The Foundation’s primary purpose, which has remained constant since its inception, is to strengthen the fabric of community life in the City of Philadelphia.

Its principal goal is to perpetuate Mr. Greenfield’s work and creative energy by helping to improve the human condition based on the values of tolerance, dignity and social justice. The Foundation aims to spur creative thinking by supporting new programs that fill unmet needs and respond to changing social conditions.

The Foundation seeks to maintain and enrich Philadelphia’s historic tradition of intellectual, cultural and economic contributions to the country and world. Increasingly, therefore, the Foundation endeavors to support Philadelphia initiatives that have global impact or serve as national models.

The Foundation believes in making thoughtful, focused grants that support Philadelphia-area non-profit organizations which are taking the lead in improving the quality of community life. The Foundation therefore gives priority consideration to organizations that seek innovative solutions to entrenched and/or emerging problems. In doing so, the Foundation will take prudent risks in partnering with non-profit organizations with exceptional track records to launch promising new projects. Rather than play a passive grant-making role, the Foundation prefers to collaborate with grantees, working directly with them and monitoring their progress.

The Foundation gives lower priority to proposals seeking funding for general operations and to continue existing programs.

Although he was an idealist and a visionary, Mr. Greenfield was also a pragmatist. In that spirit, the Foundation funds only discrete programs with clear objectives that will achieve measurable results.