Philly Police Foundation Corporate Backers

June 01, 2020
Board PresidentCorporate PartnerCorporate PartnerCorporate PartnerCorporate PartnerCorporate PartnerCorporate PartnerBoard DirectorBoard directorBoard directorBoard directorDirector of ProductionPresidentRegional PresidentVice ChairmanCorporate PartnerVice President for Public Safety, Superintendent of PoliceComcastCorporationThe University ofPennsylvaniaTemple UniversityWawaPatrick J O'ConnorIndependence BlueCrossBrandywine RealtyTrustCozen O'ConnorM&T Bank, Inc.PhiladelphiaPolice FoundationMaureen S RushThe Union Leagueof PhiladelphiaAmelia Q. RileygoPuffJohn J. McNesbyFraternal Order ofPolice Lodge #5Bernard T. Shields

UPenn, Comcast, and Independence Blue Cross partner with the Philly Police Foundation to raise money for Philly's militarized police force

Across the country, local police foundations partner with corporations to raise money for the police (even though they already have enormous budgets). Often, this money goes toward purchasing militarized equipment. Over the last three years, the Philly Police foundation has helped the PPD purchase: 

  • Long guns and related equipment for the SWAT unit
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) for use by specially trained PPD ‘pilots’
  • State of the Art Ballistic Helmets for the elite tactical SWAT Team Unit

On this slide you can see the Philly Police Foundation's donors, corporate partners, and board members--including many of the city's wealthiest and most powerful institutions. 

The Philadelphia Police Foundation does not disclose its donors. However, if a corporation/institution is a partner or represented on the board of directors, they almost certainly donate and/or use their networks to fundraise for the police. Additionally, it identifies corporate sponsors of its annual gala (which was recently postponed) on the web page for the gala. Sponsorships that include a listing on the web page range from $5,000 to $25,000, though amounts donated by some corporations are likely much higher. This year’s gala sponsors include Independence Blue Cross, UPenn, Comcast, Brandywine Realty Trust, Bank of America, and PNC.

UPDATE: In response to public pressure over their role in funding the police, The Philadelphia Police Foundation has removed almost all content from it's website, including any information about their donors, board members, and partners. However, you can use archive.org to see previous versions of their site. See here, here, here. We also have screen shots from the website available upon request. Email molly@littlesis.org.