advocacy for child-serving systems – Jan 29

Posted by William Penn Foundation on December 23, 2025

William Penn Foundation issues RFP for advocacy for child-serving systems

The William Penn Foundation (WPF) in Philadelphia has issued a request for proposals for advocacy for child-serving systems.

The foundation has a long history of investing in efforts to improve the lives of young children in Philadelphia. The foundation’s Children and Families program was created to expand access to programs and resources that support the healthy development and academic success of young children, ages 0 to 8, in the city.

Over the past decade, the foundation has invested in multi-organization statewide campaigns, as well as independent activities such as journalism, research, and litigation. In combination, the work of grantees has helped increase public funding by more than $4.5 billion. The foundation aims to support efforts that complement the existing campaigns and are likely over time to increase public funding in child-serving systems including early childhood education, early intervention, home visiting, out-of- school time programming, and K-12 public education.

This RFP seeks to support organizations that inform, mobilize, and unite key stakeholders, including the public and policy makers, about funding issues impacting child-serving systems in Pennsylvania. Applicants may seek to coordinate with any of the existing statewide campaigns or may seek funding for independent activities that will enhance ongoing efforts and accelerate progress on the objective.

To be eligible for funding, organizations will conduct at least one of the following activities: strategic, non-partisan, broad-based outreach, education, and mobilization efforts that engage the public and policy makers; research or communications efforts that widely disseminate non-partisan information that increases public understanding of key issues; or public interest litigation to advance adequate and equitable funding. All projects must be likely to positively impact public investments in young children in Pennsylvania.

WPF is requesting proposals for up to three years of funding and has $6 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. The maximum amount of funding that organizations may request for direct expenses is $500,000 over three years.

To be eligible, applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Public charities include community-based organizations, schools, and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the William Penn Foundation website.

Deadline: January 29, 2026