$9 Million Fund Will Help Philadelphia-Area Nonprofits Commemorate America’s 250th Birthday

The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Connelly Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, and the Neubauer Family Foundation have announced the formation of the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial in anticipation of the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026.

This new initiative will provide financial support to Philadelphia-area nonprofits as they prepare and implement programs commemorating the semiquincentennial.

The four grantmakers have committed a combined $9 million to this effort to support a wide range of programs that:

• Honor Philadelphia’s unique importance to the founding of the United States.
• Encourage widespread community participation in the events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
• Celebrate the diversity of the city and the region through inclusive programming that reflects the experiences of all Philadelphians, past and present.
• Imagine the possibilities for Philadelphia’s contributions to the next 250 years of American democracy.
• Inspire greater civic engagement by promoting civil dialogue, community service, and voluntary solutions to the city’s ongoing challenges.

Grant applications can be submitted at any time through at least early 2026 for two types of grants: planning grants and implementation grants. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and grantees will be selected jointly by representatives from the four founding organizations. To be eligible, applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities located in Philadelphia or the surrounding counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery.

Pew’s senior vice president for Philadelphia and scientific advancement, Donna Frisby-Greenwood, noted in the official announcement that Pew “is excited to be partnering on this initiative, which we hope will inspire local nonprofits, both large and small, to bring residents and communities together from across the Philadelphia area to mark America’s anniversary. We want everyone in our region to feel welcome to participate … and to use this opportunity to think about events, activities, and exhibitions that are meaningful to them.”

Tom Riley, chairman and president of the Connelly Foundation, also noted in the announcement the collaborative’s posture of “reflective patriotism” as it helps area organizations mark the anniversary, saying that the fund is meant to “celebrate the nation’s founding ideals, acknowledge its failures to live up to those ideals, and recognize the many individuals who have helped move the country toward the realization of [those] ideals.”

In addition to welcoming potential grantees, the collaborative is also seeking additional donors to the fund, which is housed in a donor-advised fund hosted by the National Philanthropic Trust.

For more information on how to apply for grants, or to donate to the initiative, please visit phila2026fund.org.