October Nonprofit Spotlight
Philadelphia Education Fund
Philadelphia Education Fund has been selected for October’s Nonprofit Spotlight!
Who They Are:
The Philadelphia Education Fund (“PEF“) creates equitable access to opportunities for students by providing resources and expertise that build paths to college and career success. Their vision is for all young people in Philadelphia to have the skills and opportunity to succeed in college and career.
What kind of support does PEF need the most right now?
PEF leads with its mission and service, so first to mind comes the needs of its students. It’s been a difficult time for them. They’ve missed out on prom, graduations, competitive sports, homecomings, informal interactions with teachers, opportunities to make new friends, and more.
It is with this as a backdrop that PEF, as a provider, needs your help to support efforts to bring levity and fun to the hard work of college and career preparation. In short, they need “swag” – prizes and gifts students can earn for staying on track, meeting goals, participating in programming, and investing in their futures.
The PEF team would be delighted to help any individual, club, or company host a “College Bound Supplies Drive” for the direct benefit of their returning high school and college students.
What is one thing you wish people knew about PEF that they may not?
Collaboration is an integral part of the DNA at the Philadelphia Education Fund. They were founded through collaboration – an effort by a community of educators and business leaders who wanted to advance humanities and math education in Philadelphia’s public schools. And, despite the passage of more than 30 years, PEF remains an organization that seeks to work in partnership with teachers, students, school districts, businesses, and fellow nonprofits to drive solutions for Philadelphia schoolchildren. Their most significant current collaboration is the “Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective” which brings together more than 600 individuals in the public, private, and social sector in efforts to broaden access to STEM careers for underrepresented populations.
What is the most unique donation PEF has received?
PEF recently received a significant bequest from the founding donor of their Philadelphia Scholars Last Dollar Scholarship Program. This bequest will go a long way towards helping PEF reach its goal of building its endowment to $20M, thereby allowing them to nearly double the amount they award in scholarships annually – from $550,000 to more than $1 million. PEF is very excited by this and hopes others will be moved to support this legacy gift by helping them reach their endowment goal over the next five years.
Of course, PEF is grateful for the bequest, just as they are grateful for every donation that supports our young people – from laptops for students whose schools transitioned to virtual during COVID, to bedding and dorm furnishings for first-generation college students and interview-appropriate attire for adolescents.
For more information, feel free to visit their website: philaedfund.org.
