Call for Public Comment

We Invite Your Feedback: Proposed Changes to Our Grantmaking for 2027

Deadline: May 22nd!

For decades, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation has worked in close partnership with the civil legal aid community to advance equitable access to justice. As the legal services landscape and funding environment have evolved over time, the Foundation is proposing refinements to its grantmaking framework to better align funding approaches with organizational capacity, while remaining responsive, equitable, and preserving the stability of long‑standing partnerships. The proposed updates outlined below are shared for public comment to invite feedback before any changes are finalized.  

Proposed Changes to the 2027 Grantmaking Framework

Under the proposed framework, the Foundation would continue its commitment to unrestricted support while introducing clearer guidance around funding types to support both organizational sustainability and growth‑oriented initiatives.

General Operating Support for Smaller Organizations 

• Civil legal aid organizations primarily operating in Philadelphia with annual operating budgets under $2.5 million to $4 million would be eligible for general operating support, recognizing the essential role that unrestricted funding plays in sustaining core services, staffing, and organizational stability.

Flexible Funding (Open to All Organizations) 

• Flexible grants would be open to any organization operating primarily in Philadelphia, regardless of annual budget, to support organizational priorities, core operations, and/or clearly defined projects or initiatives. This funding is intended to:
  • Enable larger grant amounts that align with organizational goals and impact
  • Provide support for core operations as well as innovation, expansion, or time-limited initiatives

  • Advance work guided by clear objectives and measurable outcomes, without requiring restriction to a specific program

    This approach allows organizations of all sizes to access funding that strengthens overall capacity and impact, while aligning with the Foundation’s strategic priorities.

Creation of a Discretionary Fund 

• The proposed framework includes a Discretionary Fund, administered by the Foundation, to allow for timely, flexible responses to emerging or one‑time needs outside the regular grant cycle. This may include unexpected funding disruptions or pilot efforts aligned with access‑to‑justice priorities. Discretionary funding would complement—not replace—the annual grant program.

Proposed Allocation of Grant Dollars 

• To balance stability, flexibility, and innovation across the grant portfolio, the Foundation is proposing the following general allocation of annual grant dollars: 
  • Approximately 60–65% for general operating support 
  • Approximately 25–30% for project‑based grants
  • Approximately 10% reserved for discretionary funding by PBF