Fittingly, the City of Brotherly Love is home to plenty of nonprofit organizations invested in creating a stronger, safer community. You can support an impactful corporate social responsibility strategy by donating to and collaborating with the nonprofits that speak to your mission and values. Below, we break down some of the most recognized nonprofits in Philadelphia to inspire giving of your own.
The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
Project HOME
Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Nationalities Service Center
Maternity Care Coalition
Esperanza
MANNA
Cathedral Kitchen
Hopeworks
The Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC)
Valley Youth House
Mural Arts Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS)
Whether you’re interested in offering financial support, getting involved, or fostering connections, these nonprofits in Philadelphia are great places to get started.
1. The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
Though it’s one of the newest education nonprofits in Philadelphia, The Fund has already made a name for itself as a community staple. The organization serves as a vital advocate in the realm of public education and secures private investments to augment public funding. However, instead of replacing government funding, this money goes toward creating or sustaining new programs that improve student learning outcomes. From science kits to playgrounds, the resources The Fund provides are just as varied as the community it services.
2. Project HOME
Project HOME has worked for decades to keep the rates of those living in Philadelphia and experiencing street homelessness to a minimum. It operates based on one core belief: housing is not only a human right but also leads to better personal outcomes – for health, education, finances, and more. To uplift the community also means supporting those facing poverty through advocacy, housing support, and policy change.
3. Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance
Two long-standing Philadelphia organizations–Diversified Community Services and United Communities Southeast Philadelphia–merged to form the Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance, a nonprofit that aims to support children, families, and communities affected by generational poverty. To achieve this goal, the organization offers housing and economic empowerment services, youth and family services, and community development opportunities, among other resources.
4. United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
This local branch of the United Way is one of the largest nonprofits in Philadelphia, serving tens of thousands of residents each year. Its main goal is to address the city’s widespread poverty rates–which make it the country’s “poorest” large city–and build support systems that further equity. Career support, financial empowerment programs, and a Violence Prevention Helpline are just a few examples of resources the United Way provides to the local community.
5. Nationalities Service Center
For over a century, the Nationalities Service Center has stood proud and tall as a safe hub for immigrants and refugees settling into a new life in the United States. To ensure that immigrants have the tools they need to thrive in their new homes, the Center provides services like airport pickups, culturally appropriate meal donations, housing support, and job readiness training.
With one of the highest infant mortality rates in the U.S., Philadelphia certainly has a higher-than-average need for community-based resources supporting parents. The Maternity Care Coalition seeks to not only change this fact but also to serve pregnant people, parents, and families in underserved communities city-wide.
7. Esperanza
Each year, thousands of Latino families benefit from the services offered by Esperanza, a faith-based nonprofit that aims to strengthen the local Hispanic community. Community development, immigration or legal services, and arts initiatives help Esperanza build connections and provide direct support to families in need.
8. MANNA
Since its humble beginnings in 1990, when a small group of residents began delivering meals to neighbors severely ill with AIDS, the nonprofit MANNA has grown to provide nutritious meals to clients all around Philadelphia. Today, MANNA serves clients living with over 85 different severe health conditions and provides food and education to anyone whose illness poses a nutritional risk.
Cathedral Kitchen is a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that serves upwards of 100,000 nutritious meals each year to community members. Its dedication to changing lives through food extends far past the table, though – Cathedral Kitchen also hosts a free culinary arts education program and offers catering, weekly pop-ups, and other unique opportunities to connect with others and soak up the hospitality.
10. Hopeworks
Hopeworks helps at-risk youth redefine their futures through entrepreneurship and tech skill development. Young people in need get access to trauma-informed services that help them learn to code and apply their new tech skills to their communities. Hopeworks recognizes that while skill and job training is important, additional services and supports shaped by a deep understanding of community needs is also vital for young people and their success.
11. The Veterans Multi-Service Center
The Veterans Multi-Service Center, or VMC, began as one of nearly two dozen national programs built to support veterans returning from the Vietnam War. In the decades since, the organization has expanded to serve all veterans, providing comprehensive services that target issues like homelessness, mental illness, incarceration, and unemployment.
Hundreds of children throughout Philadelphia find themselves without a place to sleep each night. Many of those young people are vulnerable in other ways, too – they may be part of the LGBTQ community or formerly part of the foster care system. No matter what, Valley Youth House is a safe place for young people to turn to for reliable and personalized support, including housing assistance, food donations, and more.
Mural Arts Philadelphia seeks to inspire change in three areas: people, place, and practice. To create a more equitable Philadelphia, the organization revitalizes spaces with impactful art pieces crafted by community members and artists from all walks of life. The nonprofit fosters community involvement and empowers neighborhoods to grow into a safe and supportive space for all.
14. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS)
The value of access to fresh food, meaningful social bonds, and healthy living environments cant be overlooked, especially for residents in urban areas. That’s why the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded all the way back in 1827: to use gardening as a tool for public health.PHS stands out from other environmental nonprofits in Philadelphia because it’s just as much a community-focused organization as one aimed at beautifying the planet. Initiatives like urban greening, education for backyard gardeners, and the annual Philadelphia Flower Show help it deliver on its commitments each year. Give to Causes Your Organization ValuesThere’s no better way to ensure that your teams love what they do than to connect them with the missions that truly speak to them. Groundswell’s enterprise CSR platform is the only mobile-first option on the market and doesn’t come with the steep price tag of other social impact tools.That means your organization can tackle everything from corporate grant-making to employee donation matching, no matter what your budget looks like. Search for nonprofits in Philadelphia and beyond that you believe in, effortlessly track donations, and launch full-scale CSR campaigns with the help of Groundswell. Ready to get started? Request a personalized demo to learn more.
