Established in 1991, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving Philadelphia County with funding from The City of Philadelphia.
Our mission: We champion equitable grantmaking for Philadelphia’s art and culture community by providing sustainable, unrestricted funding to community-based art and culture organizations.
PCF has developed a 3-year strategic plan in collaboration with AFE Strategies to clarify our role, values, and vision for Philadelphia’s art and culture sector.
Building on the foundation of participatory grantmaking established with PCF 35 years ago, our approach: 1) ensures that PCF’s decisions are shaped by what our community says they need to be healthy, sustainable, and impactful, and 2) reignites PCF and sparks its role as a transformational partner that helps strengthen, champion and sustain our community.
Explore our FY27–FY29 Strategic PlanBuilding on the foundation of participatory grantmaking established with PCF 35 years ago, our approach: 1) ensures that PCF’s decisions are shaped by what our community says they need to be healthy, sustainable, and impactful, and 2) reignites PCF and sparks its role as a transformational partner that helps strengthen, champion and sustain our community.
Photo Credit: Durrell Hospedale
Art is the
expression of creativity
HOW WE DEFINE
ART
and
CULTURE
Culture is the shared experience of traditions, histories, values, and environments
Art & Culture connect us through our pasts, presents, and futures. PCF funds organizations across artistic disciplines and cultural practices, and, while interrelated, can exist separately.
Creation
Developing
In practice, creation can look like sculpting; filming a documentary; or designing costumes.
Education
Teaching
In practice, education can look like teaching dance classes; facilitating pottery workshops; giving guided tours.
Exhibition &
Performance
Displaying, Embodying, Showing
In practice, exhibition can look like showcasing photographs in a gallery; installing a sculpture at a historic site; painting a mural on the side of a building.
In practice, performance can look like acting in a play on stage; presenting poetry at an open mic; playing in an orchestra.
In practice, performance can look like acting in a play on stage; presenting poetry at an open mic; playing in an orchestra.
Service
Providing access for specific communities to art & culture practices and/or providing a specific assistance for those within the art and culture community.
In practice, service can look like providing accessibility training to a gallery’s staff and leadership; space rentals to visual artists; art supplies to elders.
Presentation
Curating, Producing, Publishing
In practice, presentation can look like publishing a literary magazine; producing a performing arts festival; curating and hosting artist talks.
Preservation
Maintaining and protecting
In practice, preservation can look like repairing folk instruments; keeping a library or archive; organizing an annual cultural festival.
Mad Beatz Philly
WHAT we VALUE
As stewards of private and public dollars, PCF’s commitment to equitable grantmaking is rooted in shifting power dynamics and removing barriers to our funding, programming, and operations.
Our unrestricted funds and capacity building programs expand access to shared resources and relationships, and our peer-led grant review process gives decision-making power to those closest to the work.
Guided by this equity-centered approach to grantmaking, PCF embraces the following values:
Our unrestricted funds and capacity building programs expand access to shared resources and relationships, and our peer-led grant review process gives decision-making power to those closest to the work.
Guided by this equity-centered approach to grantmaking, PCF embraces the following values:
Everyone who has benefitted from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund knows how critical their support is–not just for each recipient, but for our entire ecosystem.
From District 1 to District 10, in neighborhoods across the city, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund grantees are making a difference: transforming lives and transforming neighborhoods. These organizations and the people that staff them are change agents.
Through this process, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund invested in the city's arts, but also in all of us, showing panelists how to ethically approach applications, work together, and build a community dedicated to uplifting the arts and each other.
I'll always cherish having a seat at the table and ultimately telling these organizations, ‘We value you and believe in you; here's breathing room to keep doing the real work for art and culture to thrive in the city of Philadelphia.
To be part of a room full of local artists and culture workers championing such a range of community-rooted projects felt electric—each decision fueling the vibrancy of the city we’re shaping together.
Annual Reports
Learn about PCFs funding impact, organizational direction, and ongoing work.
the TEAM STEWARDING the WORK
Leading the grantmaking, community support, and day-to-day operations, PCF staff are philanthropic leaders, art administrators, artists, and culture bearers. They see the beauty and excellence of the organizations that PCF supports and of each other.
Meet the Team
The Galleries at Moore
KEEP UP
with PCF
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