A Look Back at Major Funding Announcements to Kick off 2026

We’ve recently received funding for a variety of projects to help fuel neighborhood growth and to support our local workforce.

A rendering of the FMC tower rising above the Schuylkill River

Here at UCD, we have been the grateful recipients of a slate of funding to fuel our work in public space creation, workforce development, and neighborhood impact. Read on for what you may have missed from the end of 2025 and early in 2026!

A rendering showing a second concept for the West Philly Waterfront with fountains and splash play features

$110,000 from the William Penn Foundation for the West Philly Waterfront

The William Penn Foundation has awarded University City District $110,000 through their Civic Initiatives priority area to fuel upcoming community engagement for our West Philly Waterfront project. This grant will be used to gather input from community members on their vision and aspirations for the new waterfront public space.

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Graduates of a partnership between The Skills Initiative and CHOP

Two Significant Gifts to Support Career Pathways and Economic Mobility

Late in 2025, our workforce intermediary The Skills Initiative received gifts from the Hummingbird Foundation and The Connelly Foundation totaling $1.25M to help us create career pathways and fuel our committment to intra-sector career mobility for Philadelphians.

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Volunteers help remove the flooring at the Walnut Hill Playground

Funding for Neighborhood Improvements

Early in 2026, we announced funding from the McLean Contributionship and the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) in partnership with business partner ABM Industries to continue important beautification and improvement projects and programs in University City. The McClean Contributionship gift of $25,000 will support a new surface for the Walnut Hill Community Playground, while the tax credit support from DCED and ABM will support our Project Rehab.

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Civic activist Barry Grossbach stands among a crowd.

A $103,000 Gift from Barry Grossbach to Expand Tree Canopy

Before he passed away, founding board member and longtime supporter Barry Grossbach presented UCD with a final gift of $103,000 to invest in expanding the tree canopy in University City and further his and his late husband Mike Hardy’s dreams of a greener neighborhood for all to enjoy. UCD will use the funds from Barry’s final gift to identify local properties that would benefit from street trees.

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