A rectangular plate made of a porous material is the subject of the work. Its mechanical properties vary continuously on the thickness of a plate. A mathematical model of this plate, which bases on nonlinear displacement functions taking into account shearing deformations, is presented. The assumed displacement field, linear geometrical and physical relationships permit to describe the total potential energy of a plate. Using the principle of stationarity of the total potential energy the set of five equilibrium equations for transversely and in-plane loaded plates is obtained. The derived equations are used for solving a problem of a bending simply supported plate loaded with transverse pressure. Moreover, the critical load of a bi-axially in-plane compressed plate is found. In both cases influence of parameters on obtained solutions such as a porosity coefficient or thickness ratio is analysed. In order to compare analytical results a finite element model of a porous plate is built using system ANSYS. Obtained numerical results are in agreement with analytical ones.