Pennsylvania 

The Philadelphia Regional Fund for Sacred Places has been developed by Partners for Sacred Places to provide a major source of dedicated capital funding for historic, community-serving sacred places in the five county, southeastern Pennsylvania region.

What is the Philadelphia Regional Fund?

• The Philadelphia Regional Fund provides matching grants of $25,000 to $100,000 which leverages significant support from the greater community.
• The Fund provides awards to a targeted group of endangered sacred places that have:

             1) historical significance

             2) a major role in neighborhood stabilization

             3) strong and committed leadership and

             4) a comprehensive plan to address urgent repair needs.

• The Fund provides congregations with Partners' successful training and technical assistance program, which prepares them for community-wide partnership building and fundraising, and equips them to manage capital projects.

What is the Need for the Philadelphia Regional Fund?

• More than 90 percent of Philadelphia's congregations are de facto community centers, hosting social service and cultural programs that primarily serve non--congregational members.
• Many sacred places face severe repair problems; without an infusion of new funds over the next few years they may be forced to close their doors.
• Philadelphia's sacred places represent a major cultural legacy and a human and cultural service infrastructure valued at more than $256 million* annually.

Who Supports the Philadelphia Regional Fund?

• More than $2.4 million has been raised for capital grants, training, and technical assistance from the public, private and philanthropic sectors, including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

.

• An Advisory Committee of design/preservation, business, government, philanthropic, religious and non-profit leaders has guided the Fund's development. 

*Ram A. Cnaan, The Other Philadelphia Story:  How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in America, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006.

Resources

Peer-Learning Workshops

Maps of Philadelphia Regional Fund Grantees

Advisory Committee Members

Who Provides Funding for the Philadelphia Regional Fund?

If you are interested in applying to the grant program:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do We Qualify for the Fund?: A Self-Evaluation

2008 Grant Program Guidelines

Grantee Success Stories

Arch Street United Methodist Church, Center City

Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church,

 Northern Liberties

Old St. Joseph's Church, Society Hill

Shiloh Baptist Church, Southwest Center City

Archives

12 congregations awarded grants at the launch of the Philadelphia Regional Fund in May

Press Release

Fact Sheet

Profile of 2006 Partnership Grants with the Fund and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Keystone Grant Program

The Rev. Robin Hynicka spends time with Parkway High School students preparing for their career fair.  Arch Street United Methodist Church in Center City, Philadelphia hosted the event in its sanctuary.

For more information about The Philadelphia Regional Fund, contact Erin Coryell, Director of the Philadelphia Regional Fund at 215.567.3234 x18 or ecoryell@sacredplaces.org.   

   Philadelphia Regional Fund

   Partners for Sacred Places

   1700 Sansom Street, 10th Floor

   Philadelphia, PA  19103