Does Philly really take care of its own? That question could be answered Sunday on the inaugural 215 Day of Giving, a first-of-its-kind in Philly fundraiser supporting 10 community-focused organizations.

Appropriately scheduled for February 15 (2-15), the philanthropic outing aims to raise $50,000 to be divided evenly among the selected groups, which support youth athletics, hands-on job training, and other needed programs.

Long-time community activist Darrien Johnson was key to bringing together a steering committee that includes leaders of established nonprofits. She’d like to see this day of giving become an annual event.

“We want to create some sort of sustainable initiative for organizations that allows them to be seen and properly funded,” says Johnson, who calls herself the “community curator.” “We have over 3,000 nonprofits incorporated in Philadelphia, but there are barriers to get funding. These groups are always looking for where the next dollar is coming from.”

Johnson says government funding is usually limited to the largest and best-known programs and two-thirds of the city’s grassroots operations operate with less than three months of cash reserves.

Johnson believes the solution lies in “eliminating those barriers and saying, Even if you don’t have the capacity, even if you don’t have the experience, but if you have the heart and the love, we’re here to support you and to give you the tools to be able to get to tomorrow.”

The 215 Day of Giving was inspired by the work CLLCTIVLY does in Baltimore, Johnson says. Founded in 2019, that nonprofit holds a similar fundraiser to support grassroots, Black-led social programs with money and expertise. To date, CLLCTIVLY says it has supported 400 organizations and distributed $7 million.

Johnson’s program also aligns with that of nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here’s annual Amplify Austin Day, whose executive director spoke at The Citizen’s 2024 Ideas We Should Steal Festival. Since launching the annual day of giving in 2013, the Texas nonprofit has raised more than $122 million and supported more than 1,500 nonprofits.

Among the potential grant recipients here in Philadelphia are The Children’s Learning Institute, which assists with housing expenses, food, clothing and education opportunities; Positive Youth Outlook, a youth sports mentorship program; and Dez Kids (pronounced “these kids”), which teaches construction skills to those aged 14 to 21.

“Every dollar counts and could be the difference between a program existing or not.” — Emmanuel “Manny215” Clark, What I Wish I Knew

“There isn’t just one particular zip code or focus. These [organizations] do many different things,” Johnson says. “It’s about getting people familiar with them and their missions.”

While the $50,000 goal may seem modest to some, Johnson notes this is the effort’s first year and she’d like to see it grow. She’s also inspired by what she’s seen so far as individuals have already started to contribute to the 215 Day of Giving pot, offering what they can, even if that amount is $10.38. (An actual donation.)

The members of Johnson’s steering committee involved with nonprofits know that even small contributions can be gamechangers, especially for an organization trying to find its footing.

Emmanuel “Manny215” Clark, who founded the nonprofit What I Wish I Knew in 2019, was part of Johnson’s 215 Day of Giving steering committee. His group focuses on economic advancement, ending gun violence, and teaching life skills. In the organization’s early years, a $500 donation allowed him to provide one more meal or give away one more back-to-school backpack, he says.

“Every dollar counts and could be the difference between a program existing or not,” says Clark, who in 2025 received the annual Inspire Change Changemaker Award from the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. “This money can also be the morale and motivation boost we need as organizers and founders because it does get stressful when you’re committing your life to serve in the community and there’s no financial support.”

Ryan Harris, CEO and founder of Hunting Park-based As I Plant This Seed, echoed Clark’s sentiment, knowing firsthand the impact an unexpected donation can have: In 2024, I Plant This Seed was one of four finalists for a Wawa Foundation Award. It finished in second place, receiving $10,000. Those funds further prop up the Treehouse, a repurposed house that is the base of his programming.

“We’re meeting the organizations on the ground where they are so they can continue doing the good work they’re doing,” says Harris, whose organization, founded in 2012, provides mentorships and other programming for young people ages 7 to 17 and their families.

In addition to the money, the selected nonprofits will also be offered technical assistance, education on capacity building, and other skills because “funding is not enough if they’re not able to maintain, sustain, or actually scale that funding,” Johnson says. There’s also the hope that shining a light on these smaller organizations will help them attract volunteers and other supporters.

“By all of us coming together with our different strengths — like marketing, programming, outreach — we’re able to provide services that empower organizations and help them grow,” she says of her committed steering committee.

Johnson believes residents will step up to help their own as she has. “Philadelphia raised me,” she says. “Everything I do is about giving back.”

MORE TO DO FROM THE CITIZEN

Darrien Johnson and her team at City Hall.