We invited qualifying nonprofits, benefit corporations and Certified B Corps in the Philadelphia region to share their impact and potential to grow at scale. Three applicants will be chosen by a panel of judges to present their work to a room of potential funders and the general public on November 13, 2025 — this event is invite-only. Each of the three presenters will receive coaching from experienced nonprofit advisors and an honorarium for their time and investment in the process provided by Visit Philadelphia. They will pitch their idea to scale as part of the kickoff for the 8th annual Ideas We Should Steal Festival presented by Comcast NBCUniversal.
Meet our 2025 entrants who are ready to scale by watching their video submissions below.
The 2025 Ideas We Should Scale Showcase entrants are:
Bike Explorers provides free 4 week programming for elementary and middle school youth to teach and empower them and their families to confidently and safely ride a bike in Kensington.
Blink Connect is a social networking platform catering to the professional investor and entrepreneur.
Blue Stoop nurtures an inclusive literary community by creating pathways to access writing education, inspiration, and professional support, and celebrating Philadelphia’s rich writing tradition.
Center 1968’s mission is to train, empower, and support Black women in political and civic spaces, ensuring they have the tools, networks, and confidence to lead change in their communities and beyond.
Circular Philadelphia is working to build a circular economy where materials stay in use, waste is reduced and nature is restored.
College Together is a “fusion college” partnership: a collaboration between Southern New Hampshire University, which provides your curriculum & professors, + College Together, your daily support community right here at home.
The Community Grocer is reinventing the corner store and reimagining nutritional assistance to make eating well easier for all!
Financial Scholars provides high school students, teachers, and families with the tools needed to develop financial skills, build greater wealth, and achieve financial empowerment.
Glitter is a neighbor-powered platform where residents crowdfund the cost of weekly litter removal on their street, paying what they can afford.
Hack 4 Impact is a nonprofit organization that connects student developers with nonprofits to build technology for social good.
Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n)‘s mission is to make southeastern Pennsylvania the best possible place for early-stage technology companies to start, grow, and thrive.
Kensington Corridor Trust utilizes collective ownership to direct investments on the corridor that preserve culture and affordability while building neighborhood power and wealth in Kensington.
Let’s Circle Up creates a culture of connection through restorative justice education and practice that is rooted in community, healing, and real accountability.
MakeSpace invites educators to practice creativity, embrace vulnerability, and rekindle joy in their teaching practices.
Neighborhood Bike Works harnesses the fun, freedom, and mobility of bicycles to teach youth and adults how to fix bikes, earn or purchase bikes affordably, and explore new places by bike.
Niche Clinic crafts learning environments that strengthen the financial position of all participants.
Operation Save Our City (of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia) works to improve the lives of Philadelphians who are dealing with complex trauma resulting from homicide grief, substance use disorder, loss of housing, secondary trauma from exposure to violence, or any combination of the above.
Oshun Family Center provides racially concordant care to members of the community who are seeking to achieve optimal wellness through psychotherapy and holistic healing and birthing modalities such as doula and lactation support.
Philly Truce Foundation empowers African American men with the tools, resources, and support they need to achieve Sustainable Manhood, grounded in clear evidence that they have disproportionately been victims of systemic inequities, marginalization, violence, and incarceration.
Reading Captains is an unshakable coalition working to ensure every child in our city is reading at or above grade level by the time they enter 4th grade.
Safe Hub Philly creates safe spaces that combine the power of sport and holistic development to empower youth and change lives.
Sharing Excess bridges the gap between surplus and scarcity by rescuing excess food from wholesalers, distributors, and retailers and delivering it directly to communities in need.
Sunday Love Project‘s mission is to share food amongst those experiencing food insecurity in our community.
The Merchants Fund catalyzes economic mobility for Philadelphia’s small business owners by providing capital and coaching.
The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting creates direct and genuine connections among gun violence prevention scholars, journalists, and impacted communities to mitigate harmful media narratives and advance empathetic, ethical, and impactful gun violence that has the power to prevent violence, rather than perpetuate it.
Theatre Exile is a nonprofit theater company committed to sparking dialogue that strengthens the community through the development and staging of timely and provocative plays.
Treehouse Books’ mission is to grow and sustain a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Philadelphia.
Triple Bottom Brewing‘s mission is to create moments of joy and connection that inspire and empower us all to craft a better future for our planet and for one another.
We Love Philly provides holistic transformative education to underserved youth by providing students autonomy through positive community experiences and the learning of essential professional skills.
The Philadelphia Citizen’s inaugural Ideas We Should Scale Showcase is presented in partnership with …
