By Nick Vadala for the Philadelphia Inquirer
The 250th birthday of the United States is just around the corner, and four Philadelphia groups are offering area nonprofits a total of $9 million in funding to help celebrate.
That funding comes in the form of the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, a joint effort by the Connelly Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Neubauer Family Foundation. The fund, announced Tuesday, is designed to give financial support to regional nonprofits’ programs that will commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
“The Funder Collaborative aims to support nonprofit programs that honor Philadelphia’s historical importance, encourage widespread community participation, celebrate the diversity of the region, and inspire greater civic engagement,” Shawn McCaney, William Penn Foundation executive director, said in a statement. “We hope this initiative ignites a sense of civic pride that inspires Philadelphians to imagine their contributions to the next 250 years of American democracy.”
Funding is open to 501(c)3 public charities in Philadelphia, as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Groups can submit applications to the Funder Collaborative online at www.phila2026fund.org, and they will be reviewed by the contributing philanthropic organizations.