
Environment & Communities

What We Fund: Learn about Environment & Communities' funding priorities, objectives, and grantmaking approach

Eligibility Guidelines: Determine if your organization and project are eligible for a Environment & Communities grant

Geographic Focus: See our geographic parameters for Environment & Communities grants

How to Apply: Learn how to apply for a Environment & Communities grant

Environment & Communities

Healthy ecosystems and communities are essential for a livable and economically competitive region.

The Environment & Communities program uses an integrated grantmaking approach to enhance the sustainability of Greater Philadelphia's ecosystems and older communities. The program seeks to foster greater cross-sector collaborations that build on the assets of our region through revitalization of its urban core and protection and restoration of the region’s natural assets, which we define as key landscapes and waterways. Our Environment & Communities program makes investments intended to catalyze innovation and leadership in the region.

RELATED NEWS

Leading the Way to Cleaner Water Through Innovative Financing The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has identified Philadelphia as a leader in green stormwater management practices, and a new WPF-funded report by NRDC highlights Philadelphia's innovative financing model as a case study.

Expanding Philly's World-Class Greenway With support from WPF, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation is working to expand Philadelphia's world-class greenway by linking both sides of the tidal Schuylkill. A public meeting to review the latest plans is scheduled for February 8.

From Farming Veggies to Farming Ideas: Social Innovation Through Urban Agriculture Mary Seton Corboy started Greensgrow with a simple idea for a business: grow lettuce in Philadelphia's challenging urban environment. Nearly fifteen years later, Greensgrow has become one of America's brightest urban farming stories, placing Corboy among Philadelphia's greatest social entrepreneurs. WPF is proud to fund Greensgrow, but part of what makes its story interesting is its emphasis on a diverse range of revenues without an over-reliance on philanthropic support.

Modern Zoning: A Long Time Coming For the first time in 50 years, Philadelphia has a new zoning code, thanks to more than seven years of relentless pressure from community organizations and activists, fueled by WPF-funded research and ideas.

Help Name Greater Philadelphia's Trail Network Our region has an amazing collection of trails, providing recreational opportunities and transportation links throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Help us and our partners develop a name for the entire network, and you could win $250! Note: Deadline Extended to December 21!

Coming Soon To City Hall: World-Class Public Space Philadelphia’s Dilworth Plaza is being transformed from cold concrete into a signature public space that will be the envy of American cities.

Improving the Climate for Small Businesses in Philly A new report produced by the Sustainable Business Network with funding from WPF explores why the City lags in small business formation and offers recommendations for encouraging small business growth.

From Desolate to Dynamic PlanPhilly chronicles the transformation of Eastern North Philadelphia.

Using Evaluation to Shape Strategy: How Can We Make It Better? Are We There Yet? Evaluation is an important tool in our grantmaking program. We use it to review progress in a field, explore what needs to be done, and help us tweak strategies as needed along the way. In this column, we describe how we are using evaluation to help shape our efforts to protect water quality in our region.

Strategy Review: Water Policy Grantmaking 2005 - 2009 A new report evaluates the Foundation's investment of $14 million in efforts to protect the region's water quality.

Momentum Builds on the Central Delaware Waterfront New projects help to advance the public’s vision of better access to the river.

Evaluating Conservation Landscape Initiatives Pennsylvania's Conservation Landscapes Initiative was evaluated by the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning to document and assess the Commonwealth's approach.

Schuylkill River Watershed Cluster Assessment A close study of the Foundation's watershed program finds successes, but challenges too.

Help Philadelphia plan its future The Philadelphia City Planning Commission, with support from the Foundation, is creating PHILADELPHIA2035 a new comprehensive plan to guide Philadelphia’s growth and development for the next several decades. This will be a public process with many opportunities for citizens to participate.

Greater Philadelphia Food System Study The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission recently completed the Greater Philadelphia Food System Study, a project that evaluates the food system comprising the nine-county region. This study looked at a broad range of food supply issues, such as agricultural production trends, natural resource constraints, the origins and destinations of food imports and exports, and the significance of the food economy.

Diverse coalition secures $23 million to create a world-class network of trails $23 million in federal stimulus funding will help to establish a bi-state regional trail network. Once complete, a well-connected regional trail system will enhance mobility within the region, helping to connect residents to economic opportunities, including jobs, shopping, and local tourism.

Seizing Opportunities to Maximize the Value of Philadelphia's Housing Stock A coalition of housing advocates has released two policy briefs making the case that Philadelphia should repair and weatherize its older housing stock, and target its new affordable housing construction dollars to make neighborhoods stronger and jumpstart private activity.

Pennsylvania's Tax Burden Examined in New Report Pennsylvania ranks favorably among states in overall taxation and spending levels, but the Commonwealth’s tax system is highly regressive, placing a greater burden on the poorest 20 percent of our citizens.

Renovate or Replace? Conceived and produced by a task force representing state agencies and nonprofit partner agencies, Renovate or Replace provides a convincing array of arguments for restoration and reuse of older neighborhood-based schools.

Philadelphia: The Next Great City The William Penn Foundation is proud to support the Next Great City initiative, a growing coalition of groups advocating a better future for Philadelphia through cost effective, common sense strategies designed to improve our city’s quality of life and economic competitiveness.

A Community-Driven Vision for Philadelphia's Riverfront Joining PennPraxis and the city of Philadelphia, the Foundation is pleased to support a civic engagement process that will shape one of our region's most significant assets: the Central Delaware Riverfront.

Philadelphia Featured in PBS Documentary Philadelphia is featured along with Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, in the new PBS documentary series, Edens Lost & Found.

Promoting Growth: Reforms Proposed to Philadelphia's Zoning and Permitting Practices With support from the Foundation, the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia has released a report advocating changes to Philadelphia's unpredictable and cumbersome Zoning Code and permitting systems.