Planning and implementation grants for US 250th Anniversary – Sep 30

Posted by Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial on August 29, 2023

Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial invites applications for planning, implementation grants

The Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial exists to support Philadelphia-area programs celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Philadelphia has long enjoyed pride of place for the observation of major national milestones.

Grants are available for Philadelphia-area nonprofits for planning and programs related to the 2026 commemorations for project activities to take place in the City of Philadelphia, and/or Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montogomery counties in Pennsylvania. The collaborative strongly encourages collaborative projects that involve jointly developed programs among multiple institutional partners; projects that are directly, rather than incidentally, tied to the Semiquincentennial commemoration; and projects for which the residents of the greater Philadelphia region are the primary audience.

Two types of grants are available:

Planning Grants: Intended for organizations that need additional resources to imagine, research, and develop programs related to the upcoming 2026 celebrations. These grants are not intended to directly support such programs. In 2023, the funder collaborative plans to award up to $1 million in planning grants, with individual planning grants capped at $75,000. Planning grants require a one-stage application, and will be considered on a rolling basis. The duration of a planning grant should not exceed 12 months. Funding cycle one is now open for applications for planning grants, and will close on September 30, 2023.

Implementation Grants: Intended for organizations to host programs related to the upcoming 2026 celebrations. Implementation grants are not capped, but they are constrained by the resources available to the funder collaborative. Implementation grants require a two-stage application. The first stage involves a letter of inquiry, consisting of a brief description of the proposed project, including its activities, timeline, deliverables, and budget. The second stage involves a full proposal which describes the project with greater specificity and in detail. Funding cycle two is now open for LOIs for implementation grants and will close on September 30, 2023, with notifications sent by October 31, 2023.

To be eligible, applicant must be a public charity recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial website.

Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Letters of Inquiry)