2011 GRANTS FROM FUNDS AT THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION In 2011, The Philadelphia Foundation awarded 1,185 grants and scholarships, totaling more than $16.5 million, to 1,061 nonprofit organizations and academic institutions. Six types of grants are awarded from various types of funds, with the Foundation exercising varying degrees of discretionary powers in determining grant recipients.
DISCRETIONARY GRANTS AWARDED BY THE FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF MANAGERS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FOUNDATION’S PROFESSIONAL STAFF COMMUNITY IMPACT (unrestricted) funds meet the greatest needs of the community. The Foundation has unlimited discretion to award grants from these funds to address critical issues. FIELD OF INTEREST funds are those in which donors have determined a general area of interest, such as geographic community or field of endeavor, which they wish to support. The Foundation has wide discretion to award grants within the specified field of interest.
AWARDED AFTER STAFF DUE DILIGENCE COMPLETED DESIGNATED funds name specific organizations as recipients. Should an organization go out of existence, the Foundation has power to redirect these grants to other organizations closely matching the donor’s original intent. ORGANIZATIONAL ENDOWMENT funds are distributions to more than 80 nonprofits that have chosen the Foundation to administer their endowments. DONOR-ADVISED funds have advisors who recommend specific organizations. The Foundation performs due diligence on their recommendations and has the ultimate authority to accept or reject these recommendations. SCHOLARSHIPS are awarded to academic institutions to assist deserving students meeting the criteria established by the funds’ founders.
The Philadelphia Foundation embraces a focused grantmaking strategy that underscores our commitment to contributing to the betterment of the nonprofit community as a whole in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In this year’s report, grants have been listed by the area of interest served as a means of sharing their impact in eight general categories: arts, culture and the humanities; education; environment; health; human services; public and community development; scholarships and miscellaneous. The Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking uses two grant programs to support the development of well-run, well-staffed, well-governed organizations that take the time to evaluate their work and plan for the future. • Organizational Effectiveness Grants are designated to strengthen and improve the business and operational practices of nonprofit organizations in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. • General Operating Support Grants are funds that are unrestricted for use by high-performing nonprofit organizations. These funds may be used for all mission-related activities, including contributions to capital campaigns and endowments. In addition to listing the type of fund supporting each grant made in 2010, this report highlights those grants that provided General Operating Support to our region’s nonprofits during these difficult economic times.
The Philadelphia Foundation salutes all those generous donors who have supported and sustained our vital community organizations that contribute so much to our quality of life.
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