Thank you for your interest in the Philly Tree Coalition's Responsive Grant Program! Please review the information below before starting your application. If you have any questions, please contact us at phillytreecoalition@phmc.org. 

Applications are due on Monday, November 16, 2026 at 9 AM. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Background

On July 11, a severe storm brought strong winds, heavy rain, and significant tree damage to neighborhoods across West and South Philadelphia. The storm caused fallen trees and limbs, damaged sidewalks and tree pits, and disrupted community spaces that residents rely on every day. Recovery efforts will require coordinated action from neighborhood organizations, residents, and local partners to restore the urban tree canopy and strengthen community resilience. 

About the Philly Tree Coalition

The Philly Tree Coalition is a multi-sector partnership with core representation from civically engaged Philadelphia residents, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, PowerCorpsPHL, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), the School District of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Neighborhood Gardens Trust, and the Philadelphia Orchard Project.

As the primary implementers of the, Philly Tree Plan, the Coalition is dedicated to a 30-year vision: expanding Philadelphia’s tree canopy through strategy, investment, collaboration and collective care. 

Responsive Grant Program 

Thanks to support from the William Penn Foundation, the Philly Tree Coalition is expanding it's storm reponse grant program. Through this cycle of funding, the Philly Tree Coalition has $90,000 available to support tree-related recovery and restoration efforts in neighborhoods impacted by the July 11 storm, with a focus on West and South Philadelphia. The goal is to aid in the restoration and recovery of neighborhood blocks, community spaces, and greenspaces. 

Eligible activities include those that support tree-related recovery and restoration and further the goals of the Philly Tree Plan. Activities may include but are not limited to: 

• Neighborhood clean-up efforts 
• Resource fairs and community outreach events 
• Community conversations  
• Tree memorials 
• Tree planting and maintenance
• Stump removal 
• Creative arts storytelling 
• Wellness engagements 
• Neighborhood environmental disaster planning
• Resource assessments
• Planting plans
• Tree and environmental education programs 
• Sidewalk repair
• Other tree-related recovery and restoration activities

Funding Structure 

• Funding will be distributed among selected projects. We anticipate most awards will range from $5,000 - $25,000. Requests above $25,000 will be considered but should be proportional with the proposed project scope and must be able to be spent within the grant period. All requests must be for a minimum of $5,000. Applicants are encouraged to submit realistic budgets that align with their organization’s size, experience, staffing, and proposed scope of work.We anticipate making around five awards. 
• This grant will operate using an advance payment model. The payment structure may vary based on award size and will be determined during the contracting process for awarded organizations. 
• The final 10% of the award will be paid as cost reimbursement, disbursed after successful completion on the project and submission of final spend and data reports. 

Timeline 

• Application Opens: October 19, 2026 
• Info Session: October 23, from 12-1pm. Register here.
• Application Closes: November 16, 2026, at 9am (4 week application period) 
• Award Notifications: December 2026  
• Project Period: Spring 2027 - Winter 2027 (projects must be completed by December 31, 2027)
• Application Support: Ongoing. Please email phillytreecoalition@phmc.org with questions about your application. Please allow up to 3 business days for a response. Submit all questions by Wednesday, November 11.

Eligibility

• Be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or state nonprofit. State non-profits or 501(c)3 organizations include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups.
  • If your organization does not hold 501(c)(3) status, you are eligible to apply with a fiscal sponsor. If you need support identifying and connecting with a fiscal sponsor, please reach out to phillytreecoalition@phmc.org. We encourage you to reach out early in the application process, so we can best assist you. 
  • A list of potential fiscal sponsors can be found here. 
• Propose a project located within an area impacted by the July 11 storms (West or South Philadelphia) and located within a Tree Forward eligible area. Applicants can use the Philadelphia Street Tree Planting Opportunity Map to identify eligible areas within West or South Philly.
• Organizations that previously applied for or received storm response funding during the prior application period are eligible to apply again. Returning applicants must submit a new application but may skip the attachments section.

       

1. Tell us about your organization and your connection to the neighborhood impacted by the July 11 storm. 

Please share your organization’s background, experience and partnerships in the community, and connection to the neighborhood(s) affected by the storm. 

Suggested character count: 500 words maximum 

 

2. What recovery activity or project are you proposing? 

Describe the work you plan to complete with grant funds and how it will support tree recovery, restoration, or community resilience following the July 11 storm. Please describe:

• What activities you will complete
• Where activities will take place, either in the form of address(es) or neighborhood with street name boundaries
• The storm-related need or damage the project is addressing
• Who will be involved in carrying out the work
• How community members will be engaged and benefit from the project
• How the proposed work will contribute to longer-term recovery or neighborhood resilience

 

Suggested character count: 1,000 words maximum

3. What is your timeline for completing the project, and what infrastructure do you have in place to carry out the work?

Please provide an anticipated timeline, including major activities or milestones and when you expect the project to be completed. Also describe the staff, volunteers, partners, contractors, or other resources that will support implementation. If you have experience completing similar projects, briefly describe that experience.

Suggested character count: 500 words maximum

4. What outcomes do you expect to achieve by the end of the project? 

Provide a clear, bulleted list of the specific activities, deliverables, and outcomes you expect to complete during the grant period. Include estimated quantities or targets where applicable (e.g., number of trees assessed, removed, pruned, or planted; residents engaged; volunteer hours; events or workdays held; sites restored).

Suggested character count: concise bulleted list preferred 

 

5. Please upload an itemized budget breakdown showing how you will use the grant funds using the template provided here.

• The proposed budget should include all costs that will be charged to the grant for the proposed project. Provide a brief description for each cost.
• Cost categories include, but are not limited to, staffing; subcontracts and professional services; stipends; program supplies; travel expenses; other costs; and indirect costs.
• Indirect costs are also allowable up to 15% of Total Direct Costs. 

Please note, if your project includes stipends, gift cards, or SEPTA passes and is awarded funding, additional documentation and reporting will be required. These requirements will be outlined during the contract processing stage.

Please upload the following attachments. Attachments 1-5 are required. 

If you are using a fiscal sponsor, please upload attachments 1-5 for the fiscal sponsor organization.

Please upload all documents in PDF format.

1. 501(c)3 or State Non-profit supporting documentation. We will accept any of the following: 

• A copy of a current tax exemption certificate from the IRS.  
• A letter from your state’s tax department, attorney general, or another state official saying that your group is a nonprofit and that none of your net earnings go to private shareholders or others.   
• A certified copy of your certificate of incorporation. This document must show that your group is a nonprofit.   

2. 990 Tax Document or equivalent Tax document for the type of organization (from 2025). We will accept an e-postcard for organizations with annual revenue less than $50,000. 

3. Financial Statement (FY25 or most recent). The financial statement should provide details on your organization’s assets, liability, equity, earnings, and spendings. The type of document depends on the annual revenue shown in your 990 or equivalent tax document: 

• Less than $99,000 in revenue: Financial statement (unaudited or internally prepared) 
• $100,000 or more in revenue: Audited financial statement 

4. Certificate of Insurance: Please submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to PHMC. Uploading this now will help to expedite the contracting process if your application is selected.

This is required by our legal department to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. A template is linked here. More information on insurance requirements can be found here. PHMC should be listed in the lower left as a certificate holder as follows: 

 
Public Health Management Corporation 
Centre Square East, LM 500 
Market Street 
Philadelphia, PA 19102 

5. Completed W-9 Form: Please submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to PHMC. Uploading this now will help to expedite the contracting process if your application is selected.

A template W-9 form is linked here. This form requests your organization’s name, address, and taxpayer identification information. The form will be used by PHMC’s Accounts Payable department to generate a vendor profile if your proposal is selected.  

Note: Additional materials may be requested from applicants and after final selection of awardees.