The William Penn Foundation is offering a funding opportunity through its Caregiver Supports objective, specifically focused on supporting grandfamilies and kinship caregivers in Philadelphia. This initiative reflects the Foundation's commitment to improving outcomes for children in traditionally marginalized communities by bolstering caregiving supports. Research underscores the positive outcomes for children raised by grandparents or relatives, including increased stability and better mental and behavioral health. Despite these benefits, grandfamilies often struggle with financial hardship, lack of resources, isolation, and challenges accessing services.

This targeted Request for Proposals (RFP) is intended to support programs that benefit grandfamilies—households in which grandparents or other adult family members are raising children without the parents present. Eligible projects must focus on families with young children between the ages of 0 and 8. The Foundation encourages proposals that aim to expand or improve services and access to resources for these families. Although the Foundation typically funds caregiver supports broadly, this RFP represents a focused approach in response to the unique needs of grandfamilies in Philadelphia.

The most competitive proposals will incorporate at least two of the following activities: increasing access to services for grandfamilies, offering adult development workshops, providing intergenerational programming with early learning components, expanding outreach, creating peer support systems, offering referrals and resources, conducting advocacy or ecosystem development work, or other innovative strategies to enhance outcomes for grandfamilies. Programs must be conducted either in-person or in a hybrid format; solely virtual programs are ineligible. Additionally, this funding opportunity excludes support for physical health services, early intervention services, or full-time childcare.

Applicants may request up to two years of funding, with no specified minimum or maximum amount. However, grant requests under $400,000 will be most competitive. A total of $4 million is available through this RFP, with at least $500,000 reserved for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million and/or those led by individuals from historically excluded or marginalized groups. Proposals submitted in partnership will be evaluated individually but encouraged for their collaborative potential. Following proposal review, selected applicants will be invited to participate in site visits and provide additional information.

All applications must be submitted through the William Penn Foundation’s Grants Portal. The application deadline is April 25, 2025. A live informational webinar will be held on March 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with a recorded version to be made available afterward. For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact the Foundation at grants@williampennfoundation.org or (215) 988-1830.