PHILADELPHIA250 Announces Semi-finalists for $125,000 Grant Competition

PHILADELPHIA250 wrapped up the month of June by unveiling the 11 community-focused organizations who will serve as semi-finalists in our Leave a Legacy grant competition.

Against the inspiring backdrop of Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse in Fairmont, the Red, White & Blueprint event attracted hundreds of attendees who were eager to learn more about the bold projects with the potential to serve as our city’s legacy for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. Guests of all ages participated in event experiences that allowed them to help shape and contribute to the most inclusive and transformative anniversary milestone in our country’s history.

Declaration Stations inviting participants to share their aspirations for 2026, themed coloring and creative pop-ups, live music, food trucks, along with immersive activations hosted by Special Olympics Pennsylvania for attendees of all abilities, made for a lively and celebratory event.

Selected from nearly 100 proposals based on four criteria — project relevance, community impact, legacy potential and team capabilities — the Leave a Legacy semi-finalists announced by PHILADELPHIA250 included:

• Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia proposes to bring bicycles and biking resources to green spaces in underinvested communities in North and Northeast Philadelphia, as well as launch a mobile bike hub that will travel to green spaces near Circuit Trails across the region.
• HealthTribe Student Network seeks to be a permanent, community-based solution that connects students to healthcare professionals mentors. The primary objective is to extend Philly’s healthcare network and partner with schools in underserved communities of color.
• Our Market will work to deliver a community centered, multi-layered, multi-year public art project focused on telling the stories of cultural and commercial corridors, beginning with the 9th Street Market in South Philadelphia.
• Philadelphia Music Alliance proposes a decentralized, mobile music museum connected by a heritage trail. The museum will promote the preservation of existing music heritage sites, as well as create a revenue-generating brand that drives tourism dollars to music organizations and neighborhood businesses
• Red Feather’s Legacy seeks to re-establish a cultural center that will serve as a hub for Native American/Indigenous People’s engagement, social services, advocacy for policy and dialogue with the City of Philadelphia, and promotion of culture of Native American/Indigenous people.
• Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse wants to teach children the history of under-represented heroes and social activism in Philadelphia through playful learning experiences, empower kids to see their role in the future of social activism, and enhance opportunities for play where resources are scarce.
• Special Olympics Pennsylvania looks to further advance Cities of Inclusion focusing on the approximately 246,000 Philadelphians who identify as a person with a disability to ensure neighborhoods work for them across the key areas of education, employment, health, housing and access to information and services.
• The Miyanda Project proposes to address a gap in public schools: the lack of school counselors to provide support, guidance, and information for students so they can create a strong plan to be successful in their dreams and goals after high school.
• The West Philly Bunny Hop, a mutual aid program that provides free, healthy food to families, plans to scale and decentralize its services and share expertise via an advisory group to help businesses big and small to incorporate food access practices into their day-to-day operations.
• Why Not Prosper, Inc. helping formerly incarcerated women create change for themselves and other women, their families and the community, is seeking to make life better for women currently in prison and those who are recently released through outreach, education, referrals, healing services and advocacy.
• Writers Room at Drexel University — Through its Second Story Collective program, developing a model through which older people with limited financial resources share their homes with younger people. This home sharing strategy will allow older people to remain in their homes and reduce displacement of long-term residents.

“We are energized by the ambitious proposals exemplifying the passion, range, and creativity,” stated PHILADELPHIA250 Executive Director, Danielle DiLeo Kim. “It is clear that the Leave a Legacy semi-finalists are deeply invested in a healthy, connected, and stronger Philadelphia as seen from their impactful project ideas.”

Each semi-finalist was awarded a portion of the $125,000 in seed capital provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Philadelphia Foundation and will participate in a four-month incubation program hosted by CIC and informed by the expertise of the Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University and Econsult Solutions.

During the incubation, semi-finalists will work with the support of an expert team convened by PHILADELPHIA250 to address questions about their projects’ technical and organizational capacity and refine their proposals. Organizations also will be asked to demonstrate authentic engagement with their target communities and stakeholders, along with connecting the project to at least one of PHILADELPHIA250 values (Shared Prosperity, People’s Histories, Revolutionary Actions, Pursuit of Happiness).

The Leave a Legacy review panel will select the finalists at a public expo in December 2022. The review panel managing the selection process is composed of representatives from the Legacy Leaders Task Force, a cross-sector group composed of more than 40 businesses, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, as well as external community participants.

For the latest updates regarding our Leave a Legacy semi-finalists and project spotlights make sure to follow us on social media.