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Philadelphia Foundation

EIN 23-1581832 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S FIRST PUBLICLY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND THE LARGEST DEVOTED TO IMPROVING LIVES IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA. FOR OVER A CENTURY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS SECTOR LEADERS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TURNED TO US FOR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT.IN OUR WORK AS A CIVIC CATALYST, TRUSTED PARTNER, AND STRATEGIC PROBLEM-SOLVER ALL DETAILED BELOW WE SEEK TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CIVIC VITALITY OF THE REGION. WE USE A ROBUST PORTFOLIO OF APPROACHES STRATEGIC LEADER, FUNDER, CONVENOR, RESOURCE AGGREGATOR, POLICY ADVOCATE TO ADVANCE THAT MISSION. OUR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT PROVIDING CIVIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP.

Income
$88.9 million
Spending
$52.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
57
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$528,416, president & ceo, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $46.7 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.1. CIVIC CATALYST: AS A PLACE-BASED PHILANTHROPIC AND CIVIC LEADER, WE CAN INVEST, PARTNER, LEAD, AND MAINTAIN FOCUS OVER AN EXTENDED TIME HORIZON. RECOGNIZING THESE STRENGTHS, INCREASINGLY WE ARE OPERATING PROACTIVELY IN OUR CIVIC LEADERSHIP ROLE DRIVING ATTENTION TO ISSUES AND BRINGING CAPACITY OFF THE SIDELINES. WE ALIGN DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS (CIVIC, BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENTAL) TO AMPLIFY IMPACT, MAKING THE WHOLE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE CIVIC COALITION TO SAVE LIVES, WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN PROVEN GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH SHARING VITAL DATA; FOSTERING NEW PARTNERSHIPS; GRANTMAKING; AND BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUSTAIN PROGRESS OVER TIME. FROM 2023 TO 2024, HOMICIDES IN PHILADELPHIA DROPPED OVER 35% SAVING MORE THAN 140 LIVES. ALSO IN 2024, GALVANIZED BY HARVARD PROFESSOR RAJ CHETTY'S SOBERING FINDING THAT THE PHILADELPHIA METRO WAS LAST AMONG 50 MAJOR METROS IN 2024 FOR UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY, PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION'S BOARD OF MANAGERS PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND: OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE WILL WORK TO MEASURABLY INCREASE FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR REGION.2. TRUSTED PARTNER: WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND DEEP CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE REGION STRENGTHS THAT MATTER BOTH WHEN ADDRESSING LONG-STANDING CHALLENGES AND RESPONDING TO NEW CRISES. AS A RESULT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS SECTOR LEADERS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TURN TO US FOR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION ADDRESSED URGENT NEEDS ACROSS THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION IN 2024, WITH NEARLY $63M IN GRANTS FROM ITS FUNDS AND THOSE OF ITS AFFILIATED SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. 3. STRATEGIC PROBLEM-SOLVER: WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE REGION'S PHILANTHROPIC ECOSYSTEM TO TRANSFORM WEALTH INTO LASTING IMPACT BRINGING A VISION FOR IMPACT TO LIFE. WE APPLY OUR EXPERTISE, RESOURCES, AND TOOLS TO HELP ITERATE, DEVELOP, AND STRENGTHEN A DONOR'S CONCEPT AND THEN EXECUTE ON IT. PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION STEWARDS OVER 1,100 CHARITABLE FUNDS AND AWARDS OVER 1,000 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS EACH YEAR. IN PARTNERING WITH DONORS TO TRANSFORM GENEROSITY INTO LASTING IMPACT, WE SEEK TO ENSURE THAT PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS REMAIN ACTIVE IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA AND AGGREGATE FUNDING TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.