Life Science Cares Philadelphia - Quick Links
Grantmaking
Funding High-Impact Solutions to Poverty
We invest in proven nonprofits through multi-year, trust-based grants that deliver measurable results in basic needs, education, and opportunity.
Why We Invest
Poverty is the root cause of many barriers that keep individuals and families from reaching their full potential. In Philadelphia, one in four residents live in poverty. This reality shapes every part of our community: it impacts our schools, weakens our workforce, and limits our shared future.
For Life Science Cares Philadelphia, these numbers are a call to action.
The life sciences industry is built on solving the world’s most vexing problemsthrough collaboration, innovation, and data-driven solutions. In our city, the greatest challenge isn’t in a lab, it’s in our neighborhoods. Just as no single experiment can solve a complex scientific problem, no single program can break the cycle of poverty.
That’s why we unite the energy, brainpower, and resources of the life sciences industry to tackle poverty from multiple angles. We invest in organizations that address immediate needs, create pathways to education, and open doors to economic opportunity, because lasting change happens when these elements work together.
-As of 2022, 21.7% of Philadelphians lived in poverty, the city’s lowest rate since the 1990s.
-9.7% of residents lived in deep poverty, meaning they earned less than half the federal poverty level, around 148,000 people.
-A family of four was considered in poverty if their household income was $31,200 or less. That same family was in deep poverty if their income was $15,600 or less.
The Pew Charitable Trusts, State of the City 2024
Our Pillars for Change
At Life Science Cares Philadelphia, our grantmaking focuses on three interconnected pillars that address both the symptoms and root causes of poverty. Like the life sciences, our approach is data-driven, evidence-based, and built on the belief that complex problems require coordinated solutions.
Pillar I
Basic Needs
Without stability in things like food and housing, individuals cannot meaningfully engage in education, personal development, or career advancement. That’s why we fund programs that provide immediate relief; from securing safe shelter to connecting families with consistent medical care. Meeting these essential needs is the first step toward breaking the cycle of poverty.
Pillar II
Education
Education is one of the strongest predictors of lifetime earnings and stability. We support and invest in programs such as after-school enrichment, literacy initiatives, and STEM opportunities that help children and young adults build skills, expand horizons, and prepare for a competitive workforce. In scientific terms, this is about building a strong “foundation layer” so future growth is sustainable.
Pillar III
Opportunity
Even with education, many individuals face barriers to good jobs and career advancement. We fund and provide human capital to workforce development programs, internships, and mentorship opportunities that connect talent to opportunity. This pillar acts like a “catalyst” in a chemical reaction, accelerating progress, generating income stability, and creating long-term community impact.
Together, these pillars form an integrated model for change. Just as in research, one isolated intervention is rarely enough. But when combined, these strategies reinforce one another: stabilizing lives, expanding potential, and opening pathways out of poverty.
For Nonprofits: How We Make Investments
We practice trust-based philanthropy, providing multi-year, unrestricted grants to a small group of high-impact nonprofit partners. This approach gives organizations the stability and flexibility to grow their programs, innovate, and deepen their impact.
Current Funding Status: We are in the midst of a 2025–2028 commitment to four nonprofit partners and are not accepting new grant applications at this time. When future funding opportunities become available, they will be shared on this page and through our newsletter.
While our grant process is closed for now, we value building relationships year-round. We encourage nonprofit leaders to connect with us through events, volunteer collaborations, and other partnership opportunities.
Meet our nonprofit partners and see how they are disrupting poverty through the power of collective industry impact.
Outcomes
Our Grantmaking in Action
Use the slider to see how Life Science Cares Philadelphia’s grant distributions have grown year by year, fueling high-impact programs that address basic needs, education, and opportunity across the city. Each year represents more lives changed and more pathways out of poverty.
Outcomes by Pillar
Measuring the Impact of Our Investments
Our grantmaking focuses on three pillars that address both the immediate needs and long-term solutions to poverty. These results from 2023–2024 show how investments in basic needs, opportunity, and education create stability, open doors, and build brighter futures.
Pillar I
Basic Needs
- 600 individuals facing homelessness now have stable housing
- 900 children from low-income families connected to a medical home
Pillar II
Education
- 129 young adults launched careers, generating over $5.5 million in combined salaries
- 293 job seekers secured employment, earning an average of $21.36 per hour
Pillar III
Opportunity
- 420 young adults received skill-building education and training toward a future career
- 780 low-income children achieved or surpassed literacy goals
Ready to Make an Impact?
Whether you’re looking to volunteer, partner, join the Board of Advisors, or just learn more about how we’re tackling poverty in Philadelphia, we’d love to hear from you.