The William Penn Foundation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · EIN 231503488 · Private foundation
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The William Penn Foundation has awarded $555.8M across 4,634 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to National Philanthropic Trust. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The William Penn Foundation funds
The William Penn Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The William Penn Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust IMPLEMENT THE REBUILD INITIATIVE | Jenkintown, PA | $14.4M | 2022 |
| National Philanthropic Trust IMPLEMENT THE REBUILD INITIATIVE | Jenkintown, PA | $11.0M | 2023 |
| National Philanthropic Trust IMPLEMENT THE REBUILD INITIATIVE | Jenkintown, PA | $7.8M | 2024 |
| Delaware River Waterfront Corporation CONSTRUCTION OF PENN'S LANDING PARK | Philadelphia, PA | $7.0M | 2024 |
| Project Home TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SUPPORT | Philadelphia, PA | $6.1M | 2023 |
| Share Food Program SHARE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | Philadelphia, PA | $5.0M | 2023 |
| Reinvestment Fund Inc COVID-19--PHILADELPHIA EMERGENCY FUND FOR THE STABILIZATION OF EARLY EDUCATION (PEFSEE) | Philadelphia, PA | $5.0M | 2020 |
| Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2024 | Philadelphia, PA | $5.0M | 2024 |
| National Philanthropic Trust 2026 COLLABORATIVE FUND | Jenkintown, PA | $4.0M | 2022 |
| Fairmount Park Conservancy CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND PLANNING FOR FDR PARK | Philadelphia, PA | $3.5M | 2024 |
| National Nurse-led Care Consortium BASIC NEEDS FUND FOR HOME VISITED FAMILIES | Philadelphia, PA | $3.1M | 2023 |
| Zoological Society of Philadelphia CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2024 | Philadelphia, PA | $3.0M | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Foundation PHL COVID-19 FUND | Philadelphia, PA | $3.0M | 2020 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation PHASE 2 DRWI RESTORATION CAPITAL RE-GRANT FUND | Washington, DC | $2.9M | 2020 |
| Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc PHASE 2 DRWI LAND PROTECTION CAPITAL RE-GRANT FUND | New York, NY | $2.7M | 2022 |
The William Penn Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at williampennfoundation.org.
Is The William Penn Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The William Penn Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The William Penn Foundation
- Does The William Penn Foundation accept grant applications?
- The William Penn Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The William Penn Foundation fund?
- The William Penn Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include National Philanthropic Trust, National Philanthropic Trust, National Philanthropic Trust. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The William Penn Foundation give in grants?
- The William Penn Foundation reported $110.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $555.8M over 4,634 grants.
- Where is The William Penn Foundation located?
- The William Penn Foundation is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 231503488.
- How can I find foundations similar to The William Penn Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The William Penn Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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