Advancing Greater Philadelphia > ANNUAL REPORT 2004 The Foundation effects change using a variety of tools appropriate to the issues facing Greater Philadelphia. With this annual report, we hope to build a better understanding ADVOCACY of our approaches to policy and systems change. CAPACITY COLLABORATION DEMONSTRATION EVIDENCE > ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Table of Contents 2 What We Do 4 Leadership Letter 7 Advancing Greater Philadelphia Through Policy and Systems Change 9 Advocacy 11 Capacity 13 Collaboration 15 Demonstration 17 Evidence 18 History of the Foundation 22 Founding Philosophies 24 Facts and Figures: Financial Highlights 28 Facts and Figures: Awards and Payments 30 Grant Awards: Arts & Culture 34 Grant Awards: Children, Youth, & Families 38 Grant Awards: Environment & Communities 44 Grant Awards: Opportunity Fund 45 Grant Awards: 50th Anniversary Grant 46 Members of the Corporation and Board of Directors 47 Foundation Staff >WHAT WE DO Foundation Programs The William Penn Foundation makes grants in three principal areas, guided by a strategic plan adopted in 2001. A fourth program evaluates the progress of our funding strategies and shares knowledge gained through our grantmaking. Artistic expression is a hallmark of a When all children and families have diverse, healthy region. Through our access to opportunity, society benefits. Arts & Culture program, we provide Our Children, Youth, & Families various types of core operating support program funds work in our region and planning grants for arts groups to promote a better early care and and cultural institutions, enabling them education system, more effective and to pursue their creative missions with equitable education policies, networks confidence in their organization’s future. of developmental opportunities for We also fund projects that broadly older youth, and improvements to advance the region’s cultural sector. the systems supporting families. Our Our funding strategies respond to the grantmaking strategies focus largely needs of Greater Philadelphia’s cultural on critical transitions in the lives of community and seek to deepen public children as they progress from birth, appreciation and support for the arts. through early childhood, and into 4 young adulthood. Healthy ecosystems and communities are We believe that lessons gained from our essential for a livable and economically grantmaking can be used to help keep competitive region. Our Environment our work relevant, effective, and valuable & Communities program uses an to the fields in which we work. Our integrated grantmaking approach to Focus on Learning program evaluates enhance the sustainability of the region’s the progress of our funding strategies ecosystems and urban centers. The pro- and creates opportunities to learn and gram seeks to foster greater cross-sector share knowledge acquired over time. collaborations that build on the assets of our region through revitalization of our urban communities and protection and restoration of watersheds, including critical habitats and waterways. Our Environment & Communities funding is designed to develop and promote innovative leadership and best practices. 5 Prospective grantees should visit the Foundation online at williampennfoundation.org for detailed information about our funding strategies in each of these areas, eligibility requirements, and procedures for submitting a letter of inquiry. >LEADERSHIP LETTER Dear Friends: The year 2004 was a bittersweet one Indeed, the Foundation remains stead- for the William Penn Foundation. In fast in pursuing its vision of a better December, Kathy Engebretson made region. It is a course that began long public her serious illness and her need ago, and continues as the Foundation to step down as president early in the enters its 60th year. We are excited about new year. She succumbed to cancer the possibilities under the leadership of just weeks later—a tragic loss of a truly our new president, Feather O. Houstoun. remarkable person at the young age of 48. Her impact on the Foundation, our Feather shares a deep commitment to region, and everyone who knew her will our mission and brings an outstanding be deep and lasting. set of skills and talents that will fortify our efforts to secure a brighter future for Kathy led the Foundation with a unique Greater Philadelphia. Her significant blend of intelligence, perseverance, and experience in each of the Foundation’s grace. Many will remember her sharp three grantmaking areas and her decades 6 mind, gentle wit, and commitment to of public service at all levels of govern- Greater Philadelphia. Those of us who ment and civic life will help us have an had the good fortune to know and work impact on a wide range of public policy with her were impressed by Kathy’s issues, while staying in tune with the incredible courage and dedication to needs of our community. both family and work. During her illness, she was determined to keep the Found- ation focused on its mission of regional advancement, and insisted on working until her final days to ensure that nothing would deter us. In Memoriam Kathryn J. Engebretson 1956–2005 We hope the following pages create The William Penn a clearer understanding of how our Foundation was policy-oriented work complements blessed to benefit from our traditional grantmaking, helping the leadership, vision, and courage of Kathy to effect broad change in our region. Engebretson, first as a board member, and Kathy was a strong proponent of as president since 2001. Kathy’s was a life employing philanthropy as a vehicle well-lived: one marked by integrity, hard for policy and systems change, and it work, good humor, the deep admiration of is fitting that this annual report covers her colleagues, and the love of her family her final year, as it also marks the and friends. beginning of Feather’s leadership. In addition to her numerous contributions, Sincerely, Kathy solidified the Foundation’s focus on policy-oriented grantmaking, while remaining responsive to community needs. Before her death in early 2005, she helped to develop 7 David Haas the concept of this edition: a document Chair of the Board designed to illustrate the Foundation’s approach to policy work and systems change. This annual report is humbly dedicated to Janet Haas, M.D. the memory of Kathy Engebretson and her Chair of the Corporation vision for Greater Philadelphia. Her impact on the Foundation and our region will not be forgotten. Advancing Greater Philadelphia Through Policy and Systems Change For nearly 60 years, the William Penn care and education, equity and quality Foundation has supported a variety of in public education, protection of open programs and institutions in Philadelphia spaces and watersheds, sustainable and its surrounding communities. What growth, support for arts and culture, began as a family trust has grown into a and youth development. Through these billion-dollar philanthropic organization, efforts, we strive for a more livable, which today is the largest foundation economically competitive region, with focusing exclusively on the needs of opportunity for all. Our grantmaking the Greater Philadelphia region. is designed to promote greater civic engagement and a more rational frame- Since 1945, the Foundation has addressed work for investments in our region. key needs in our region, making thousands of grants to organizations delivering a In order to effect change across such wide range of services. Over time, we a broad range of policy areas, the have learned from our grantees and our Foundation uses a variety of tools, community that many of the programs appropriate to each issue. This annual and services we support sometimes report identifies five of these tools: struggle in dysfunctional social systems, advocacy, capacity, collaboration, held in place by outdated or poorly demonstration, and evidence. They conceived policies. Today, while we con- are rooted in our core principles, which tinue to fund organizations delivering can be found on page 23 of this report. services to meet regional needs, we Our annual report for 2004 should not be simultaneously work to address the root seen as a comprehensive digest of our 9 causes of systemic problems that make policy-related grantmaking. Many grants it difficult to achieve a vision of Greater that are emblematic of our approach are Philadelphia as a dynamic, diverse region not described here. Much of our work with meaningful opportunity. We attempt could be characterized by several of these to do this through grants that lead to tools, and we recognize that each may fundamental changes in the policies and have broader applications. For clarity, we systems that affect the issues we care have made choices that we hope best about, enabling us to amplify the impact illustrate our objectives and strategies. of our resources, leveraging maximum By providing specific examples from our benefit for our community. 2004 grantmaking, we hope to create a A look at the Foundation’s work in 2004 better understanding of how the Founda- reveals an organization promoting policy tion seeks to leverage resources to influ- and systems change in a number of areas: ence policy and systems change for the community development, early childhood advancement of Greater Philadelphia. advocacy We support strong, well-informed for Children and Philadelphia Citizens organizations adept at educating the for Children and Youth are gaining public and policymakers about con- greater leverage at the state and local structive approaches to