The Increasing Voter Participation opportunity, offered through the William Penn Foundation’s Democracy and Civic Initiatives program, supports nonpartisan efforts to increase the number of eligible voters in Pennsylvania, with a focus on communities that have been historically underrepresented in the electorate.

Overview

The William Penn Foundation seeks to build trust and participation in Pennsylvania’s democratic processes, particularly among underrepresented communities. The objective is to increase voter turnout in Philadelphia’s 2031 general election compared to 31% in 2023, and to raise voter turnout in communities of color in Pennsylvania’s 2032 presidential election to the same level as overall voter turnout. The Foundation encourages proposals that focus on individuals who are regularly underrepresented, including groups defined by race, age, income, educational attainment, disability status, geography, or other factors linked to lower voter participation.

Funding and Benefits

The Foundation has a total of $2.5 million available to advance this objective. At least half of the total amount awarded will be reserved for grants to organizations that have budgets under $2 million per year and/or are led by individuals who are members of groups with a history of discrimination or exclusion.

• Maximum request: $500,000 for 24 months.
• Most competitive requests: Under $350,000 over 24 months.
• Grant period: Up to 24 months for activities taking place between December 2026 and December 2028.
• Location: Proposed projects must occur in Pennsylvania.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates include organizations proposing nonpartisan efforts to increase voter participation. The most competitive proposals will focus on people regularly underrepresented in the electorate. Organizations may propose projects in partnership with other applicants; partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise are encouraged. All proposals that meet the review criteria described in the full RFP are welcome.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted through the William Penn Foundation Grants Portal. After reviewing proposals, the Foundation will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations. If an application has already been started in response to this RFP, applicants should visit the Proposals in Progress section in the Grants Portal to view or continue the application process.

Interested organizations are invited to participate in an optional informational webinar.

• Webinar date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET.
• Registration: A recording will be posted to the RFP page following the live session.

Deadline and Timeline

Deadline to respond: July 30, 2026.

Proposed activities must take place between December 2026 and December 2028. The Foundation requests proposals for up to 24 months of funding.

Contact Information

General Contact: William Penn Foundation, Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Phone: (215) 988-1830. Email: grants@williampennfoundation.org.

For the full RFP packet and application, visit the Voter Participation RFP.