The Fels Fund accepts requests only from organizations that are designated tax-exempt 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Code. In certain cases, the Fels Fund will also accept requests from organizations that have a not-for-profit mission who have a fiscal sponsor or national office. We prefer that local offices of national organizations have a local Advisory Board.
Fels Fund will not accept new applications or reopen grant cycles in 2023. Read more about our transition year here.
The Fels Fund does not make grants for major programs of large institutions, capital and equipment, endowment and the routine or direct services of social service agencies. Individual daycare, after school programs and computer centers cannot be accommodated. As a general rule, we do not fund:
- Activities or services taking place outside of Philadelphia, PA
- Grants to individuals
- National or umbrella organizations except those with Philadelphia offices
- Endowments
- Capital programs
- Deficit financing or emergency aid
- Purchase of tickets, tables, ads or sponsorships
- Parties, conferences, fairs, fundraising and one-time events
- Routine social services/counseling
- 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
- Environmental programs
- Religious and private education
- Individual public or charter schools
- Higher education
- Community computer programs
- Scholarships, fellowships, grants-in-aid of travel or research
- Publications or university presses
- Arts and Culture organizations without a mission that is primarily social justice-focused