Center for Leadership Equity
Who can apply: Calling all Black nonprofit leaders in Greater Philadelphia; membership/application through BNCEP community.

To end poverty and expand opportunity for all in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by providing immediate relief, long-term support, and capacity building through partnerships with individuals, businesses, government, and community organizations.
The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a multi-million-dollar relationship with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania: $2,416,223 in 2024 and $2,213,844 in 2023. That scale sits alongside a portfolio built around poverty-fighting nonprofits, unrestricted support in selected cycles, and regional efforts tied to immediate relief, long-term achievement, and capacity building. The foundation also shows repeated backing for organizations working on tax assistance, food access, financial empowerment, and educational support. In Philadelphia, Campaign for Working Families Inc. received $620,375 in 2023 and $603,500 in 2024, while Utility Emergency Services Fund received $666,000 in 2023 and $576,000 in 2024. The pattern suggests sustained relationships rather than one-off awards, with the foundation directing substantial resources to organizations that provide direct services and help stabilize households. Grants also reach groups such as Lakeside Youth Service, Clarifi, and First Up, indicating a blend of emergency response, family support, and long-term opportunity work across the region.
A clear thread in the portfolio is support for financial stability and tax-time services. Campaign For Working Families received $603,500 in 2024, and Benefits Data Trust received $157,500 in 2024, both consistent with the foundation’s emphasis on financial empowerment. Education and early learning also appear across the grants list. First Up received $162,500 in 2024, and Maternity Care Coalition received $202,500 in 2024, pointing to a mix of early-learning and family-support investments. The foundation also funds basic-needs work tied to hunger and emergency response. Share Food Program Inc received $182,500 in 2024, Philabundance received $167,500 in 2024, and Utility Emergency Services Fund received $576,000 in 2024. Capacity-building support appears in the funding for Urban Affairs Coalition, which received $244,582 in 2024.
Typical grants fall in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $9,027, a median of $23,963, and a p75 of $47,500. The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Utility Emergency Services Fund, Clarifi, Creative Health Services Inc, Maternity Care Coalition, and Benefits Data Trust. That points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is a mixed community foundation and does not fund individuals. Active grant programs include both unsolicited and restricted cycles, including the Partnership Grant Program and several place-based initiatives.
$8.6M
$116M
$19.4M
$21.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $48K, with a median of $24K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$24K
75th Percentile
$48K
WILLIAM A GOLDERER
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Pennsylvania, which accounts for 68% of grants, and the foundation gives most often in PA. Philadelphia appears frequently in the recent grants list, including awards to Campaign For Working Families, Utility Emergency Services Fund, Clarifi, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region. Other Pennsylvania cities and towns include Pittsburgh, North Wales, Norristown, and Pottstown. New Jersey recipients also appear, such as Westville, and one recent grant went to New York, NY.
The foundation supports preselected nonprofit organizations and third-party charities chosen by individual donors. Its recent grants include organizations working in financial empowerment, early learning, food access, tax assistance, and capacity building across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
The typical grant size is $9,027 at the 25th percentile, $23,963 at the median, and $47,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger multi-hundred-thousand-dollar grants, such as $603,500 to Campaign For Working Families in 2024.
No. The recent grants list shows repeated awards to several organizations across 2023 and 2024, including United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Utility Emergency Services Fund, Clarifi, Creative Health Services Inc, Maternity Care Coalition, and Benefits Data Trust.
Its active focus areas include Immediate Relief, Long-Term Achievement, Capacity Building, Early Learning, Career Pathways, Financial Empowerment, Community Resiliency, Digital Equity, Hunger relief, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Recent grants align with several of those areas through support for tax preparation, food access, and family services.
The foundation’s geographic scope is regional. Pennsylvania receives 68% of grants, and the recent-grants list is centered in Philadelphia with additional recipients in Pittsburgh, North Wales, Norristown, Pottstown, Westville, and New York City-area giving only appearing once.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Calling all Black nonprofit leaders in Greater Philadelphia; membership/application through BNCEP community.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UW OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $1,588,855 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| GREATER PHL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $664,574 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| AFRICAN CULTURAL ALL OF N AMERICA INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $529,938 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| CAMPAIGN FOR WORKING FAMILIES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $521,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHL LAWYERS FOR SOCIAL EQUITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORP PHL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHL, PA | $326,695 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAMUEL S FELS FUND | PHL, PA | $220,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DEFENDER ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $177,751 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| NJ 2-1-1 PARTNERSHIP | CEDAR KNOLLS, PA | $160,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BEECH COMMUNITY SERVICES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $135,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MEDIA FELLOWSHIP HOUSE | MEDIA, PA | $130,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPEN HEARTH INC | SPRING CITY, PA | $130,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLARIFI | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $115,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTHEAST ASIAN MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATIONS COALITION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $105,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BEYOND LITERACY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $105,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NUEVA ESPERANZA INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $105,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REINVESTMENT FUND (THE) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $103,200 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| READING ALLOWED | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $90,950 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UPLIFT SOLUTIONS INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $80,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ECONOMY LEAGUE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $80,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILADELPHIA AFL-CIO | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $71,250 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $66,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FATHER'S DAY RALLY COMMITTEE INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CORP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FEDERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NOMO FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILADELPHIA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $57,500 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED |
| URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | CHESTER, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LITERACY COUNCIL OF NORRISTOWN | NORRISTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACLAMO | NORRISTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF PENNSYLVANIA | HARRISBURG, PA | $40,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITIES RESOURCE CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PARKSIDE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP INC | CAMDEN, NJ | $35,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TECHNOLOGY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $34,980 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLLECTIVE CLIMB | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $33,333 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WHY NOT PROSPER INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $33,333 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ABOLITIONIST LAW CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $33,333 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FIRST STEP STAFFING | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MAKE IT HAPPEN PHILLY INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URBAN LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE REAWAKENING AGENCY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACHIEVEABILITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGENELI | BRYN MAWR, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CEIBA INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED
OPERATING SUPPORT
SAMUEL S FELS FUND
$220,000OPERATING SUPPORT
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA
$177,751OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED
NJ 2-1-1 PARTNERSHIP
$160,000OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED
BEECH COMMUNITY SERVICES
$150,000OPERATING SUPPORT
MEDIA FELLOWSHIP HOUSE
$130,000OPERATING SUPPORT
OPERATING SUPPORT
PHILADELPHIA AFL-CIO
$71,250OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED
FATHER'S DAY RALLY COMMITTEE INC
$60,000OPERATING SUPPORT
EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CORP
$60,000OPERATING SUPPORT
PHILADELPHIA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$57,500OPERATING SUPPORT / DONOR DESIGNATED
CHESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000OPERATING SUPPORT
LITERACY COUNCIL OF NORRISTOWN
$50,000OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$40,000OPERATING SUPPORT
PARKSIDE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP INC
$35,000OPERATING SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE
$34,980OPERATING SUPPORT
COLLECTIVE CLIMB
$33,333OPERATING SUPPORT
MAKE IT HAPPEN PHILLY INC
$30,000OPERATING SUPPORT
THE REAWAKENING AGENCY
$30,000OPERATING SUPPORT