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Have a great idea that’s already doing good in Philadelphia, and you’d like to grow it? Here’s all about Ideas We Should Scale.

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Why’d we come up with the idea — and how’s it going to work? Here are all the answers about Ideas We Should Scale.

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Have an Idea to Scale?

Introducing a new showcase to amplify the work of the most promising nonprofit, B-Corps, and benefit corporations in the region. Find out how your organization can get the spotlight and support it needs to grow

Have an Idea to Scale?

Introducing a new showcase to amplify the work of the most promising nonprofit, B-Corps, and benefit corporations in the region. Find out how your organization can get the spotlight and support it needs to grow

BY Jessica Blatt Press

Jun. 12, 2025

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If you’ve spent any time following The Citizen, you know that one of our signature events is Ideas We Should Steal, which lives as both a column on our website, and as a beloved annual Festival. Both cast a spotlight on unique ideas outside of Philadelphia that are having an impact on problems our city also faces – and explore if and how Philly could potentially adopt and adapt similar solutions.

Now, we are thrilled to introduce a companion initiative: the first-ever Ideas We Should Scale showcase. We’ll hold it on November 13, the night before the Festival (save the date), as a kickoff event at Fitler Club. (Get your tickets to both events here.)

Our goal: Before we spend the day spotlighting meaningful work taking place outside of Philadelphia, we want to honor three incredible organizations doing impactful work in Philadelphia — and we want to put each of them in front of an audience of potential funders to help unlock their potential.

How Ideas We Should Scale works

If you’re a registered nonprofit, benefit corporation, or B Corp with an operating budget of $2 million or less and you’re looking to scale – to reach more people within the region, start an outpost in another city, add another product line or service, and the like — head over to our application page. There, you can submit a short video explaining what your organization does, the impact it’s had so far, and what you could do if only you had additional funding and support. (Full details live on the site here.)

In August, a panel of judges will comb through all of the entries we receive and select three particularly compelling leaders to present at the event on November 13, when we’ll pack the room with potential funders and any guest who wants to learn more from local changemakers. Each of the three presenters will receive an honorarium of $1,666, courtesy of Visit Philly, plus coaching on their presentation skills.

The event itself will feature Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan, co-founder and vice president of the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, in conversation with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Michelle Histand (with a possible appearance by director M. Night Shyamalan too).

Ideas We Should Scale is brought to you by The Citizen, the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, and ImpactEd, a center based at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies that equips mission-driven organizations with skills and data to fast-track social change.

So please spread the word to all the mission-driven organizations you know – and if you’re one of them, go ahead and apply! We can’t wait to help unlock meaningful change throughout the region.

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