2024 Community Fund Grantees
In January 2025, the Philadelphia City Fund announced the grantees of its 2024 Community Fund, which awarded a total of $275,000 to 11 charitable nonprofit organizations that demonstrated their commitment to this year’s theme, “nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming.”
Each organization will receive a $25,000 general operating support grant, which will allow the grantees to use the funds however they see fit in support of general operations, programmatic activities, and/or other costs that relate to the organization’s mission. Additional details about each of the grantees can be found below.
During Summer 2024, the Fund accepted submissions from small nonprofit organizations that provide out-of-school time programming in Philadelphia that promotes the healthy physical, social, educational, and/or emotional development of youth, ages pre-K thru 12th grade, as noted in our grant guidelines.
The hope with this year’s theme was to inspire a wide range of community organizations to apply. Youth well-being is a broad category that encompasses everything from sports programs that foster physical health, to arts activities that can help youth express themselves and find new outlets to manage stress, to cultural experiences that boost confidence and opportunity by providing new knowledge and perspectives on the world around us.
The goal of the Fund and its partners at the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend was to support programming that takes a holistic approach to youth wellness and inspires lifelong healthy activity. This theme was selected for its close alignment with the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend as it continues to support and attract youth to its Nemours Children’s Run and integrate them into the race weekend to encourage lifelong athleticism.
Allens Lane Art Center
Allens Lane Art Center provides programs and activities that bring our diverse community together to experience and support the arts. In carrying out our mission, ALAC is committed to social diversity, promotion of a collaborative environment, personal empowerment, freedom of expression, and openness to new ideas. Our vision is to be the model of community engagement in the arts in NW Philadelphia, providing quality and innovative arts and cultural programming for Greater Philadelphia.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Year-round and summertime outreach programs that provide youth with professional instruction in painting, drawing, ceramics, performance, theater arts, mixed media, meditation, and nature art, along with the opportunity to play outdoors in the surrounding 7-acre Allens Lane Park
Grant Award: $25,000
Photo by Mechele Abraham
Fab Youth Philly
Fab Youth Philly’s mission is to build bridges to adulthood through meaningful employment, strong community connections, and opportunities for teens to explore their passions.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Fab Youth Philly is a Philadelphia-based youth development organization that provides innovative, award-winning programming for youth, with a focus on creating workforce development opportunities for teens ages 15-19.
Grant Award: $25,000
Girls on the Run Philadelphia
Girls on the Run Philadelphia inspires girls to be joyful, health and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
After school curriculum-based program that uses running as a platform for teaching girls important life skills. Lesson topics include self-esteem, positive self-talk, personal values, gossip, and bullying, along with health-related topics such as nutrition and healthy habits as well as other basic aspects of running, such as stretching and pacing
Grant Award: $25,000
Hand2Paw
Hand2Paw provides paid internships working with rescue animals as a way to strengthen connection, compassion, and community for young adults from underrepresented communities, including those experiencing housing insecurity or foster care involvement.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Summer, after school drop-in workshops and school year paid internships for young people to work at Hand2Paw’s animal rescue, preparing them for careers in animal welfare
Grant Award: $25,000
Horizons Philadelphia, Inc.
Every child should have access to high-quality educational opportunities. Horizons Greater Philadelphia, the regional hub for a network of Philadelphia-serving academic summer programs, has a clear mission to help make this a reality for low-income children in Philadelphia: advance educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Summer academic and enrichment programs that seek to close the educational achievement gap for low-income students through math and STEAM lessons, social-emotional learning (tools and support from onsite counselors and family specialists), experiential learning (field trips and community exploration), physical activity (swimming lessons, plus indoor and outdoor recreational activities), and free healthy meals
Grant Award: $25,000
Photo by Dax Roggio
I Choose To Win
I Choose To Win’s mission is to strengthen the mental wellbeing, resilience, and economic position of underserved Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) women and girls by developing them as leaders and paving a pathway toward economic independence. We work to edify, empower and equip program participants to win in life, through leadership development programs, mental wellbeing workshops and personal fulfillment activities.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
The newly launched Cultiv8 Hope program aims to address mental health by inviting BIPOC students to share what HOPE means to them so the adults in their lives can better support their hopes and dreams. It’s a visual storytelling competition for youth to activate their voices and develop a creative body of work around “building hope for their generation.” The 5-month out-of-school program extends from February through June with biweekly in-person and virtual meetups at Our House Culture Center in Germantown complete with activities centered around building hope. Student submissions are entered to win a cash investment in their HOPE Building ideas.
Grant Award: $25,000
Neighborhood Bike Works
Neighborhood Bike Works inspires youth and strengthens Philadelphia communities by providing equitable access to bicycling and bike repair through education, recreation, leadership, and career-building opportunities.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Youth leadership initiative that uses bicycle mechanics and riding skills to foster physical health, teamwork, and environmental stewardship among under-resourced youth through a series of increasingly advanced programs which include a ride club, summer camp, drop-in repair clinics, group rides, youth cycling team, leadership and advanced mechanic course, youth council, and assistant instructor and apprentice positions
Grant Award: $25,000
That Could Be Me Foundation
That Could Be Me Foundation’s mission is to empower underserved youth to participate in the creator economy by arming them with cutting-edge digital arts education, access to mental health resources, and social self-care skills to navigate their journey.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Our EduCreation Platform, That Could Be Me®, provides access to AI-based creative expression technologies, collaborative skills development experiences, and a peer support community as a means to teach social-emotional skills and promote positive youth mental health. Programming invites youth to dive into the world of generative AI storytelling to write lyrics and comics, create videos and gifs, and produce art, photography, and fashion to help students cope with their emotions and deal with stressful and traumatic events.
Grant Award: $25,000
Urban Youth Kings and Queens
Urban Youth Kings and Queens empowers Philadelphia’s underserved youth through mentoring, sports, and educational programs. Our goal is to overcome the adversities that prevent youth from achieving their potential and create the next generation of community leaders by preparing children for college and beyond. Our programs improve academic performance, foster resilience, build character, develop sportsmanship, and teach conflict resolution, health, and wellness skills.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Community leagues and clinics (baseball, softball, basketball), camps (6-week summer experience that includes nature walks, swimming, field trips, sports, recreational activities, STEM, and more), and after-school programming (where students focus on life skills development, mentoring, homework help, physical fitness, and nutrition)
Grant Award: $25,000
Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley
Variety’s mission is to enrich the lives of children and young adults with disabilities through social, educational, and vocational programs that nurture independence and self-confidence, and prepare them for life.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
After school programs, Saturday programs, weekend retreats, summer camps, Extended School Year, and a workforce development model for youth with disabilities
Grant Award: $25,000
Work to Ride
Work to Ride provides activities that promote discipline, self-esteem, motivation, social development, life skills, academic achievement and physical fitness through year-round equestrian programs that encourage long term participation. In addition, educational and cultural resources are provided to participants and the community-at-large, as well as vocational guidance and opportunities for careers in related fields.
Out-of-School Time Programming:
Year-round and summer programs that serve low-income youth through daily horseback riding, polo training sessions, horse care and maintenance, leadership and mentoring activities, on-site tutoring, and homework assistance
Grant Award: $25,000
Photo by Lezlie Hiner
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