The Foundation for Delaware County has joined forces with 40 Pennsylvania community foundations to launch the PA Giving Pledge, a statewide campaign to inspire Pennsylvanians to leave at least 5 percent of their estates to help future generations.
The newly announced PA Giving Pledge is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association (PACFA).
It aims to scale Pennsylvania-focused giving to generate sustainable financial resources for worthy causes and nonprofits that are addressing a range of issues in local communities across the state.
“The PA Giving Pledge is a unique opportunity for Delaware County residents to leave a legacy that promises to improve the quality of life for our families, friends, and neighbors for generations to come,” said Foundation President Frances Sheehan. “And by partnering with other PACFA community foundations, we can raise our collective voices to amplify impact in nearly every county in the commonwealth.”
The effort aims to tap into 5 percent of the estimated $418 billion transfer of wealth projected in Pennsylvania by 2030, according to estimates by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
If 5 percent of that $418 billion was endowed through the pledge, it would generate $21 billion to benefit Pennsylvania communities and causes forever, said PACFA president Michael L. Batchelor.
With the launch of the PA Giving Pledge, donors and professional advisors can now access an interactive website, PAGivingPledge.org, to find their nearest community foundation and to access county-by-county data highlighting the total estimated wealth transfer by 2030.
“The potential is truly transformative,” Sheehan said. “Here in Delaware County, for instance, our residents leaving a legacy of 5 percent of the projected transfer of wealth would translate to an additional $71 million being available every year to support local nonprofits, causes, and emergencies we can’t begin to anticipate.”
PACFA members will ask business leaders, professional advisors, and community philanthropists to endorse the program to build further momentum.
“We’re thrilled to have The Foundation for Delaware County as an enthusiastic partner and advocate for the PA Giving Pledge,” Batchelor said. “Together, we have the opportunity to leave a shared legacy that will benefit Pennsylvanians forever.”
To learn more about the PA Giving Pledge, visit PAGivingPledge.org or sign up via The Foundation for Delaware County website.
The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest grantmaking philanthropy in Delaware County.
One of 900 community foundations across the U.S., the Foundation offers support and resources for nonprofits of every size, helps generous people give with more impact, brings together funders, nonprofits, and elected officials to address critical community problems, and responds to major challenges and crises as they arise.
In addition to grant funding, the Foundation operates the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community through training workshops and peer learning opportunities.
The Foundation encourages philanthropy by connecting donors to worthy causes through efficient charitable giving vehicles like donor-advised and scholarship funds.
On May 8-9, 2024, the Foundation launched Delaware County’s first online giving day, Delco Gives. Delco Gives raised over $1.7M from more than 9,600 donors for 281 nonprofits.
The second annual Delco Gives takes place May 8-9, 2025.
Find out more about the Foundation.
You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X at @DelcoFdn.
