Shawn McCaney, philanthropic leader

On Thursday, May 28th, PCCP welcomes the Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation, Shawn McCaney. For some who may not be aware, the William Penn Foundation (WPF) is perhaps Philadelphia's most consequential foundation that supports so much of our non-profit and civic activity. Practically every major civic undertaking in Philly is led, supported, or catalyzed by WPF. From planning to parks to the arts to public participation to Philly250, you name it and the WPF has had a hand in it.

Shawn has many years of philanthropic leadership experience in Philadelphia and beyond. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director in 2017, he was the founding program director for WPF's Creative Communities program and managed National Initiatives for the Foundation, seeking to expand philanthropy in the region and share the Foundation’s learnings with others focused on similar issues nationwide.

Shawn oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy revision process, which is conducted every 10 years. Its most recent strategy revision was informed by an extensive stakeholder engagement effort that included nearly 400 conversations with local stakeholders and community members.

In addition to WPF leadership, Shawn has served in several citywide and regional civic initiatives, including the Mayor’s Historic Preservation Task Force; the Foundation's $70 million contribution to pandemic relief; and the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, a 100-organization citywide coalition of civic, community, faith-based, and business leaders focused on reducing gun violence in Philadelphia.

Shawn also developed the Foundation’s two largest grants in its history: a $25 million grant in support of the Free Library’s 21st Century Libraries Initiative, and a $100 million commitment to support the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (“Rebuild”) Initiative, which will transform the city’s libraries, parks, and recreation centers.

Previously, Shawn initiated and oversaw the Foundation’s Central Delaware Riverfront Initiative, which engaged over 4,000 Philadelphians in 150 meetings and led to the creation of a new waterfront management organization, a new master plan, updated zoning ordinances, and the construction of a series of early-action capital projects, including Race Street Pier Park, Washington Avenue Pier Park, Pier 68 Recreation Pier, and the new Central Delaware Riverfront Trail — all intended to model the central tenet of the Central Delaware Civic Vision, which is to promote waterfront public access as an organizing principle for riverfront redevelopment.

The Foundation is also supporting the centerpiece project of the Central Delaware Initiative: the construction of a new, $329 million, 11-acre park lid over I-95 that will reconnect the city’s historic district to the riverfront.

Shawn received his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree from Temple University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, an International Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and is a licensed Professional Planner in the State of New Jersey. Shawn serves on the board of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and is chairman of the Haddonfield Borough Planning Board.

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