Poor Richard's Charitable Trust concentrates its philanthropic support entirely on sustaining a single major cultural institution in Philadelphia. All documented giving is directed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, primarily for operational/general operating support, indicating a priority on maintaining local arts infrastructure and institution stability. The foundation appears to favor large, repeat unrestricted grants to a flagship organization rather than diversified or issue-specific portfolios.
Highly concentrated giving: few but very large repeat grants to a single flagship local arts organization for unrestricted operational support.
Poor Richard's Charitable Trust shows a clear pattern of supporting the operational budgets of a small set of Philadelphia institutions, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art receiving the largest recent grants. Across 2023 to 2025, the trust repeatedly backed that museum at levels above $800,000, signaling a sustained role in keeping core operations funded rather than underwriting short-term projects. The same pattern extends to other Philadelphia organizations. Center City District Foundation and Center for Architecture Design each received six-figure operating support, while Spotlight PA, Germination Project, and the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania also appear among the trust’s larger recipients. The grants list points to a portfolio centered on arts, civic life, journalism, and local institutional capacity, but the common thread is organizational stability. Recent giving is not broad or diffuse. It is concentrated in Philadelphia and directed to established nonprofits, especially those with ongoing infrastructure needs. That makes the trust a funder whose identity is easiest to understand through its repeat support of a few anchor institutions rather than through many small awards.
In arts and design, the trust gave $250,000 to Center for Architecture Design in 2025 and another $175,000 in 2024, both for operational budgets. Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum also appears in the record with $210,000 in 2024 and $120,000 in 2023, showing support for design institutions beyond Philadelphia. For civic and public-interest work, the trust awarded $225,000 to Spotlight PA in 2025 and $150,000 in 2024, again for operational budgets. Journalism also appears through Lenfest Institute of Journalism, which received $150,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The trust also supports community-facing Philadelphia institutions outside the museum sector. Center City District Foundation received $250,000 in 2025 and $157,500 in 2023, while the Germination Project received $150,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024.
Typical awards cluster in the low-to-mid five figures, with a p25 of $15,000, a median grant of $25,000, and a p75 of $100,000. The recent record also includes a smaller number of much larger operating grants, including awards above $1 million. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially Philadelphia Museum of Art, Center for Architecture Design, Center City District Foundation, Spotlight PA, Germination Project, and Lenfest Institute of Journalism, which suggests repeat support rather than one-off funding. The trust is not a foundation that funds individuals, and the grant descriptions consistently point to general operating support.
$3.1M
$51M
$3.4M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $15K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Notable grantees: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Pennsylvania: 94% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Philadelphia is the clear center of activity, with repeated grants to organizations in Philadelphia, PA, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Center City District Foundation, Center for Architecture Design, and Germination Project. Outside Pennsylvania, the recipient map still remains domestic, with New York, NY appearing through Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The trust funds nonprofit organizations, with a record centered on cultural, civic, journalistic, and community institutions. Recent recipients include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Center for Architecture Design, Spotlight PA, Lenfest Institute of Journalism, and Center City District Foundation, usually with support described as funding operational budgets.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Center for Architecture Design in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Center City District Foundation in 2023 and 2025; and Spotlight PA in 2024 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $15,000, median $25,000, and p75 $100,000. The recent grants list also shows larger operating gifts, including seven-figure support for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and multiple six-figure awards to other Philadelphia organizations.
The foundation’s giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania, with 94% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Philadelphia is the main city in the grant record, while New York appears as a smaller out-of-state recipient location through Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $859,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE DESIGN | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CENTER CITY DISTRICT FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SPOTLIGHT PA | HARRISBURG, PA | $225,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GERMINATION PROJECT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| TINY WPA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CRAFTNOW | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $120,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATIVE (PYSC) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA SOCCER 2026 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| STARFINDER FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA VISITOR CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SHARE FOOD PROGRAM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| ABORTION ACCESS FOR ALL | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN'S TRUST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $45,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SCHUYLKILL RIVER DEVELOPMENT CORP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GREATER PHILADELPHIA CULTURAL ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| US SQUASH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SOCIETY HILL PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA UNION FOUNDATION | CHESTER, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| HOPEPHL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| RODEPH SHALOM CONGREGATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $21,250 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| FRINGEARTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA250 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CELEBRATION OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FOUNDER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MOTHER BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (AME) CHURCH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,161,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $210,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE DESIGN | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $175,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| LENFEST INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SPOTLIGHT PA | HARRISBURG, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| STARFINDER FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CRAFTNOW | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $120,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATIVE (PYSC) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GERMINATION PROJECT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY CORP ACCT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PHILADELPHIA YOUTH BASKETBALL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SHARE FOOD PROGRAM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
$250,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CENTER CITY DISTRICT FOUNDATION
$250,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
GERMINATION PROJECT
$150,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CRAFTNOW
$120,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
STARFINDER FOUNDATION
$75,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA
$50,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
ABORTION ACCESS FOR ALL
$50,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
US SQUASH
$25,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SOCIETY HILL PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$25,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
PHILADELPHIA UNION FOUNDATION
$25,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
RODEPH SHALOM CONGREGATION
$21,250TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
$10,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
FRINGEARTS
$10,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
PHILADELPHIA250
$5,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CELEBRATION OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FOUNDER
$5,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
MOTHER BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (AME) CHURCH
$5,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
$210,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
$175,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
LENFEST INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM
$150,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
STARFINDER FOUNDATION
$125,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CRAFTNOW
$120,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
GERMINATION PROJECT
$100,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY CORP ACCT
$100,000TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FUND THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS OF THE ORGANIZATION