William Penn Foundation Announces $1.5 Million Grant to Support Access to Philadelphia Zoo

The William Penn Foundation announced $7.6 million in new grants to support access to the educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia that are most visited by families and individuals with low incomes and/or disabilities.

This includes $1.5 million to Philadelphia Zoo. The grants will provide funding to six of the most visited organizations in Philadelphia that participate in the Harvey and Virginia Kimmel Family Fund ACCESS Program, a region-wide initiative administered by Art-Reach that enables affordable entry to cultural sites for residents with low incomes and individuals with disabilities.

These grants were made with additional funding made available by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and are not part of an established grant program. The grants follow the lead of low-income residents of our region who have demonstrated their interest in these organizations.

In a moment in which federal funding sources have become increasingly uncertain and many corporate funders are re-aligning their funding priorities, the William Penn Foundation is making it clear that access to opportunities to learn, grow, and build connections with others should be available to all. Grants were awarded to the following organizations based on the total number of ACCESS visitors that each institution received during the 2025 fiscal year:

• Academy of Natural Sciences
• Franklin Institute
• Morris Arboretum and Gardens
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Philadelphia Zoo
• Please Touch Museum

A grant was also awarded to Art-Reach to subsidize the ongoing costs of operating this important program.

“By prioritizing engagement at these iconic institutions, residents of our region – low-income residents in particular – have shown us that they value these places and want to take part in the scientific, cultural, artistic, and educational opportunities they provide. Ensuring that people can access the full range of Philadelphia’s amazing institutions regardless of income or ability has long been a priority for the William Penn Foundation,” said William Penn Foundation Chief Philanthropy Officer Elliot Weinbaum.

“These institutions are irreplaceable pieces of the Philadelphia landscape and offer enormous opportunity for families to learn and play together, to see their own cultures and experiences reflected, and to learn about the cultures and experiences of others. We are so gratified that these organizations open their doors to the broadest swath of Philadelphia residents, and we want to recognize and support that.”

In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the six institutions receiving foundation support hosted more than 240,000 visits at low or no cost through the ACCESS program.

“At Art-Reach, we believe that to create systemic change we need systemic effort and that is what we have now. ACCESS was built 11 years ago by the Philadelphia residents who relied on SNAP and Medicaid benefits. Since then, it has been embraced by the cultural sector and has grown into one of the most effective equity programs in the country,” said John Orr, Executive Director of Art-Reach. “Now, this commitment from the William Penn Foundation has ensured that some of Philadelphia’s iconic cultural organizations have the support they need to create a safe and welcoming experience for people with disabilities and people with low-income. We are incredibly grateful to be included with these organizations and feel that this is an important next step to making Philadelphia’s cultural sector one of the most accessible in the country.”

The grant awards are intended to help sustain and expand participation by Philadelphia-based institutions in the ACCESS program and to support Art-Reach as the program administrator. Grants are to be used to support functions such as visitor services, staffing, operating, and capital costs that are necessary to make these institutions engaging and educational places to be for all families and individuals regardless of income or ability.

“We are incredibly grateful to receive the support of the William Penn Foundation as we continue our mission of creating transformative memories and sharing our passion for wildlife with those most in need in our region,” said President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman. “A visit to Philadelphia Zoo is the first time in many children’s lives that they can come face-to-face with giraffes, gorillas, gibbons and many other amazing animals in our care. This significant investment from William Penn aligns with the Zoo’s strategic planning and commitment to make an impact in our closest communities.”