Please visit the funding focus page.

No, the Movement Building application is closed. No additional funding inquiries will be accepted until the next grant cycle opens in 2027.

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.

Grant applications will reopen 2027.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The funding inquiry is closed until the next grant cycle in 2027.  Funding inquiries are accessed through the online proposal system. If your organization is a first-time applicant, please create an account to access the online proposal system. Please create only one account per organization.

To access a saved funding inquiry or proposal, click here

Every submission has an on-screen confirmation and email confirmation sent.

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