Foundations that fund legal aid and crime prevention in Pennsylvania
These 25 foundations made grants to legal aid and crime prevention in Pennsylvania in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The William Penn Foundation
- $314,525 to Community Legal Services Inc, Philadelphia: Bridging the gap: empowering families through benefits access and advocacy
- $185,000 to Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Philadelphia: Supporting the financial stability of low-income workers and their families
- $166,668 to Seniorlaw Center, Philadelphia: Grandfamilies/kinship support
How to apply: The foundation is interested in receiving letters of inquiry from public charities that meet its funding guidelines. Letters of inquiry should include the nature of the project, anticipated results and financial information for the applicant. For additional information please...
Restrictions: 1.) grants are made to organizations which qualify under internal revenue code section 501c3 as public charities under 509(a) of the code who provide support within the foundation's grantmaking priorites. 2.) grants are not made to...
The Heinz Endowments
- $175,000 to Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Pittsburgh: To provide environmental legal services in the region
- $130,000 to Regional Housing Legal Services, Philadelphia: To advance energy and water equity in western pennsylvania on behalf of low income and...
- $100,000 to The Hear Foundation, Pittsburgh: To support a series of initiatives that promote partnerships between law enforcement...
How to apply: You can determine your eligibility and submit your online application online at: https://www.heinz.org/grants.
Deadlines: February 15 - spring board meeting july 15 - fall board meeting
Restrictions: The heinz endowments concentrates its efforts and resources in southwestern pennsylvania. Given its primarily regional focus, the foundation is generally unable to consider applications for funding for projects outside the commonwealth of...
Hillman Family Foundations
- $500,000 to Kidsvoice, Pittsburgh: Expansion of services to support youth up to age 24 transitioning out of foster care
- $200,000 to Regional Housing Legal Services, Philadelphia: Leveraging federal investments to improve resiliency and efficiency of affordable housing...
- $100,000 to The Hear Foundation, Pittsburgh: Startup costs for the hear foundations efforts to strengthen relationships between...
How to apply: Requests should be sumbitted via the hillman family foundation online portal. The application process begins with the submission of a brief letter of intent (loi) through the fluxx grant portal summarizing the project for which the organization is seeking funding. Included as...
Deadlines: No deadline.
Restrictions: Each applicant must present evidence of a charitable, tax-exempt status. Further, each applicant must provide information clearly indicating that any contribution made to it by the hillman family foundations, will be considered a...
The Patricia Kind Family Foundation
- $25,000 to Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia, Philadelphia: General operating support
- $25,000 to Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia: Legal justice collaborative
- $20,000 to Collective Climb, Philadelphia: General operating support
Henry Dolfinger 2 Trust Uw
- $10,000 to Support Center for Child Advocates, Philadelphia: General
- $5,000 to Philadelphia Vip Inc, Philadelphia: General
- $3,500 to Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center Inc, Philadelphia: General
How to apply: All requests are made through their website.
Deadlines: Submission deadlines are april 1st and october 1st.
Restrictions: Greater philadelphia area
Van Ameringen Foundation Inc
- $125,000 to Abolitionist Law Center, Pittsburgh: Continued support for advocacy to curtail or abolish solitary confinement in pennsylvania.
- $100,000 to Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Philadelphia: First-time support for pennsylvania legal services agency seeking to end solitary...
- $100,000 to Juvenile Law Center, Philadelphia: Continuing advocacy support for philadelphia-based public interest law firm fighting for...
How to apply: See detailed instructions on foundation's website www.vanamfound.org/apply-for-a-grant
Deadlines: See detailed instructions on foundation's website
Restrictions: The foundation funds innovative and practical programs for early intervention, advocacy and increased accessibility of mental health services for people and communities with limited financial means and opportunities.
Wsfs Cares Foundation
- $5,000 to Philadelphia Police Foundation, Philadelphia: Strengthening those in need (health & human services)
- $5,000 to Philadelphia Police Foundation, Philadelphia: Strengthening those in need (health & human services)
- $2,500 to Campaign for Working Families Inc, Philadelphia: Education & leadership development
Restrictions: Delaware / pennsylvania / new jersey only
Independence Public Media of Philadelphia Inc
- $100,000 to Amistad Law Project, Philadelphia: To create two mini-documentaries highlighting mobile crisis units and the commutation...
- $40,000 to Dayonenotdaytwo, Philadelphia: To support the community apprentice fellowship for emerging community journalists
- $27,000 to Philadelphia Obituary Project, Philadelphia: To support the writing heals project
How to apply: Detailed instructions for how to apply for grants can be found on our website at independencemedia . Org/how-al?ply
Deadlines: Submission deadlines can be found on our website at independencemedia . Org/how-apply .
Restrictions: All restrictions and limitations on awards can be found on our website independencemedia .org/,ow-apply .
Fisa Foundation
- $50,000 to Abolitionist Law Center, Pittsburgh: Support for advocacy for incarcerated people with disabilities
- $30,000 to Pennsylvania Prison Society, Philadelphia: To advocate for disability rights in swpa jails
- $25,000 to Kidsvoice, Pittsburgh: To provide legal advocacy for young adults with disabilities
How to apply: See attachment
Deadlines: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
Lincoln Financial Foundation Inc
- $30,000 to Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia: Human Services
- $25,000 to Philadelphia Vip Inc, Philadelphia: Financial Wellness
- $10,000 to Philadelphia Vip Inc, Philadelphia: Human Services
How to apply: Grant requests to be submitted online. Information required includes organization name, purpose of grant request & amount requested.
Deadlines: Human Services - March; United Way - August; Arts - October; Financial Wellness - July; Education -
Restrictions: Grantee must be a 501(c)(3) organization located in or near communities in which the foundation has a presence.
The Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation Inc
- $40,000 to Community Legal Services Inc, Philadelphia: Improving food security in philadelphia (2023-2025)
- $25,000 to Legal Clinic for the Disabled Inc, Philadelphia: Food insecurity legal services for people with disabilities
- $5,000 to Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Philadelphia: Pennsylvania innocence project reetnry food support
How to apply: The leo and peggy pierce family foundation only accepts applications, supporting documentation, and grant reports through our website, www.piercefamilyfdn.org. You will be asked to provide the following information: 1. Statement of the organization's mission 2. A brief...
Deadlines: January 15 and july 15, by 5:00 pm eastern standard time.
Restrictions: The foundation makes grants to support initiatives that address hunger and food insecurity through direct service programs and/or advocacy efforts. Grants are made to organizations that are tax exempt under the irs code 501(c)(3) as public...
Td Charitable Foundation
- $50,000 to Regional Housing Legal Services, Philadelphia: Equitable development program
- $5,000 to Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, East Norriton: Core programmatic services
- $5,000 to Campaign for Working Families, Philadelphia: Tax titans project
How to apply: Grant applications are accessible soley via the internet. The web address to access grant applications is: https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding -opportunities/
Restrictions: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity. Organization must be located in a state with a td bank, na branch. The foundation will award only one grant to any program within one calendar year. Grants cannot be made to/for the...
Henrietta Tower Wurts Memorial Foundation
- $3,000 to Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, Philadelphia: Operating support
- $2,000 to Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia: Running an ecosystem of support for youth impacted by violence
- $2,000 to Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, Philadelphia: Operating support
How to apply: Applications may be submitted at the foundation website at https://www.philafound.org/nonprofits/available-grants/henrietta-tower-wurts
Deadlines: Please visit the foundation website for current submission deadlines.
Restrictions: The foundation considers grant proposals from organizations for public service described under section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the internal revenue code serving disadvantaged youth and/or the elderly in the city of philadelphia. Grants...
W W Smith Charitable Trust
- $50,000 to Caring People Alliance, Philadelphia: Basic needs
- $41,000 to Caring People Alliance, Philadelphia: Basic needs
How to apply: Www.wwsmithcharitabletrust.org
Deadlines: Www.wwsmithcharitabletrust.org
Restrictions: Www.wwsmithcharitabletrust.org
Opportunity Foundation
- $35,000 to Abolitionist Law Center, Pittsburgh: Charitable
- $15,000 to The Public Interest Law Center, Philadelphia: Charitable
How to apply: Letter of request from exempt organization
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: No
Aj and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust
- $25,000 to Kidsvoice, Pittsburgh: General support
- $10,000 to Cray Youth & Family Services, New Castle: Program support
How to apply: See footnote
Deadlines: See footnote
Restrictions: See footnote
The Barra Foundation Inc
- $25,000 to Dayonenotdaytwo, Philadelphia: Catalyst fund grant
- $1,000 to Community Legal Services, Philadelphia: Entity support - staff grant
How to apply: All letters of inquiry (loi) must be submitted through an online system at www.barrafoundation.org. The loi must include information about the type of request, timeframe, targeted audience, etc.
Deadlines: No formal submission deadlines.
Restrictions: Grants are restricted to the greater philadelphia region. The primary focus of the foundation is on innovation in and across the fields of arts and culture, education, health and human services. Please see www.barrafoundation.org for...
Highmark Foundation
- $15,000 to Pennsylvania Casa Association, Bethlehem: To support highmark bright blue futures awards
- $7,200 to Community Specialists Corporation, Pittsburgh: To support school grants and award programs
How to apply: See supplemental information
Restrictions: See supplemental information
The Allen Hilles Fund
- $11,000 to The Public Interest Law Center, Philadelphia: Ensuring all students, regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity, language, or abilities,...
- $10,000 to Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia: Running an ecosystem of support for youth impacted by violence
Deadlines: March 15 and september 15
Restrictions: Grants are made on a one-year basis. Donees must be tax exempt under irc sec. 501c(3). Awards are limited to areas of children's education, economic development in disadvantaged communities and activities of the religious society of...
Vna Foundation of Greater North Penn
- $11,000 to Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, East Norriton: Improving accessibility of child abuse prevention education ($10,000)general...
- $10,000 to Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Norristown: Legal aid for greater north penn
How to apply: All submissions must be made online and include the following: a summary of the project, demonstrate that funding will address a specific community need and does not duplicate existing efforts, goals for the project, a specific timeline, expected outcomes, mission statement and...
Deadlines: In accordance with published deadlines
Restrictions: Grants are awarded to organizations that benefit the health and well-being of the north penn community. The areas served are the north penn, wissahickon and souderton school districts as well as worcester township.
J B Finley Charitable Trust
- $10,715 to Women Against Abuse Legal Center, Philadelphia: General support
- $10,000 to Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Pittsburgh: General support
How to apply: See footnotes
Deadlines: See footnotes
Restrictions: See footnotes
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- $15,000 to Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Philadelphia: Matching gifts
- $3,750 to Philadelphia Lgbtq Bar Association, Philadelphia: Matching gifts
How to apply: Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
Deadlines: No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
Restrictions: Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems...
The Presser Foundation
- $10,000 to Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia: Advancement of music
- $7,000 to Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia: Capital support
How to apply: Applications are submitted electronically via the organization's website, www.presserfoundation.org
Deadlines: Proposals must be submitted by november 15.
Claneil Foundation Inc
- $5,000 to Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, Philadelphia: General operating
- $2,500 to Atlantic Center for Capital Representation Inc, Philadelphia: General operating
How to apply: All requests must be submitted online, and through the foundation's online portal. The submission requirements vary. In general the following should be included: mission statement, a request description, an organizational budget, list of board members and their affiliation,...
Deadlines: Letters of intent: june 1 & december 1; proposals: march 1 & august 15.
Restrictions: Limitations: giving to mid-atlantic and new england regions. No int'l funding, support for religion-based programs or lobbying. Program areas: community fund: 3-year operating grants to orgs. On an annually rotating schedule of issues...
Ploughshares Foundation
- $5,000 to Juvenile Law Center, Philadelphia: General
- $2,000 to Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, Mercersburg: General
How to apply: All applications must be in written form. They must include a description of the organization which is submitting the application, the grant amount(s) requested by such organization and the use which the submitting organization intends to make of any grant(s) that may be...
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: No
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