PHILADELPHIA, PA — A community battered by the opioid crisis is fighting back. The 2025 grant application cycle for the Kensington Community Resilience Fund (KCR Fund) has officially opened, marking five years of a game-changing approach to grantmaking that puts power directly into the hands of those most impacted. This initiative is more than philanthropy—it’s a lifeline for Kensington, Harrowgate, and Fairhill, three neighborhoods struggling to recover from the widespread devastation of addiction and systemic neglect.
Launched as a partnership between the City of Philadelphia, the Scattergood Foundation, and other private donors, the KCR Fund operates on a public-private-community model. Funded partially through the city’s national opioid settlement dollars, this initiative has distributed over $1.12 million in general operating funds since 2021. An additional $360,000 is set to be awarded in 2025 through $10,000 grants for community organizations, with some returning grantees eligible for supplemental $5,000 awards.
But this is no ordinary grant. The KCR Fund’s participatory model is its secret weapon. Residents, not bureaucrats, determine how funds are allocated by engaging through the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and Community Granting Group (CGG). This ensures projects reflect on-the-ground needs while empowering residents to drive change. “The residents have a voice and are empowered to make changes in the neighborhood. That brings hope and power to the community,” said Mayme Robinson, a CAC member and leader of Kensington Neighbors United Civic Association.
The grants target six key focus areas designed to reverse the fallout of the opioid epidemic and strengthen the community long-term. These include public safety, workforce development, youth programs, and even initiatives like beautification and blight removal. Klean Kensington, a previous grantee, exemplifies this grassroots approach. The program hires local teens to clean up neglected, drug-ridden spaces and transform them into thriving community gardens. Jeremy Chen, the program founder, highlighted the critical role of the KCR Fund in catalyzing their work, saying, “To the teens working hard to reshape what is possible in the neighborhood, the funding we have received is a big deal.”
By leveraging its learning community, the fund goes further than just handing out dollars. Grant recipients and CAC members gain access to professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and networking events. These resources strengthen the bond between local organizations, enabling a collective movement for healing and revitalization. “The experience of working on the CAC and CGG has enlightened me on all the groups in the community that are doing great work and has established a network of resources,” Robinson added.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker lauds the initiative as a beacon of equity and action. “The KCR Fund meets our residents where they are, listens to them, and takes action based on what we hear from our communities. I can’t think of a better model to help begin healing Philadelphia,” she said.
The open application period isn’t just a milestone; it’s a testament to the resilience and strength of this community-led approach. At a time when systemic solutions often fall short, the KCR Fund demonstrates the power of collaboration and localized decision-making. The neighborhoods of Kensington, Harrowgate, and Fairhill aren’t just recipients of aid—they are architects of their recovery.
This model offers a blueprint for cities tackling crises through equitable and inclusive grantmaking. Kensington residents like Jess Shoffner, who leads Hart Lane Neighborhood Farm, hope it inspires other cities. “We continue to be thankful for KCRF and to believe that it is the way that more grantmaking should be done in the city and beyond.”
As the KCR Fund enters its next chapter, it sends a clear message—the people of Kensington won’t wait for change. They’re building it themselves, one grant and one transformed neighborhood at a time.
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