Fels Fund accepts requests only from organizations who meet all the following criteria:

• Has a designated tax-exempt 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Code OR have a not-for-profit mission and use a fiscal sponsor OR are a Philadelphia office of a national organization.
  • Fels Fund will only consider local offices of national organizations that have a local Advisory Board.
• Serves the City of Philadelphia.
• Is actively engaged in movement building and systems change work.
• Understands and acknowledges the racial history of the United States and Philadelphia.
• Has a racial and class analysis of the inequities that continue to harm communities served and use this analysis as grounding for the design of their work.

Yes. Organizations who use a fiscal sponsor or are a Philadelphia office of a national organization and meet all other eligibility criteria may apply. Fels Fund will only consider local offices of national organizations that have a local Advisory Board.

Please visit the funding focus page.

Communities that have systematically been denied access to economic, political and cultural participation, power and privileges due to one or more aspects of identity. (Also referred to as “communities that are marginalized”)

The work of the organization is led by individual(s) who have personally experienced,  social, racial or economic oppression and/or identify as a member of the community the organization serves. Review the glossary of key terms for more definitions.

The work of an organization is directed by individual(s) who self-identify as BIPOC. If the organization is managed by a decision-making body (i.e., staff, community members, organizers, and/or Board) then at least 50% of the body should identify as BIPOC. Review the glossary of key terms for more definitions.

Fels Fund has a glossary that defines key terms, which can accessed here.

As a general rule, the Fels Fund does not support:

• Activities or services taking place outside of Philadelphia, PA (unless it has a significant impact on Philadelphia)
• Organizations not involved in social justice, movement building and/or systems change work
• Grants to individuals
• National or umbrella organizations except those with Philadelphia offices
• Endowments
• Major programs of large institutions
• Capital programs and or equipment
• Deficit financing
• Direct service only, including but not limited to:
  • Drug and alcohol addiction programs
  • Healthcare and health research
  • Support groups for individuals
  • Summer recreation programs
  • Individual daycare or after school programs
  • Programs for animals
  • Routine social services
  • Community computer programs
• Purchase of tickets, tables, ads or sponsorships
• Parties, conferences, fairs, fundraising and one-time events
• Religious and private education
• Individual public or charter schools
• Higher education
• Scholarships, fellowships, grants-in-aid of travel or research
• Publications or university presses

Yes. For a conversation about organizational fit, you can schedule a call with Shanell Ransom, Program Officer.

If you have questions about the application process, the online proposal system, or accessibility needs please contact Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, at 215-731-9455 or by email.

If you have questions about the application process or are having difficulty with Calendly or any Fels Fund forms please contact Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, at 215-731-9455 or by email.

If you have questions about Fels’ investment strategy or funder advocacy, schedule a call with Sarah Martinez-Helfman, President.

Yes, sign up for the Fels Fund mailing list to get updates to your inbox.

Yes, you may apply if you meet the eligibility criteria and are engaged in two of the listed movement building strategies. The funding inquiry will go live in May 2024. In the meantime, check out the how to apply and submit a funding inquiry pages to begin preparing. If you have accessibility needs, please contact Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, at 215-731-9455 or by email.

The funding inquiry will go live in May 2024. In the meantime, check out our how to apply and submit a funding inquiry pages to begin preparing. If you have accessibility needs, please contact Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, at 215-731-9455 or by email.

Yes, learn more on the grant deadline page. Do note once the 2024 deadline has passed no additional funding inquiries will be accepted until the next grant cycle opens in 2027.

No. Once the 2024 deadline has passed no additional proposals will be accepted until the next grant cycle in 2027. Review the grant deadline page for the deadline and full grantmaking timeline.

Yes, we waived grant reporting for all 2023 grantee partners.

The Fels Fund has combined its three previous grantmaking areas into one, focusing on movement building strategies to support coordinated efforts for systems change. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and be engaged in two of the listed movement building strategies.

Fels Fund provides three-year general operating grants in the range of $25,000-$30,000 per year, totaling $75,000 – $90,000 for the three-year grant term. Once grants are made in 2024, the next grant cycle will open in 2027.

We are unable to anticipate how many grantee partners will be in the cohort.  The grant budget is $800,000 per year to include general support grants and leadership development and wellness grants.

Yes, Fels Fund awards three-year grants.

No. Fels Fund does not accept applications for Leadership Development and Wellness. These grants are automatically awarded in addition to general operating grants for every grantee partner.

Fels Fund provides $10,000 per year, totaling $30,000 for the three-year grant term, to grantee partners. Do note, you cannot directly apply for a Leadership Development and Wellness grant.

If you have questions about organizational fit, you can schedule a call with Shanell Ransom, Program Officer.

We encourage you to contact the Fels Fund at 215-731-9455 or email staff.

Yes. We ask for feedback on each funding inquiry and proposal and welcome feedback calls or emails. If you prefer an anonymous feedback channel, feel free to use Grant Advisor to provide your comments/suggestions. Thank you in advance for helping us better serve you.

The grant portal is accessible, but the funding inquiry will be available in May 2024. If your organization has not applied for a grant since July 2017, you must create an account to access the online proposal system. At that time, you may click here to create an account. If you applied in July 2017 or after and do not know your login information, see the next question and answer.

Go to your sign-in page, click on “Forgot your password,” enter the e-mail address associated with the account, click on “Send Password.” Password will be sent to that email.

Try to determine the email address that was used to create the account. Go to your sign-in page, click on “Forgot your password,” enter the e-mail address associated with the account, click on “Send Password.” Password will be sent to that email. If you continue to have difficulty signing in please contact Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, at 215-731-9455 or by email.

If you are seeking access to previous applications submitted to Fels Fund, please reach out.

Organizations submitting a funding inquiry or proposal for funding must have or create an account within Fels’ online proposal system. Fels staff recommend that your organization establish one account to be used by the person responsible for submitting grant requests. (i.e., info@yourorganization.org). Please only create one account per organization. Once the account is created, organizations can:

• Access saved, but not yet submitted funding inquiries and proposals.
• Submit saved funding inquiries and proposals.
• View copies and dates of submitted funding inquiries and proposals.
• Access your existing account, click here.

Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager, via phone 215-731-9455 or by email.