Nonprofits

Preliminary design greatly increases the likelihood that a project will be successfully completed. Preliminary design is the first 10% of the design process. It provides nonprofits with powerful tools to advance their projects - conceptual drawings to share the vision, feasibility studies to prove the project can be done, and preliminary cost estimates to guide fundraising. 

Design Grants offer pro bono preliminary design services to nonprofits. The Collaborative works with each Design Grant recipient to determine the approach and scope of services that will best meet their needs. Design Grants typically provide between $15,000 and $35,000 in preliminary design services - donated by highly skilled volunteers with expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, cost estimating, historic preservation, interior design, urban design, city planning, lighting design, graphic design, and more.

Design Grant recipients pay a $5,000 administrative fee to offset the Collaborative’s direct costs. Scholarships may be available for organizations receiving Design Grants to: 

• advance neighborhood economic development in the City of Philadelphia, or
• support Community Development Block Grant activities in service areas approved by the Philadelphia Division of Housing and Community Development.