Regional Foundation

The Regional Foundation is a unique community foundation that traces its beginning to 1998 when it was created with the merger of two financial services companies. The intent was to sustain historical philanthropic support for the community in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware which remain the defined geography of the Foundation.

The Foundation’s philanthropic focus is on community development, and particularly on support for the creation and implementation of comprehensive, resident-driven neighborhood revitalization efforts in low-income communities. Since its inception the Foundation has developed a nationally recognized model of community development philanthropy and invested over $90 million dollars in over 100 organizations. The Foundation currently has an endowment of approximately $100 million dollars and an active portfolio of over 40 grantees.

CURRENT GRANT PROGRAMS

At its core, the Regional Foundation’s grant goals and activities are driven by residents. Community members, rather than simply being informed, are instead engaged in participatory processes and through their partnerships with grantee partners, drive decisions and co-create neighborhood plans and implementation activities. The Foundation is committed to investing comprehensively and flexibly on a journey to revitalized, just, and thriving communities – both during planning and implementation.

Our approach starts with neighborhood-based planning – where residents determine their own priorities for the community going forward. From there, residents drive the implementation of the grant, ensuring along the way that implementation of the plan aligns with the shared vision for the neighborhood and that residents are being developed as leaders in meaningful ways. The Foundation has many tools to draw on in supporting neighborhoods on their journey toward their goals – from capacity building, to convenings, grant and program investment, and other forms of long-term support. The Foundation is committed to leveraging these tools based on what the community needs at a given time. as a flexible and dedicated partner to these communities. Current investment programs consist of the following:

• Neighborhood Planning Grants – supports creation of a comprehensive resident-driven neighborhood plan.

• Neighborhood Implementation Grants – supports comprehensive development projects that target specific neighborhoods based on a completed neighborhood plan.

• Program-Related Investments (“PRIs) – supports nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses for select ventures designed to promote community and economic development