Episcopal Community Services

This is a period of great uncertainty for ECS. Many ECS programs are funded by the City of Philadelphia. The city is trying to fill a $1.2 billion deficit, and services to the most vulnerable may be at risk. When the city reduces or eliminates a contract, it is the provider that incurs the expense associated with layoffs, unused equipment and other costs.
ECS usually receives more than $400,000 annually from grants, but many foundations may decrease their grantmaking to reflect the declining values of their endowment portfolios.
One bright spot so far has been giving by individuals, which has remained steady. Individual gifts to ECS add up to nearly $1 million each year. The agency will need to rely on these gifts even more in the future.