The Connelly Foundation supports nonprofits with strong leadership, sound ideas, and well-defined, attainable goals, and prefers to support endeavors that receive funding from multiple sources, demonstrating broad interest and future viability.

Our philanthropy supports 501(c)(3) organizations and institutions working in the City of Philadelphia, and the surrounding counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery, and the City of Camden, New Jersey.

Focus Area:

• Catholic Education

-Academic Quality

School-centered projects are designed to improve or enhance programs that directly impact the academic experiences of students in Catholic schools. This includes programs related to core academic subjects, curriculum, academic interventions, student developmental and social-emotional needs, faith formation, and school-based enrichment opportunities.

-Strategy & Sustainability

Efforts to address school health and financial viability, with significant focus on strategic planning, enrollment and marketing efforts, capital projects, and programs to support institutional advancement.

-Talent

Investments in school and system–level staff, including leadership development programs and professional development programs for teachers.

-Access & Opportunity

Programs that increase the accessibility of high-quality Catholic education, primarily through the Neumann Scholars Program and Josephine C. Connelly Achievement Awards, as well as efforts to support school choice initiatives.

• Human Services

-Basic Needs

Alleviating urgent needs through access to food, emergency shelter, clothing, and critical home repair.

-Building Pathways to Employment

Creating pathways to sustainable employment and stability through job training and foundational skill-building.

-Investing in Youth

Supporting evidence-based or outcome-focused youth out-of-school programs.

• Arts & Culture

-Access

The Connelly Foundation believes in the long-term value of connecting all Philadelphians with the region’s rich cultural assets. Grants are awarded to organizations committed to expanding access to arts and culture for underserved communities.

-Education

The Connelly Foundation believes in the power of arts and culture to inspire learning and personal growth. Grants are awarded to organizations delivering enriching educational programs for K-12 students, with a special focus on those serving the region’s Catholic school students.

• Civic Renewal

-Civic Education

The Civic Renewal portfolio supports programs that teach the foundational ideals and institutions of American government and civil society. It particularly supports programs that draw on Philadelphia's rich contributions to the creation and advancement of the American experiment.

-Civic Activation

The Civic Renewal portfolio invests in efforts to activate engaged citizenship. It is especially interested in programs that teach foundational civic skills, such as voting responsibly, participating in public affairs, encouraging volunteerism, and promoting civil dialogue.

-Civic Character

The Civic Renewal portfolio provides financial assistance to organizations that work to develop civic character. It is especially interested in programs that cultivate civic dispositions like open-mindedness, personal responsibility, and gratitude for the nation's founding ideals.

Types of Support:

• General Operating

General operating support grants offer unrestricted financial support to an organization to help advance its overall mission.

• Program/Project

Program- and project-based grants fund specific initiatives or deliverables within a set timeframe.

• Capital (Renovation and New)

Capital support grants fund the purchase or enhancement of buildings, land, or equipment and are intended for long-term assets.

When considering a grant request, note that the Connelly Foundation’s average grant award in 2024 was $41,000, with many awards covering multi-year periods. The Connelly Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests of $100,000 or more.

There are no submission deadlines.