Independence Foundation
Historical FunderPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania · EIN 23-1352110 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$4M
Organizations funded222
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$85.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $16,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | REGINALD SHUFORD PRESIDENT INDEPEND |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 SOUTH BROAD STREET SUITE 1101, PHILADELPHIA PA 19102 |
| Phone | 2159854009 |
| Form and materials | INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION DOES NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS. EACH YEAR THE FOUNDATION SENDS OUT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: CULTURE AND THE ARTS, HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE, HUMAN SERVICES, PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL AID, REENTRY, RECIDIVISM & RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, AND FELLOWSHIPS IN THE ARTS PROGRAM. ORGANIZATIONS NOT PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE 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 FOUNDATION'S FUNDING AREA IS RESTRICTED TO PHILADELPHIA AND ITS SURROUNDING PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES: BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE AND MONTGOMERY. |
| Deadlines | THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES A GRANT CYCLE ON A YEARLY BASIS AND ALL DECISIONS ARE MADE IN CYCLE. |
| Restrictions | LETTERS OF INQUIRY WILL BE REVIEWED FOR CONSISTENCY WITH CURRENT FUNDING PRIORITIES. SHOULD THE APPLICATION, AFTER REVIEW BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PROVE TO BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE FOUNDATION'S INTERESTS, THE APPLICANT WILL BE ADVISED AND THE NECESSARY INTERVIEWS MAY BE ARRANGED PRIOR TO A FINAL DETERMINATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
4% of grants went outside Pennsylvania.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Association of Non- Profit Organizations | Harrisburg, PA | Legal clearinghouse / policy coordination, nonprofit navigatore and operating support | $200,000 |
| Community Legal Services Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $185,318 |
| Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Immigrant and refugee emergency fund, philly gives, regional food fund | $95,000 |
| Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $89,984 |
| Friends of Farmworkers Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $87,468 |
| Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pa | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $81,000 |
| Pennsylvania Health Law Project | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $80,928 |
| Pennsylvania Health Access Network | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $75,000 |
| Project Home | Philadelphia, PA | Healthcare services at stephen klein wellness center / hub for hope | $75,000 |
| Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $70,000 |
| Community College of Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Teaching nursing home project | $69,880 |
| Community Legal Services Inc | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $60,000 |
| Seniorlaw Center | Philadelphia, PA | General support / carie advocacy transition | $60,000 |
| Philabundance | Philadelphia, PA | General support / employee engagement | $57,500 |
| Legal Clinic for the Disabled Inc | Philadelphia, PA | General support W/ pulic interest law fellowship | $57,252 |
| Womens Law Project | Philadelphia, PA | Challenge grant for 50th anniversary of women's law project | $52,000 |
| Lch Health and Community Services | Kennett Sq, PA | General support | $51,000 |
| Opera Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $50,000 |
| Prevention Point Philadelphia Incorporated | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $50,000 |
| Puentes de Salud | Philadelphia, PA | Puentes de salud health program | $50,000 |
| Seachange Capital Partners Inc | New York, NY | Nonprofit repositioning fund | $50,000 |
| United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey | Philadeplhia, PA | Coordinated capacity strengthening initiative | $50,000 |
| Zoological Society of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $50,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Foundation of Pennsylvania Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $46,578 |
| Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $44,040 |
| Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Public interest law fellowship | $39,374 |
| Integrate for Good Inc | Creamery, PA | General support / jimenez stratesies' 2026 tech and fundraising boot camp | $35,000 |
| Legal Aid Southeastern Pennsylvania Inc | Norristown, PA | General support | $35,000 |
| Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | General support / senior attorney sabbatical program | $35,000 |
| The Foundation for Delaware County | Media, PA | Pa fire | $35,000 |
| Regional Housing Legal Services | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $32,000 |
| Students Run Philly Style | Philadelphia, PA | General support / challenge grant | $32,000 |
| Share Food Program Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Delaware county food bank | $26,000 |
| Canine Partners for Life | Cochranville, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Carpenters Company of the City and County of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Challenge grant for young people's continental congress | $25,000 |
| Children First Pa | Philadelphia, PA | Behavioral health services for children | $25,000 |
| Community College of Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | 19130 zip code project | $25,000 |
| Fringearts | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Juvenile Law Center | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Mann Center for the Performing Arts | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Pennsylvania Ballet Association | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates | Philadelphia, PA | Restorative justice guild program / women's reentry | $25,000 |
| Philadelphia Youth for Change | Philadelphia, PA | Challenge grant | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Keystone | Allentown, PA | Operating support for bucks county health centers | $25,000 |
| Project Home | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| The Food Trust | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| The Scribe Video Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $25,000 |
| Your Agency Incorporated | Philadelphia, PA | 2:1 challenge grant for the creation of the ministry of awe | $25,000 |
| Hias and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Public insterest law fellowship | $21,984 |
| Arden Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | As $2,500 for the andrea mengel fund, and $17,500 unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Doing Good Well Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Kensington collaborative | $20,000 |
| Rosenbach Museum and Library | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $20,000 |
| Support Center for Child Advocates | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $20,000 |
| Hias and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Legal services | $17,000 |
| New Leash on Life USA | Penn Valley, PA | General support | $16,000 |
| Face to Face | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $15,000 |
| Friends of Farmworkers Inc | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $15,000 |
| Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $15,000 |
| Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Legal services | $15,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 222 grants to organizations.
The return also lists 1 grant to individuals ($115,000). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,960,806 | 223 |
| 2024 | $3,538,692 | 234 |
| 2023 | $3,659,419 | 241 |
| 2021 | $4,572,503 | 417 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Jul 20, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202632019349100008
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 23-1352110
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.