The Connelly, the William Penn, and Neubauer Family foundations and the Pew Charitable Trusts have announced grants totaling $9 million to help launch a funder collaborative that will help Philadelphia-area nonprofits prepare and implement programs in Philadelphia commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States on July 4, 2026.

The funding will support the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, which is designed to facilitate collaboration within the nonprofit sector, encourage stakeholders to partner on programs that celebrate the country’s anniversary. Housed in a donor-advised fund (DAF) held by the National Philanthropic Trust, the funding will support public charities located in Philadelphia, or the Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery. The foundations also aim to raise additional funding to facilitate partnership within the nonprofit sector, encouraging stakeholders to work together on programs for the semiquincentennial.

“We hope the Funder Collaborative will empower local nonprofits to help make the 2026 celebrations a resounding success.” said Connelly Foundation chair and president Tom Riley. “Funder Collaborative has adopted a posture of ‘reflective patriotism,’ celebrating the nation’s founding ideals, acknowledging its failures to live up to those ideals, and recognizing the many individuals who have helped moved the country toward the realization of its founding ideals.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Tongshan)