Grants to Pennsylvania and New Jersey Nonprofits for Arts and Cultural Programming
Arts and Culture - Arts and Culture Programming
Agency
Foundation
GrantWatch ID#
129625
Get Alerts
Funding Source
Geographic Focus
USA: New Jersey: Camden; Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties
Important Dates
Deadline: 10/22/26 5:00 PM ET
Track in My GrantWatch Calendar
Information contained in this post may be based on the previous cycle. Guidelines will be updated as they become available.
Grant Description
Grants to Pennsylvania and New Jersey nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programming in eligible locations. Funding is intended to expand access to diverse, inclusive, and high-quality arts and culture experiences. The grant program supports performances, exhibitions, and other projects designed to address historic inequities of access to arts and culture. The majority of funding will be awarded to projects in Philadelphia; however, projects in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties, and the City of Camden, NJ, will also be considered.
Engaging with the arts builds a sense of connection among participants and/or within the community, reinforces cultural identities, and improves community livability and resilience. High-quality performances, exhibitions, hands-on opportunities to make art, and other arts and culture experiences also catalyze a greater understanding of and appreciation for other cultures and backgrounds.
To help more people across Greater Philadelphia connect to arts and culture, the grant program is focusing on supporting high-quality arts and culture experiences intentionally designed, developed, and presented to engage and benefit a specific community or audience.
Categories
AI Grant Writing Tool
Use AI to write stronger proposals, LOIs, budgets, and narratives for this grant opportunity.
Launch AI Tool
Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Applicants must also have annual operating budgets greater than $750,000. Eligible applicants include:
• Artist collectives: a group of artists who come together to collaborate, share resources, and work toward common creative and/or social goals.
• Arts and culture organizations: organizations with a mission that centers on the creation, performance, and/or presentation of artistic and cultural programs and experiences.
• Community-based organizations: local, nonprofit groups that work to improve conditions for and directly serve the needs of their communities.
• Public institutions: government entities and agencies.
WPF funds the following disciplines: dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, media arts, music, musical theater, opera, multidisciplinary arts, theater, and visual arts. Organizations that are not primarily arts and culture organizations must have a history of high-quality artistic programming and the appropriate artistic staff.
• Artist collectives: a group of artists who come together to collaborate, share resources, and work toward common creative and/or social goals.
• Arts and culture organizations: organizations with a mission that centers on the creation, performance, and/or presentation of artistic and cultural programs and experiences.
• Community-based organizations: local, nonprofit groups that work to improve conditions for and directly serve the needs of their communities.
• Public institutions: government entities and agencies.
WPF funds the following disciplines: dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, media arts, music, musical theater, opera, multidisciplinary arts, theater, and visual arts. Organizations that are not primarily arts and culture organizations must have a history of high-quality artistic programming and the appropriate artistic staff.
Pre-Application Information
Timeline:
• Open: Sept. 9, 2026
• Deadline: October 22, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET
• Board review: Feb. 2027
• Open: March 3, 2027
• Deadline: April 22, 2027, by 5:00 PM ET
• Board review: July. 2027
Arts and Culture Information: https://williampennfoundation.org/program/arts-and-culture
Funding Opportunities: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities
How to Apply: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/how-apply
FAQs: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/frequently-asked-questions
• Open: Sept. 9, 2026
• Deadline: October 22, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET
• Board review: Feb. 2027
• Open: March 3, 2027
• Deadline: April 22, 2027, by 5:00 PM ET
• Board review: July. 2027
Arts and Culture Information: https://williampennfoundation.org/program/arts-and-culture
Funding Opportunities: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities
How to Apply: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/how-apply
FAQs: https://williampennfoundation.org/funding/frequently-asked-questions
Estimated Size of Grant
There is no minimum amount of funding that projects may request. And while no absolute maximum amount can be requested, the most competitive proposals will be those with total grant requests of under $300,000 (over two years). The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contributions that the project will make to the overall objective.
Term of Contract
Proposals should be for projects up to two years in duration.
Contact Information
Apply: https://wpf.my.site.com/grantee/s/login/
Direct questions to Program Officer Meghan Beals at mbeals@williampennfoundation.org.
William Penn Foundation
Two Logan Square, Suite 1100
100 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1830
grants@williampennfoundation.org
Direct questions to Program Officer Meghan Beals at mbeals@williampennfoundation.org.
William Penn Foundation
Two Logan Square, Suite 1100
100 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1830
grants@williampennfoundation.org
RFP & Supporting Documents
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.
