The Philadelphia community gathered this Thursday at The Philadelphia Inquirer headquarters to celebrate the official closing of the Philly Gives 2025 campaign, an initiative led by The Philadelphia Foundation that mobilized thousands of donors in support of nonprofit organizations across the region.

The event, called the Philly Gives Wrap Up Celebration, served as a space to reflect on the collective impact achieved this year and to recognize the organizations, strategic partners, and donors who made the campaign possible.

In its second year, the Philly Gives initiative has not only strengthened its presence in Philadelphia but has also doubled both its size and its impact, organizers highlighted during the annual event. During the celebration, representatives from The Philadelphia Foundation expressed special thanks to The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism for hosting the event. They also acknowledged the essential support of corporate partners and foundations such as Comcast, Connelly Foundation, Bank of America, Patricia Kind Family Foundation, Independence Foundation, and Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, in addition to hundreds of individual donors from the greater Philadelphia area.

A Successful Campaign

Pedro A. Ramos, President and CEO of The Philadelphia Foundation, emphasized that Philly Gives’ second year has been “an incredible increase,” raising more funds than last year and awarding more than $100,000 to each of the ten beneficiary organizations. These include Attic Youth Center, Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC), Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Esperanza, Project HOME, Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), Philabundance, SEAMAAC (Southwest Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition), and SHARE Food Program.

He explained that they support organizations providing direct services in mental health, food assistance, and social support, and stressed that “we feel good when we give,” emphasizing that individual support is fundamental because the social sector “depends on private individuals and organizations in order to exist and help our neighbors.”

The amount delivered totaled $1,061,558 — $106,155.80 per nonprofit organization. In collaboration with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and with support from a grant from the William Penn Foundation, the campaign surpassed $1.06 million raised in its second year, strengthening essential nonprofit services throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

Aiming to reach $10 million in donations

This year, the organizations received funding as part of the program in a context marked by strengthened strategic partnerships and greater community coordination. According to the director of the Lenfest Institute, one of the main focuses has been consolidating partnerships with local media outlets to broaden the campaign’s reach:

“The idea was that if we told the people of Philadelphia through their favorite media outlets — Impacto, Word Radio, 6ABC, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Gay News, New Mainstream Press, The Philadelphia Tribune — they would trust it and get involved. And that has happened,” he said.

“We’re at one million dollars. It’s an important benchmark; it’s a lot of money. But we want it to be 10 million,” said Jim Friedlich, Executive Director and CEO of the Lenfest Institute, who noted that the main challenge for next year will be expanding the donor base to include new corporations, foundations, and individuals.

In a context where fundraising can be complex and challenging, the message to the community is clear: every contribution counts.

“If you have $5 to donate, do it. If you are in a position to donate $100,000 or $500,000, as the William Penn Foundation did, do it. The idea is that democracy means giving. That means everyone counts. Everyone matters. And every dollar goes to a good cause.”

With a stronger foundation and more ambitious goals, Philly Gives is positioning itself as one of the city’s leading philanthropic mobilization platforms, betting on collective participation as a driver of social transformation.

Beneficiary organizations share their perspectives

“It’s an incredible moment. At Esperanza, we are proud to have been selected as beneficiaries this year and to see how Philadelphia responded to its people at a critical time, when many individuals need support. This grant allows us to keep people on track toward their goals and economic mobility, while addressing urgent needs such as food, early childhood education, and housing. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Christine Nieves, Executive Vice President of Organizational Development.

Jasper Liem, Executive Director of Attic Youth Center, added: “It’s incredible to feel so supported by our community and our city. This year has been incredibly difficult for fundraising. Having this kind of support really helps us fill the gaps where some people have pulled back a bit.”

Meanwhile, Janette Diaz, Executive Director of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, stated: “At Congreso, we firmly believe in the power of our community. This support allows us to continue offering essential services to Latino families in Philadelphia, especially at a time when many are facing significant economic and social challenges. We are deeply grateful for the trust and commitment to our mission, which helps us continue promoting stability, well-being, and opportunities for all.”

Several representatives from the remaining organizations agreed: “There was a very positive energy. More than a funding distribution, it was a celebration of the collective work we do for the city.”

With the closing of this edition, Philly Gives reaffirms its commitment to continuing to promote local philanthropy and expanding opportunities for more people to participate in supporting organizations that work every day toward a more equitable and prosperous Philadelphia.

For more information on how you can support it, visit: www.phillygives.org