Philadelphia Foundation

Philadelphia Foundation President and CEO Pedro Ramos recently joined Jessica Sharp of Maven Communications for Lunch with the City's Leaders, hosted by Center City Business Association, for a conversation on civic leadership and economic mobility in Greater Philadelphia.

A few key takeaways from the conversation:
🔸Philadelphia ranks last among 50 major metros for upward economic mobility, but progress is possible when philanthropy, government, and the private sector align around shared goals.
🔸Trust built over decades is what allows Philadelphia Foundation to move quickly when the community needs it most.
🔸Business leaders have a direct role to play, from hiring locally and investing in mentorship to partnering with organizations already doing the work.

Conversations like this one are part of how change takes shape. 🤝

Black immigrant-serving organizations in Greater Philadelphia have long provided essential services to their communities, often with limited resources and little external support.

In 2022, Philadelphia Foundation provided grant support through our Black Community Leaders Fund to help establish the Black Immigrant Capacity Building Project (BICBP), a community-led initiative strengthening the capacity and sustainability of Black immigrant-led organizations across the region. Since then, BICBP has grown, supporting organizations with both funding and fundraising training.

The City of Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs recently spotlighted that growth, and we're proud to have helped launch it.

When community organizations are resourced to lead, this is what's possible.

Read the full spotlight: https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-21-learn-the-history-of-the-black-immigrant-capacity-building-project/

Learn the history of the Black Immigrant Capacity Building Project | Office of Immigrant Affairs The Black Immigrant Capacity Building Project (BICBP) is a newly organized network and resource fund.