Organizations submitting proposals to the Independence Foundation must be described under Section 501[c][3] of the Internal Revenue Code, and have a previous record of excellence in addressing local needs.

Generally excluded from the Foundation's programs of grants are contributions to individuals, building and development funds, and grants for travel, research, or publication.

Independence Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Each year the Foundation sends out a limited number of Request For Proposals (RFP) under the following categories:

• Culture and the Arts
• Health and Human Services
• Public Interest Legal Aid
• Nurse Managed Health Care Initiative

Organizations not previously funded by Independence Foundation are encouraged to send a two page Letter of Inquiry including organizational background information, amount being requested and description of the program/services for which the funds will be used. Please note that the Independence Foundation's funding area is restricted to Philadelphia and its surrounding Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery.

Letters of Inquiry may be mailed to:

Grant Program Inquiry
Independence Foundation
Offices at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street Suite 1101
Philadelphia, PA 19102

To be considered for possible receipt of a Culture and the Arts or Health and Humans Services RFP for the current year, Letters of Inquiry must be submitted between January 1 - February 1.

Please be aware that the Foundation establishes a grant cycle on a yearly basis and all decisions are made in cycle.

Letters of Inquiry will be reviewed for consistency with current funding priorities. It is not possible for the staff of the Independence Foundation to grant personal interviews to all prospective grantees. Should resources be available to extend RFP invitations beyond current grantees, and the original letter of inquiry, after review by the Board of Directors, prove to be within the scope of the Foundation's interests, the applicant may be asked to submit a full proposal and the necessary interviews may be arranged prior to a final determination by the Board of Directors.

Please contact the Foundation for further information on RFP's and submission deadlines.