The Common Place

What The Common Place does

The Common Place (TCP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center founded in October 2013 in Southwest Philadelphia and housed in a 100-year-old, 30,000-square-foot renovated church at 5736 Chester Avenue. It provides holistic support to children and families in SW Philly through a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Scholars Afterschool Enrichment Program, the Southwest Arts & Technology (SWAT) Summer Camp, the Common Place Orchestra (TCPO), Little Scholars Preschool, Holy Rest Mornings (women's spiritual retreats), and a growing food-sovereignty vertical that includes Bunny's Garden (outdoor raised beds and hydroponics), the Green Our Planet hydroponics system, and a weekly community food distribution serving over 100 families in partnership with Salt & Light Community Church. The organization is also a co-located hub for several faith-based tenants.

Revenue is generated entirely from philanthropy and grants — individual donations, foundation grants (Connelly, W.W. Smith, William Penn, PCUSA, Black Community's Leadership Fund, Mildred's Dream Foundation, Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America), corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising (Homecoming, 10th Anniversary Soiree which raised over $91,000 in 2024). All programs and services are delivered free of charge to participants; pricing is not a market mechanism. There is no proprietary technology platform — operations rely on standard nonprofit management tools, and program delivery is entirely in-person at the headquarters, three garden sites, and partner locations across Southwest Philadelphia.

The go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial: trust-based relationships with local churches, schools, and civic organizations drive participation through referrals, afterschool enrollment, summer camp registration, and food-distribution turnout. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Rev. Leonard Dow and led by Executive Director Rev. Christopher J. Holland II (since 2021), with Gene J. Burke as Director of Operations and heads of program, donor relations, garden, and spiritual direction functions reporting through the leadership team.

Name

The Common Place

Legal name

The Common Place

Website

https://thecommonplacephilly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Common Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center in Southwest Philadelphia delivering free afterschool enrichment, summer camp, food sovereignty programming, music education, and women's spiritual retreats to children and families across the neighborhood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Center & Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers (THAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor / Nature-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAO), Faith-Based Nursery & Playgroups (EDACACAK)

Keywords

• Community center programs
• Afterschool enrichment services
• Summer youth programs
• Urban agriculture initiatives
• Food distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Financial contributions from individual donors supporting the mission of providing holistic support to children and families in Southwest Philadelphia.
2. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations including Connelly Foundation (invited for multi-year grant), W.W. Smith Foundation, William Penn Foundation, PCUSA, and others supporting specific programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Homecoming fundraiser ($50 tickets), 10th Anniversary Soiree (raised over $91,000), and Hopefest community events generate revenue for programs.
4. Grant from Philadelphia Committee of Garden Club of America: Grant of $4,145 for Bunny's Garden expansion from Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America (PCGCA).
5. Black Community's Leadership Fund Grant: Selected to receive a grant worth $61,500 from the Black Community's Leadership Fund managed by The Philadelphia Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Common Place provides free educational, food sovereignty, and community wellness programs to children and families in Southwest Philadelphia. Core offerings include afterschool enrichment (The Common Place Scholars), a summer arts and technology camp (SWAT), the Common Place Orchestra, a Little Scholars Preschool, urban agriculture through Bunny's Garden and hydroponics, weekly food distribution, and Holy Rest spiritual retreats. All programs are delivered at no cost to participants and funded through donations, grants, and event-based fundraising.

Product overview

The Common Place operates as a community center nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on education, food sovereignty, and community wellness. The core programs include The Common Place Scholars Enrichment Program (afterschool academic and enrichment activities), Southwest Arts & Technology (SWAT) Summer Camp (full-day summer programming), The Common Place Orchestra (string instrument instruction), and Holy Rest Mornings (spiritual retreats). Food sovereignty is addressed through Bunny's Garden (urban farming with outdoor beds and hydroponics), the Weekly Community Food Distribution partnership, and plans for an affordable produce market. The organization also operates a Little Scholars Preschool. All programs are designed to serve children and families in Southwest Philadelphia holistically.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Common Place Scholars: Afterschool enrichment program for children in Southwest Philadelphia focusing on arts-based education, homework support, and social-emotional learning.
• SWAT Summer Camp (Southwest Arts & Technology)
• Bunny's Garden
• The Common Place Orchestra (TCPO)
• Holy Rest Mornings

Products and services

• The Common Place Scholars Enrichment Program Free afterschool enrichment program providing homework assistance, arts and crafts, social-emotional learning, cultural education, and youth development activities for K-8 children in Southwest Philadelphia.
• Southwest Arts & Technology (SWAT) Summer Camp Free eight-week summer camp program featuring thematic units in arts, technology, sports, and field trips for youth ages 6-12 in Southwest Philadelphia.
• Bunny's Garden Urban garden program featuring outdoor raised beds producing fresh vegetables for community food distribution and food sovereignty initiatives across multiple Southwest Philadelphia sites.
• Green Our Planet Hydroponics Year-round hydroponic growing system, operated in partnership with Green Our Planet, that enables fresh produce cultivation during winter months to support food sovereignty goals.
• Weekly Community Food Distribution Weekly food distribution program in partnership with Salt & Light Community Church providing fresh produce and community meals to over 100 families in need in Southwest Philadelphia.
• The Common Place Orchestra Music education program offering instruction in violin, viola, and cello with Saturday rehearsals and performance opportunities for local youth.
• Holy Rest Mornings Quarterly half-day spiritual retreat program for women featuring prayer, reflection, labyrinth walking, and fellowship at various locations including John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
• Little Scholars Preschool Comprehensive preschool program for young children in Southwest Philadelphia, part of the organization's educational offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 359 children and 295 families served since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Sankofa Farms at Bartram's GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TCP collaborates with Sankofa Farms for food justice initiatives. Partnership includes produce donations, access to network of local farmers for potential produce market, and agricultural expertise sharing for food sovereignty programming.
• Trellis for TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborates with Trellis for Tomorrow on food security strategies affecting children and families in Southwest Philadelphia. Partnership supports urban farming and food distribution efforts.
• Green Our PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for hydroponics education and year-round food production. Green Our Planet supports TCP's hydroponic system that enables growing fresh produce even during winter months.
• Salt & Light Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Interdenominational congregation co-located at TCP facility. Partnership includes weekly community meal (Wednesdays at 6 PM), combined events like Hopefest and Fall Festival, and food/clothing giveaways.
• John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at TinicumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Host site for Holy Rest Morning retreats and site of pollinator garden collaboration. Refuge accommodates growing attendance for spiritual retreats and provides outdoor education space.
• School District of Philadelphia Office of Student LifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TCP selected as qualified partner for District's Out of School Time (OST) cohort. TCP will be eligible matching option for K-8 after school programs, extending reach to partner schools with TCP personnel on-site.
• Southwestern Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Congregation allowed TCP to establish new garden site on their property at 70th & Buist. Partnership enables expansion of food production capacity with 9 raised beds.
• Germantown AcademysupportingOthers · 1 January 2024Volunteers from Germantown Academy Children's Ministry donated time and energy to help maintain TCP's gardens.
• POWER InterfaithcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Faith-based organizing group that facilitated community meeting on equitable housing at TCP, drawing over 100 attendees from faith communities throughout Southwest Philadelphia.
• Cornerstone Christian AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Gold Scholar Sponsor for 10th Anniversary Soiree. TCP scholars graduate from Cornerstone Christian Academy 8th grade after participating in TCP programs.
• Compass PhiladelphiasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TCP worked with Compass Philadelphia on micro project to strategize development of affordable produce market and urban farm in Southwest Philly.
• Empowered CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with Empowered CDC and Director Victoria Miles-Chambliss for food justice programming. TCP invited to community resource fair and expanded garden operations to Cecil Street lot.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Philabundance: Regional food bank serving the Greater Philadelphia area with food distribution to families facing hunger. Directly comparable to TCP's Weekly Community Food Distribution (100+ families served) and food sovereignty mission in the same metro.
• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit working on food access, nutrition education, and healthy food retail in underserved communities. Comparable to TCP's food distribution, Bunny's Garden produce access, and affordable-produce-market ambitions in Southwest Philly.
• MANNA: Philadelphia-area nonprofit providing nutrition services and meals to individuals facing serious illness, with a large-scale kitchen and food-distribution operation. Comparable to TCP on the food-distribution mission and meal-based community programming in the same region.
• Mighty Writers: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing free literacy and writing programs to K-12 youth, with afterschool and summer components. Highly comparable to TCP's Scholars enrichment program and SWAT Camp in mission, target population, and free-to-families delivery model.
• After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP): Philadelphia nonprofit coordinating afterschool enrichment and OST programming across the city. Directly comparable to TCP's Scholars program and overlaps on School District of Philadelphia partnerships and K-8 enrichment delivery.
• Urban Tree Connection: West Philadelphia nonprofit operating urban farms and neighborhood food programs with youth workforce development. Highly comparable to TCP's Bunny's Garden, hydroponics program, and food justice orientation in adjacent Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia: Established Philadelphia affiliate of a national youth development organization offering afterschool, summer, and enrichment programming citywide. Comparable target population and programming mix to TCP's Scholars and SWAT Camp, but operates at significantly larger scale with a broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Trellis for Tomorrow: Southeastern Pennsylvania nonprofit focused on food security, gardening, and youth service programs. TCP lists Trellis as a current partner on food security strategy, making it a closely aligned peer in both mission and geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tcpphilly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faith-connection-christian-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Common Place