How to apply
Independence foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Each year the foundation sends out request for proposals (rfp) under the following categories: Culture and the arts, health care initiative, human services, public interest legal aid, reentry, recidivism & restorative justice, public interest law fellowship program, and fellowships in the arts program. Organizations not previously funded by the foundation are encouraged to send a two page letter of inquiry including organizational background information, amount being requested and description of the program/services for which the… Contact: Reginald Shuford President Independ, 200 South Broad Street Suite 1101, Philadelphia, Pa, 2159854009 Deadlines: The foundation establishes a grant cycle on a yearly basis and all decisions are made in cycle. Restrictions: Letters of inquiry will be reviewed for consistency with current funding priorities. Should the application, after review by the board of directors, prove to be within the scope of the foundation's interests, the applicant will be advised and the necessary interviews may be arranged prior to a final determination by the board of directors.
Quoted from Part XV of the foundation's 2025 Form 990-PF; the full text is in the filing. Confirm on the foundation's website before you write.
Grants paid in 2025
Top 60 of 223 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Association of Non- Profit OrganizationsHarrisburg, PA | Legal clearinghouse / policy coordination, nonprofit navigatore and operating support | $200K |
| Community Legal Services IncPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $185K |
| Philadelphia FoundationPhiladelphia, PA | Immigrant and refugee emergency fund, philly gives, regional food fund | $95K |
| Pennsylvania Institutional Law ProjectPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $90K |
| Friends of Farmworkers IncPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $87K |
| Planned Parenthood Southeastern PaPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $81K |
| Pennsylvania Health Law ProjectPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $81K |
| Pennsylvania Health Access NetworkPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $75K |
| Project HomePhiladelphia, PA | Healthcare services at stephen klein wellness center / hub for hope | $75K |
| Philadelphia Mural Arts AdvocatesPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $70K |
| Community College of Philadelphia FoundationPhiladelphia, PA | Teaching nursing home project | $70K |
| Community Legal Services IncPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $60K |
| Seniorlaw CenterPhiladelphia, PA | General support / carie advocacy transition | $60K |
| PhilabundancePhiladelphia, PA | General support / employee engagement | $58K |
| Legal Clinic for the Disabled IncPhiladelphia, PA | General support w/ pulic interest law fellowship | $57K |
| Womens Law ProjectPhiladelphia, PA | Challenge grant for 50th anniversary of women's law project | $52K |
| Lch Health and Community ServicesKennett Square, PA | General support | $51K |
| Opera PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $50K |
| Prevention Point Philadelphia IncorporatedPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $50K |
| Puentes de SaludPhiladelphia, PA | Puentes de salud health program | $50K |
| Seachange Capital Partners IncNew York, NY | Nonprofit repositioning fund | $50K |
| United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New JerseyPhiladeplhia, PA | Coordinated capacity strengthening initiative | $50K |
| Zoological Society of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $50K |
| American Civil Liberties Foundation of Pennsylvania IncPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $47K |
| Nationalities Service Center of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $44K |
| Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center IncPhiladelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $39K |
| Integrate for Good IncCreamery, PA | General support / jimenez stratesies' 2026 tech and fundraising boot camp | $35K |
| Legal Aid Southeastern Pennsylvania IncNorristown, PA | General support | $35K |
| Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center IncPhiladelphia, PA | General support / senior attorney sabbatical program | $35K |
| The Foundation for Delaware CountyMedia, PA | Pa fire | $35K |
| Regional Housing Legal ServicesPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $32K |
| Students Run Philly StylePhiladelphia, PA | General support / challenge grant | $32K |
| Share Food Program IncPhiladelphia, PA | Delaware county food bank | $26K |
| Canine Partners for LifeCochranville, PA | General support | $25K |
| Carpenters Company of the City and County of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | Challenge grant for young people's continental congress | $25K |
| Children FIRST PaPhiladelphia, PA | Behavioral health services for children | $25K |
| Community College of Philadelphia FoundationPhiladelphia, PA | 19130 zip code project | $25K |
| FringeartsPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Juvenile Law CenterPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Mann Center for the Performing ArtsPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition AlliancePhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Pennsylvania Ballet AssociationPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Philadelphia Mural Arts AdvocatesPhiladelphia, PA | Restorative justice guild program / women's reentry | $25K |
| Philadelphia Youth for ChangePhiladelphia, PA | Challenge grant | $25K |
| Planned Parenthood KeystoneAllentown, PA | Operating support for bucks county health centers | $25K |
| Project HomePhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| The Food TrustPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| The Scribe Video Center IncPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $25K |
| Your Agency IncorporatedPhiladelphia, PA | 2:1 challenge grant for the creation of the ministry of awe | $25K |
| Hias and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia IncPhiladelphia, PA | Public insterest law fellowship | $22K |
| Arden Theatre CompanyPhiladelphia, PA | As $2,500 for the andrea mengel fund, and $17,500 unrestricted | $20K |
| Doing Good Well IncPhiladelphia, PA | Kensington collaborative | $20K |
| Rosenbach Museum and LibraryPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $20K |
| Support Center for Child AdvocatesPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $20K |
| Hias and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia IncPhiladelphia, PA | Legal services | $17K |
| New Leash on Life USAPenn Valley, PA | General support | $16K |
| Face to FacePhiladelphia, PA | General support | $15K |
| Friends of Farmworkers IncPhiladelphia, PA | General support | $15K |
| Greater Philadelphia Cultural AlliancePhiladelphia, PA | General support | $15K |
| Nationalities Service Center of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | Legal services | $15K |
By state: Pennsylvania 213 · New York 3 · North Carolina 2 · Alabama 1 · Colorado 1 · District of Columbia 1
About this foundation
Independence Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, administered in care of Offices at the Bellevue, tax-exempt since 1946. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.
Does Independence Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation indicates it accepts applications. Independence foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Deadlines: The foundation establishes a grant cycle on a yearly basis and all decisions are made in cycle..
How much does Independence Foundation give each year?
In tax year 2025 it paid $4.0M across 223 grants, a median of $10K.
Where does Independence Foundation give?
Pennsylvania (213 grants), New York (3 grants), North Carolina (2 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.
More foundations near Philadelphia that accept applications
All in Pennsylvania| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Penn Foundationsince 1947 | Philadelphia, PA | $149M1,027 grants · 2024 | $50K | Yes | $3.3B |
| Independence Blue Cross Foundationsince 2011 | Philadelphia, PA | $8.7M70 grants · 2024 | $70K | Yes | $131M |
| Cigna Foundationsince 1964 | Philadelphia, PA | $14M4,075 grants · 2024 | $250 | Yes | $127M |