The William Penn Foundation - Environment & Communities

Director: Geraldine Wang

Funding goal:
To promote vital communities within a healthy regional ecosystem.

In 2006

Awarded 79 new grants for $19.1 million.
Made payments of $20.3 million on 152 active grants.

2007 grants awarded to date

News Items:
See below for news related to our Environment & Communities grantmaking

A Civic Vision for the Peoples' Waterfront
Philadelphia’s citizens have spoken. After a year of intense civic engagement, Penn Praxis has unveiled a new vision for the peoples’ waterfront.

A New Day on the Delaware
On June 26, Penn Praxis released its Action Plan for the Central Delaware 2008-2018, a series of recommendations designed to transform one of Philadelphia’s greatest assets.

Where We Stand: Community Indicators for Metropolitan Philadelphia
Researchers from the Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project at Temple University have released their fourth annual report on the region, providing data and mapping applications for the region’s 353 municipalities.

Blueprints for Stormwater Success

A new interactive web tool, StormwaterPA.org, will help Pennsylvania’s municipal officials, planners, engineers, and builders avoid the flooding, erosion, pollution, and economic loss associated with stormwater.

Reinventing Older Communities: How Does Place Matter?
The Foundation is pleased to support the third biennial Reinventing Older Communities conference, to be hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, March 26 to 28, 2008.

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.

Making Food Stamps Work

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has released a new report documenting the efforts of a public-private partnership designed to help people access food stamps.

Pollster Finds Surprising Depth of Concern for the Environment Among Philadelphians
In a new poll, an overwhelming majority of Philadelphians reported that environmental issues are a major concern likely to impact their voting behavior.

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

Building Environmental Leadership in Greater Philadelphia
Regional environmental leaders are encouraged to take advantage of capacity-building opportunities offered in Greater Philadelphia by two nationally-recognized training institutions.

Training Offered for Area Nonprofit Organizations
The Nonprofit Finance Fund offers a variety of training workshops for nonprofit organizations in Greater Philadelphia on topics ranging from real estate and facilities to alignment of programs and finances.

The Franklin Conference: Engaging Citizens in Innovative School Design
The School District of Philadelphia is poised to invest $1.8 billion in the city's schools, providing residents with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the role of schools in our community.

Multi-Municipal Planning in New Jersey's Pine Barrens
Near Wharton State Forest, local officials from two adjoining communities are developing environmentally-sensitive land use plans together in a project designed to serve as a model for other communities facing similar development pressures.

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.