The Arcadia Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to cultural and educational institutions in the Greater Philadelphia region. Their recent grants indicate a preference for supporting museums and public-facing natural history/wildlife attractions, plus targeted support for higher education, often with flexible use to allow institutional priorities to be addressed.
A small number of very large, unrestricted grants concentrated regionally; few grantees overall with multi-hundred-thousand-dollar awards rather than many small gifts.
Notable grantees: Woodmere Art Museum, Elmwood Park Zoo, Drexel University
The Arcadia Foundation’s largest recent gifts cluster around Greater Philadelphia cultural and educational institutions, with a $599,140 unrestricted grant to Woodmere Art Museum and a $500,000 unrestricted grant to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That pattern places museums at the center of its giving, alongside other public-serving institutions in the region. The foundation also shows sustained support for science, wildlife, and education organizations: Elmwood Park Zoo received $300,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in 2023, while Drexel University received $164,524 in 2025 and $162,524 in 2023. Those repeated awards suggest a steady relationship rather than one-off project funding. Across the recent grants list, Arcadia’s support extends beyond museums to universities, zoos, arboreta, libraries, and community organizations. Several recipients are based in Philadelphia, Norristown, King of Prussia, and nearby Montgomery and Chester County communities. The grants are consistently unrestricted, indicating flexibility for recipient priorities. That mix of cultural institutions, higher education, and local civic organizations gives the foundation a clear regional profile centered on public access, education, and stewardship-oriented organizations.
Cultural institutions are a major part of the portfolio. Arcadia gave $599,140 to Woodmere Art Museum for unrestricted support and $500,000 to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, also unrestricted, showing a strong emphasis on museums in the Philadelphia area. Higher education is another visible focus. Drexel University received $164,524 in 2025 for unrestricted support, and Thomas Jefferson University received $125,000 in 2025, placing college and university funding alongside the foundation’s cultural grantmaking. The foundation also supports environmental and animal-focused education. Grants include $50,000 to Riverbend Environmental Education Center and $30,000 to Aark Wildlife Rehab Education Center, along with $25,000 to Women's Animal Center. These awards point to interest in education tied to wildlife, conservation, and animal care.
Typical awards cluster around a median of $21,500, with a 25th percentile of $10,625 and a 75th percentile of $31,750. The recent list also includes several much larger unrestricted grants, showing that Arcadia makes both mid-sized and major institutional awards. Recipients appear across multiple years in several cases, including Elmwood Park Zoo, Drexel University, Jenkins Arboretum Gardens, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Aark Wildlife Rehab Education Center. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant records shown are all unrestricted, consistent with flexible support.
$2.2M
$23.7M
$1.8M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $11K and $32K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$32K
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Grantmaking is local and entirely U.S.-based, with 79 grants to recipients in the United States. Pennsylvania is the clear center of activity, and every grant in the data goes to a Pennsylvania recipient. Philadelphia appears repeatedly, along with Norristown, King of Prussia, and other nearby communities such as Doylestown, Devon, and Chadds Ford. The pattern points to a tightly regional portfolio rather than multi-state or national grantmaking.
The recent grants list shows a strong emphasis on museums, higher education, and wildlife or environmental education. Examples include Woodmere Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Drexel University, Elmwood Park Zoo, and Riverbend Environmental Education Center, all funded with unrestricted grants.
Yes. Every listed recent grant is marked “NO RESTRICTIONS,” including awards to Woodmere Art Museum, Elmwood Park Zoo, Drexel University, and several local community organizations. That indicates the foundation often provides flexible support rather than project-specific funding.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers around a median of $21,500. The 25th percentile is $10,625 and the 75th percentile is $31,750, showing that many awards are in the low-to-mid five-figure range even though some recent gifts are much larger.
Its grantmaking is local and concentrated in Pennsylvania. The data shows 79 grants to U.S. recipients and 100% of grants to recipients in Pennsylvania, with repeated awards to organizations in Philadelphia, Norristown, King of Prussia, and nearby suburbs.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grant list, including Elmwood Park Zoo, Drexel University, Jenkins Arboretum Gardens, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Aark Wildlife Rehab Education Center. That recurring pattern suggests ongoing relationships with some grantees.
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 | $500,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| ELMWOOD PARK ZOO | NORRISTOWN, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $164,524 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| GERMAN SOCIETY OF PA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| NORRISTOWN NEW LIFE MENNONITE CHURC | NORRISTOWN, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY | DOYLESTOWN, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| NORRISTOWN YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATI | NORRISTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| JENKINS ARBORETUM GARDENS | DEVON, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION C | GLADWYNE, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| MISSION KIDS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | BLUE BELL, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| LEHIGH CARBON COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SCHNECKSVILLE, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| THEATRE HORIZON | NORRISTOWN, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| AARK WILDLIFE REHAB EDUCATION CENTE | CHALFONT, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY HERITAGE CENT | PENNSBURG, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| THE DRAMATEURS INC | EAGLEVILLE, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| UPPER MERION AREA COMMUNITY CUPBOAR | KING OF PRUSSIA, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| THE PATHWAY SCHOOL | JEFFERSONVILLE, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| BRANDYWINE CONSERVANCY MUESEUM OF A | CHADDS FORD, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| WOMEN'S ANIMAL CENTER | BENSALEM, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| CEDAR CREST COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| LANTERN THEATER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| PROVIDENCE ANIMAL CENTER | MEDIA, PA | $22,785 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | MEDIA, PA | $22,481 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| SCHUYKILL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| CHANNEL 39 913 WLVR | BETHLEHEM, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| EASTER SEAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $17,350 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY | PHILADLEPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| LYRIC FEST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| CRADLES TO CRAYONS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| ACT II PLAYHOUSE | AMBLER, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| JEFFERSON MAGEE REHAB FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| UPPER DARBY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DREXEL HILL, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| GOOD WORKS | COATESVILLE, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING CENTER | WARMINSTER, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| LANKENAU INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESE | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $14,375 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| WASHINGTON MEMORIAL HERITAGE | VALLEY FORGE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| WAYNE ART CENTER | WAYNE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| MARTHA'S CHOICE MARKETPLACE | NORRISTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| COATESVILLE YOUTH INITIATIVE | COATESVILLE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENTER | BETHLEHEM, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| PHILADELPHIA BOYS GIRLS CHOIR | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| PHILADELPHIA BALLET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| GEMMA SERVICES | PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| AMERICA RESPONDS WITH LOVE INC | VALLEY FORGE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| QUINTESSENCE THEATER GROUP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| PETER'S PLACE | RADNOR, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
| FRIENDS HOME IN KENNETT | KENNETT SQUARE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | NO RESTRICTIONS |
ELMWOOD PARK ZOO
$300,000NO RESTRICTIONS
NORRISTOWN NEW LIFE MENNONITE CHURC
NO RESTRICTIONS
DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY
$60,000NO RESTRICTIONS
NORRISTOWN YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATI
$50,000NO RESTRICTIONS
JENKINS ARBORETUM GARDENS
$50,000NO RESTRICTIONS
RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION C
$50,000NO RESTRICTIONS
MISSION KIDS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
$50,000NO RESTRICTIONS
AARK WILDLIFE REHAB EDUCATION CENTE
$30,000NO RESTRICTIONS
SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY HERITAGE CENT
$30,000NO RESTRICTIONS
THE DRAMATEURS INC
$30,000NO RESTRICTIONS
UPPER MERION AREA COMMUNITY CUPBOAR
$30,000NO RESTRICTIONS
THE PATHWAY SCHOOL
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
BRANDYWINE CONSERVANCY MUESEUM OF A
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
WOMEN'S ANIMAL CENTER
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
CEDAR CREST COLLEGE
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
LANTERN THEATER
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
1812 PRODUCTIONS
$25,000NO RESTRICTIONS
PROVIDENCE ANIMAL CENTER
$22,785NO RESTRICTIONS
DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$22,481NO RESTRICTIONS
SCHUYKILL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
$20,000NO RESTRICTIONS
CHANNEL 39 913 WLVR
$20,000NO RESTRICTIONS
EASTER SEAL
$17,350NO RESTRICTIONS
LYRIC FEST
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
CRADLES TO CRAYONS
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
ACT II PLAYHOUSE
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
JEFFERSON MAGEE REHAB FOUNDATION
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
UPPER DARBY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$15,000NO RESTRICTIONS
LANKENAU INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESE
$14,375NO RESTRICTIONS
WASHINGTON MEMORIAL HERITAGE
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
WAYNE ART CENTER
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
COATESVILLE YOUTH INITIATIVE
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENTER
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
PHILADELPHIA BOYS GIRLS CHOIR
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
PHILADELPHIA BALLET
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
AMERICA RESPONDS WITH LOVE INC
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS
FRIENDS HOME IN KENNETT
$10,000NO RESTRICTIONS