Philanthropy Network is pleased to announce an 18-month grant extension from the William Penn Foundation to continue engaging philanthropy in Rebuild, the ambitious public-private partnership to revitalize Philadelphia’s parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries. In coordination with the City’s Rebuild Team, Philanthropy Network will hire a consultant to create a comprehensive fund development plan to attract regional and national foundations, corporations, and high net-worth individuals to invest in Rebuild.
The grant will also enable Philanthropy Network to further engage the local philanthropic community by supporting regular, strategic communications with members about the initiative, and continue convening the member-led Rebuild Leadership Group, who serve as advisors, ambassadors and thought partners to connect Rebuild with local and national funders. As we assess the composition and leadership of the group, we want to offer special thanks to KRISTI POLING, The Barra Foundation, who has served as chair of the Rebuild Leadership Group since its inception in March 2017 and will be stepping down from her role in early 2018. If you’re interested in joining the Rebuild Leadership Group, please contact Ana Lisa Yoder at analisa@yoderconsultancy.com.
On Thursday, December 13, Mayor Jim Kenney broke ground on the first park improvement funded through Rebuild. The Parkside Fields project will be completed in two phases, resulting in two new public athletic fields that will serve the Parkside community in West Philadelphia, including the schools and sports programs in and around the neighborhood. Read more about this exciting development here.
The Rebuild Collaborative Fund is now open! The William Penn Foundation established the Rebuild Collaborative Fund at the National Philanthropic Trust to encourage funders of all sizes and capacities to invest in Rebuild through a streamlined process. As an added incentive, William Penn will match $1 for every $2 raised in other philanthropic and public dollars for Rebuild. Every additional dollar raised will allow Rebuild to deliver more improvements in Philadelphia communities, serve more people, and grow more local businesses. If you’re ready to make an investment, the Rebuild Collaborative Fund Donor Contribution Agreement is now available online. To learn more about Rebuild, including how to invest, visit Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia’s Rebuild pages or contact David Gould, Deputy Director, Community Engagement and Communications at David.Gould@Phila.gov.