Genuardi Family Foundation: Grants for Philadelphia

OVERVIEW: The Genuardi Family Foundation supports the development of healthy individuals, families, and communities.

IP TAKE: For grantseekers working just outside of Philadelphia in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Genuardi is a good funder to know. Given its background as a grocer, its philanthropy focuses on food security and job training, as well as on homelessness. It even offers scholarships geared towards food-related marketing.

PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Genuardi Family Foundation was launched by the family behind Genuardi Family Markets, one of the top supermarket retailers in the Delaware Valley, which sold to Safeway. The foundation aims to give back to the “communities which had supported the Genuardi family business for some 80 years.” It supports nonprofit providers of direct services whose work addresses food access and security, homelessness prevention and housing, and job training and placement.

The Genuardi Family Foundation has funded some 2,200 grants totaling approximately $21 million. Its Core Grant Program offers annual general operating and program-specific grants to organizations providing direct services in one or more of its core issue areas. Its Major Grant Program is based around fostering solutions to community needs through innovative approaches, collaborations, and efforts that will sustain positive change over time. These grants are by invitation only. Genuardi also offers scholarships related to food marketing. It annually partners with Saint Joseph’s University’s Academy of Food Marketing to fund two-year scholarships to sophomores (or third year co-op students) pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Food Marketing. Overall, the foundation prioritizes organizations that align with its core values of “Family, Community, Hard Work, Generosity, Accessibility and Responsiveness, and Humility.”

Grants range between about $2,500 and $150,000. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $2 million. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses primarily on Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, and Bucks Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Past grantees have included West Chester Food Cupboard, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, Norristown Ministries Hospitality Center, and Safe Harbor of Chester County.

The foundation’s Core Grant Program has an open application process. Eligible applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which will be reviewed by Foundation staff. Organizations will be notified whether their requests are approved to move to the Application stage. 2020 Core Grant Cycle Dates are as follows: LOI Submission Period ends 1/31; Applications are due 3/27. Contact the foundation’s office by email at Info@GenuardiFamilyFoundation.org or telephone at 610-834-2030.

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