The Union Benevolent Association, the oldest Philadelphia charity in continuous existence and one of the oldest in the United States, was founded in 1831 and incorporated in 1837.  Thus, it was one of the pioneers in the first great age of private charity in human history.  Its purpose, as stated in the quaint language of the last century, was "the encouragement of industry, the suppression of pauperism, and the relief of suffering among the worthy poor." 

Because of its venerable age - the Association is far older, for example, than the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross - it was available throughout most of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century to assist directly both the native poor and those who had fled Europe and the British Isles with the most meager of resources and who were trying to establish themselves in a large northern city.  It was in a position to aid, among many others, some of the survivors of the devastating Irish famines of the eighteen-forties.

The Association was organized as a public trust to which contributions of money, clothing and fuel were solicited and distributions made to the poor through district committees.  The distributions were based on the recommendations of agents and committees of volunteer Visitors who determined the specific needs of the poor in those districts.  For more than a century, the Union Benevolent Association maintained a staff and provided direct relief to the poor in the form of food, fuel, and clothing.  Coal stoves were lent to many families with the name of the Association embossed upon them.  Both professional workers and volunteers carried out the mission of the Association.

By the middle of the twentieth century, the government, city, state and federal, had become more and more involved in all aspects of public assistance.  It was no longer feasible for so small an organization to provide direct relief in a city of increasing size and complexity, nor was the staff able to investigate the large number of requests for aid from many different sources.  As a result, the office of the Association was disbanded, and the Board of Managers began to provide grants only through established non-profit organizations of an educational, cultural, or especially charitable nature.  This new approach, which has been in effect since 1957, has enabled the Board to operate efficiently and to identify areas of need largely unmet by government or by larger foundations.

The Board of Managers tries always to keep in mind the concept of relieving suffering among the "worthy poor", although the adjective "worthy" has lost its original meaning.  To the Victorians, impoverished people were divided into two classes, those who seemed to be blamed for their own condition (vagrants, alcoholics, and the chronically unemployed, for example) and those who were perceived as innocent victims of circumstance.  Modern charity recognizes the impossibility of making such clear distinctions and considers all types of impoverished people as worthy of aid.  "The encouragement of industry" and the "suppression of pauperism" have also been redefined to include many kinds of programs and activities of a health-oriented, cultural, recreational, and educational nature, all of which are regarded as contributing to a more stable productive citizenry.  An analysis of the organizations to which the U.B.A. has made grants in the last few years will show that the "relief of suffering," which once referred to the most basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter is now often interpreted with great flexibility.  The Board is particularly interested in projects that are designed to alleviate the distress of children and the elderly and that may help young adults break the cycle of poverty by leading to employable skills.

The Board of Managers of the Union Benevolent Association has traditionally consisted of business and professional people with a deep interest in and commitment to the City of Philadelphia and its citizens.  All Board members are active participants in the work of the Association and attend both committee meetings and meetings of the full Board.  All requests for aid, from whatever source, are given careful consideration.  In most cases, recommendations for grants are made only after a member of the Allocations Committee has studied and investigated a proposal and has then presented it to the Committee for a vote.  Positive recommendations are then taken to the full Board for further discussion and a final vote.

The assets of the organization, currently about $4.5 million, are carefully monitored by the Investment Committee with the aid of professional investment counselors.  Approximately $175,000 a year has recently been available for distribution.  A small portion of total income is earmarked for two special funds.  The Gentlefolk Fund, once reserved for people, particularly women, who had fallen from some prosperity into reduced circumstances, is now used for the poor whatever their earlier history.  The Newborn Babies Fund, established in 1888, is reserved for the care of mothers and infants and has been used on several occasions for equipment and supplies in neonatal hospital units.

The Union Benevolent Association attempts to distribute its limited resources as widely as is consistent with the needs of its recipients.  It tends to select projects that aid large groups of individuals among the disadvantaged.  Grants have frequently been given to help support summer camping and educational experiences for inner city youths, to aid programs for the elderly and handicapped, to assist those involved in legal, medical, and social difficulties, to improve the quality of life in deteriorating neighborhoods, and to provide deprived young people with employable skills and artistic and cultural experiences.

The Board prefers to make grants for specific projects and, as a rule, does not contribute toward general operating revenues or major building programs.  It limits its grants to projects serving the needs of residents of Philadelphia.

The Union Benevolent Association welcomes additions to its resources, most of which were provided many years ago through the generosity of charitably inclined Philadelphians.

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