Connelly Foundation

The Connelly Foundation takes a deeply place-based, values-driven approach to philanthropy centered on the greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1955 by John and Josephine Connelly, the foundation operates across four strategic pillars: Catholic Education (its largest commitment at 46% of giving), Human Services (30%), Civic Renewal (15%), and Arts & Culture (10%). The foundation is distinctive for its strong Catholic identity — nearly half of all funding goes to Catholic schools, making it one of the most significant private supporters of Catholic education in the Delaware Valley. The foundation offers three grant types: General Operating Support for mission-driven work, Program/Project Grants for specific initiatives with defined timeframes, and Capital Grants for long-term asset purchases. A rolling application model with no deadlines creates year-round accessibility, though Civic Renewal is currently closed to unsolicited proposals. The foundation requires 3+ years of operational history from applicants, demonstrating a preference for established organizations over startups. First-time Human Services applicants must complete a pre-proposal conversation, indicating the foundation values relational grantmaking in this area. The foundation evaluates proposals on mission alignment, organizational stability, track record, proposal quality, problem significance, and budget feasibility.

The Connelly Foundation distributes approximately $15.4 million annually across its four focus areas. Catholic Education receives the lions share at 46% (~$7.0M), followed by Human Services at 30% (~$4.6M), Civic Renewal at 15% (~$2.3M), and Arts & Culture at 10% (~$1.5M). Recent grants show a range from $10,000 (Leader Impact Grants for individual Catholic schools) to $500,000 (West Catholic Preparatory transformative facility grant). Capital projects receive substantial funding, as seen in the $500K West Catholic grant for the De La Salle Academic Support Program facility renovation and the $350K Archbishop Carroll Wellness Center grant. The Leader Impact Initiative represents an innovative model — smaller competitive grants ($10K-$20K) awarded directly to school leaders and staff for targeted improvement projects. The foundation maintains strict geographic boundaries: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties in PA, and Camden NJ. It explicitly excludes charter/public schools, advocacy, environmental initiatives, healthcare, higher education, historic preservation, legal services, and national organizations. With $362M in assets, the 4.25% payout rate aligns with typical foundation distribution requirements.

Within the Philadelphia philanthropic ecosystem, the Connelly Foundation occupies a unique niche as the primary private funder of Catholic education. While the William Penn Foundation dwarfs it in assets and giving ($2.8B vs $362M), the Connelly Foundation is far more focused — its Catholic Education emphasis has no peer among major regional foundations. Compared to the Lenfest Foundation (which also emphasizes education and youth), the Connelly Foundation serves a more specific religious-affiliated audience. The foundation is comparable in size to the Barra Foundation but with a more defined religious identity. Its participation in the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial alongside William Penn Foundation shows its capacity to partner on major regional initiatives despite its smaller scale.

In 2024-2025, the Connelly Foundation made several notable grants. West Catholic Preparatory High School received $500,000 to establish the De La Salle Academic Support Program, covering comprehensive facility renovations, hiring a program director, and integrating individualized technology. The school subsequently dedicated the Connelly Center for Academic Excellence in 2025. Archbishop John Carroll High School received $350,000 to establish the Connelly Wellness Center, with an additional $100,000 matching gift pledge. Through the Leader Impact Initiative, Independence Mission Schools received a combined $110,000 across multiple schools: $20,000 each to St. Martin de Porres (library revitalization), Ss. Cyril and Philomena (expanded programming), and $10,000 each to St. Veronica (Response To Intervention support) and St. Helena-Incarnation (Sharing Our Stories program). The foundation is co-leading the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial with the William Penn Foundation, providing grants to Philadelphia-area nonprofits for 2026 commemoration planning and programs. Father Judge High School opened the Connelly Welding Lab, and Hopeworks expanded into Kensington with foundation support.

To maximize your chances with the Connelly Foundation: (1) Ensure your organization is a 501(c)(3) with 3+ years of operational history serving the Philadelphia region (Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties, or Camden NJ); (2) Three of four program areas currently accept applications — Catholic Education, Human Services, and Arts & Culture. Civic Renewal is temporarily closed to unsolicited proposals; (3) Catholic schools and education organizations have the strongest positioning — 46% of all funding goes to this area; (4) First-time Human Services applicants must schedule a pre-proposal conversation through Calendly before submitting a full application; (5) Prepare all required documents before starting: grant narrative, budgets, P&L, funders list, two audited financials, Form 990, board list, staff descriptions, annual report, and IRS determination letter; (6) Capital projects require additional documentation including cost breakdowns, final bids, and visual renderings; (7) Applications are rolling with no deadlines — submit when ready but expect 60-90 days for a response; (8) Do NOT apply for charter/public school programs, advocacy, environmental projects, healthcare, higher education, or endowments — these are explicitly excluded; (9) Returning grantees must file a report on their most recent grant before reapplying. Apply online at us.grantrequest.com. Contact: 610-834-3222, info@connellyfdn.org, One Tower Bridge, 100 Front Street, Suite 1450, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.