On May 15, 2025, CultureWorks marked a major milestone—fifteen years of community, creativity, and shared impact. The Powered Up + Charged celebration brought together members, partners, friends, and supporters for an evening that reflected the spirit of CultureWorks: collaborative, energized, and deeply rooted in service to the region’s cultural ecosystem.

Hosted in our coworking space in Center City Philadelphia, the event served as both a birthday celebration and the grand finale of our Lightning Round Campaign—a fundraising initiative supporting over 90 nonprofit projects doing transformative work across the city and beyond.

Throughout the evening, the space was filled with conversation, laughter, and shared reflections. Guests enjoyed delicious local food from Amy’s Pastelillos and Pretty Girls Cook, two standout culinary businesses whose flavors added warmth and comfort to the evening. The venue was transformed by Jai Moneé at Point Blank Style.

Local vendors helped set the tone for a creative and connected atmosphere. Guests browsed books and engaged with authors at New Door Books, discovered rare finds from Horizon Records, and explored wellbeing offerings by The Thread. Each vendor added a meaningful presence to the evening, reflecting the breadth of creativity across our community. Shameka Sawyer from 5 Shorts Projects captured photos throughout the evening (which you can see below!)

CultureWorks project leaders had the opportunity to share their work with guests—many of whom were learning about the depth and diversity of the Lightning Round Campaign for the first time. Projects ranged from emerging grassroots initiatives to long-established organizations, each with their own approach to cultural change and community building.

A highlight of the evening was the acknowledgment of several standout campaigns from the Lightning Round. While the celebration didn’t center on a formal awards presentation, there was meaningful recognition for projects that demonstrated strong engagement, fundraising creativity, and lasting community presence. Informal nods were given to campaigners with the most donors, the most energizing pitches, and more.

Later in the evening, a citation from Pennsylvania State Representative Ben Waxman—delivered by Alyxandra Lockhead and Emilyn Loh—was read aloud, honoring CultureWorks’ enduring contribution to the cultural life of Philadelphia. The moment offered a collective pause to reflect on just how much the organization and its community of creatives have accomplished over the past 15 years.

Guests left with CultureWorks swag, a deeper understanding of the impact of fiscal sponsorship, and—most importantly—a renewed connection to the cultural work happening across the city.

As we look ahead to the next chapter, we remain grounded in our mission: making it easier for cultural organizers and small business leaders to do their best work. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and made these 15 years possible.

To support the projects at the heart of our community, we invite you to give to one—or several—of our fiscally sponsored initiatives, or to join our shared workspace to stay up to date on our latest opportunities to gather.