blowing, conflict of interest, and document retention and destruction.
Interim or permanent executive leadership in place for at least three months.
Limited familial relationships among board and staff members.

Amounts of grants:

Grant amounts range between $15,000 and $30,000. Grants to organizations that are national or state-wide will be pro-rated based upon their work in Greater Philadelphia.

Types of projects funded:

Funds may be used for all mission-related activities including education, organizing, coalition building, contributions to capital campaigns and operational costs.

Application deadline:

The Spring grant cycle is closed. The Fall grant cycle will open in late Summer

Application Program Grants Process

Step 1: Determine eligibility

Carefully read the criteria listed in the application.

Step 2: Apply

Download the application and apply.

Step 3: Follow-up

One of our program staff will reach out to you to discuss next steps.

Step 4: Report

Once the grant period is completed, a grant report will be required.