The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $65-67 million
Success Rate: ~50%
Decision Time: 3+ months
Grant Range: $10,000 - $150,000
Geographic Focus: Allegheny County and southwestern Pennsylvania

Contact Details

Website: https://pittsburghfoundation.org Phone: 412-391-5122 Email: grants@pghfdn.org Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh

Program Leadership:

Michelle McMurray, Vice President, Program and Community Engagement: mcmurraym@pghfdn.org, 412-394-2610
General inquiries: 412-394-2630

Organizations new to the program are strongly encouraged to attend a grant-seeker information session. For requests over $150,000, applicants should have a conversation with a program officer before submitting.

Overview

Established in 1945 with $5,000, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation's oldest community foundations and the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States. The Foundation now manages assets totaling $1.5 billion and oversees approximately 2,500 individual charitable funds. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded $1.2 billion in grants to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region. In 2020, the Foundation awarded a record $67 million in grants, up from $65.7 million in 2019. Led by President and CEO Lisa Schroeder since 2019—the first woman appointed to this position—the Foundation's mission is to improve quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to critical community needs. The Foundation's work is anchored in values of accountability, collaboration, community, racial justice, and trust, with strategic priorities to Promote Philanthropy, Support Community, and Catalyze Partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Discretionary Grants: $10,000 - $75,000 (one-year); up to $150,000 (two-year)

Applications accepted through online portal on a rolling basis
Typical decision timeline: 3+ months
Organizations should apply for the amount necessary to successfully complete their work
Requests over $150,000 require pre-application consultation with a program officer

Small and Mighty Grants: Up to $40,000 (two-year grants)

Provides project and operating support to smaller organizations
Recent example: In July 2024, awarded $480,000 to 12 organizations ($40,000 each)
Applications accepted when funding cycle is open

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: Average $49,000

Supports individual Black artists, collectives, and arts organizations
December 2024 awarded $1.2 million to 24 recipients
Grant amounts range from $40,000 to $100,000

Emergency Action Fund: Variable amounts

Expedited review process with decisions within 15 business days
For urgent community needs

Priority Areas

The Foundation aligns its grantmaking with five strategic focus areas:

1. Basic Needs

Food security and nutrition assistance
Housing stability and homelessness prevention
Healthcare access and mental health supports
Child care services
Education and employment training
Direct assistance to obtain basic necessities for low-income individuals

2. Equity and Social Justice

Civic participation and community organizing
Policy change initiatives
Programs addressing historical and present-day social injustices
Support for organizations led by and serving communities of color
Criminal justice reform and voting rights

3. Environmental Action

Community health protection
Environmental preservation
Climate action and sustainability
Support for environmental justice in underserved communities

4. Arts and Culture

Small-to-mid-sized arts organizations
Individual artists (particularly Black artists)
Diverse, healthy, and just arts ecosystem
Cultural programming that serves diverse communities

5. Economic Mobility

Workforce development and job training
Entrepreneurship support
Financial literacy and asset building
Living wage employment opportunities
Programs addressing economic divides

Priority Considerations

The Foundation prioritizes funding for organizations that:

Primarily serve communities disproportionately impacted by poverty
Have a demonstrated commitment to addressing historical and present-day social injustices
Have an established history in the communities they serve
Are representative of the communities they serve, including leadership and staff with lived experience
Meaningfully integrate community experience and perspectives in decision-making processes

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation will NOT provide funding for:

Direct funding for individuals (except individual artists through specific programs)
Payments on organizational debt
Costs and activities completed before a grant decision
University overhead costs
Single-disease support organizations
Educational scholarships (administered through separate scholarship program)
Academic research
Organizations not designated as 501(c)(3) public charities under Internal Revenue Code Section 170(b)(1)(A)
Private non-operating foundations
"Disqualified supporting organizations" as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 4966(d)(4)

Geographic Restrictions: Organizations must be located within Allegheny County and/or primarily serve Allegheny County residents (unless otherwise specified in specific grant programs).

Consecutive Funding Limit: In most cases, the Foundation will not provide more than four years of consecutive funding to a grantee organization.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Lisa Schroeder, President and CEO (appointed February 2019, assumed role June 2019)

First woman appointed to lead The Pittsburgh Foundation in its 75+ year history
Sixth president in the Foundation's history
Leads one of the largest and oldest community foundations in the United States

Dr. Shapira, a board member, noted at Schroeder's appointment that "the community foundation must distinguish itself as a strong civic leader."

Maxwell King, Previous President and CEO King led the Foundation during a critical period and emphasized the Foundation's role in addressing economic inequality. He stated that the community foundation is in the best position to make progress closing "the shocking economic divide that bedevils our country."

Board Structure

The Pittsburgh Foundation's board of directors comprises 14 leading citizens who direct the organization's grantmaking activities. Recent board leadership includes:

Jordan R. Pallitto (Chair)
Michael P. Reese (Vice Chair)
Amy Krueger Marsh (Investment Committee Chair)

Other board members include John R. McGinley Jr., William Generett Jr. JD, David A. Lewis M.D., Terry Miller M.S.W., among others.

Current board member information is available at: https://pittsburghfoundation.org/bod-current

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Portal: The Pittsburgh Foundation uses Grant Lifecycle Manager for all grant applications.

Portal URL: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh
New organizations: Click "Create New Account" to register
Existing users: Login with credentials
Important: Do not create multiple accounts; contact noelr@pghfdn.org to verify account status

Pre-Application Steps:

Review grant guidelines at https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantguidelines
Attend a grant-seeker information session (strongly encouraged for new applicants)
For requests over $150,000, schedule a conversation with a program officer before applying
Confirm organizational eligibility (501(c)(3) status, Allegheny County connection)

Application Requirements:

Organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities
Must be located in or primarily serve Allegheny County (unless otherwise specified)
Complete online application through Grant Lifecycle Manager
The system maintains records of application history for future reference

Decision Timeline

Standard Discretionary Grants: 3+ months

The Foundation works with applicants during review to gather additional information and ask questions
Timelines vary by specific grant program
Check Grant Opportunities page for program-specific timelines

Emergency Action Fund: 15 business days

Expedited process for urgent community needs

Post-Decision:

All applicants are notified of funding decisions
The Foundation maintains ongoing communication with grantees throughout the grant period

Success Rates

The Pittsburgh Foundation receives approximately 400-600 applications annually, with about half receiving funding—approximately a 50% success rate. This competitive process reflects the Foundation's thorough review and commitment to strategic grantmaking aligned with community priorities.

Of the $67 million awarded in 2020:

7,590 total grants awarded
$37 million awarded through donor-advised funds
Remaining ~$30 million from Foundation-directed discretionary grantmaking
$2.3 million awarded annually in scholarships

Reapplication Policy

For Successful Grantees: Generally, an organization receiving funding will not be eligible to apply for a new grant until 12 months after completing the first grant and submitting a final report. Grantees wishing to be considered before the end of their 12-month waiting period should contact their program officer before submitting a new application.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: The Foundation does not explicitly prohibit reapplication by unsuccessful applicants. Organizations are encouraged to contact program staff for feedback and guidance on strengthening future applications.

Consecutive Funding: The Foundation typically will not provide more than four years of consecutive funding to the same organization.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

The Foundation emphasizes these key factors for applicants:

Alignment with Community Priorities: "The Pittsburgh Foundation aligns its grantmaking with residents' dreams for themselves, their families and their communities." Applications should demonstrate how the proposed work directly addresses community-identified needs.

Demonstrated Commitment to Equity: The Foundation prioritizes organizations with "a demonstrated commitment to addressing the historical and present-day impact of social injustices." Applications should explicitly address how the work advances racial equity and social justice.

Community Integration: Organizations should be "representative of the communities they serve, including leadership and staff who have lived experience in the community issues they address" and "meaningfully integrate the experience and perspectives of the communities in their decision-making process."

Realistic Budget Requests: "Applicants should apply for the amount they believe is necessary to successfully complete their work." Don't underbid—request adequate funding for quality implementation.

Recent Funded Projects

Small and Mighty Grants (July 2024):

Naomi's Place Transitional Housing Inc. ($40,000): Black-led organization providing housing for single women and children experiencing housing insecurity
Open Up ($40,000): Founded in 2014, teaches mindfulness and wellness through movement practices and interactive arts to people living with disabilities
Out of the End Inc. ($40,000): Black-led organization building foundations in sustainability, livability, and entrepreneurship for Black and Brown communities in Pittsburgh

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh (December 2024):

Barrel & Flow Fest, Day Bracey ($40,000): Provides artist support and national promotion for Black artists based in Western Pennsylvania
Damon Young ($50,000): Supports Made in America, a hybrid literary conversation and salon series
ALMA | LEWIS ($100,000): Experimental contemporary art platform dedicated to Black culture

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

"Communities disproportionately impacted by poverty"
"Lived experience"
"Racial justice" and "equity"
"Community organizing" and "civic participation"
"Historically marginalized communities"
"Representative leadership"

Tips for Standing Out

Engage Early: Attend grant-seeker information sessions and connect with program officers before applying
Demonstrate Community Connection: Show deep roots in the community you serve, with leadership and staff from that community
Address Equity Explicitly: Don't assume the Foundation will infer your equity commitment—state it explicitly and provide evidence
Show Community Voice: Describe how community members shape your work, not just benefit from it
Be Specific About Impact: Provide concrete outcomes and how you'll measure success
Right-Size Your Request: Request adequate funding to do quality work; the Foundation encourages realistic budgets
Align with Strategic Priorities: Clearly connect your work to one or more of the five focus areas
Highlight Partnerships: The Foundation values collaboration—show how you work with other community organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

50% success rate means competitive but achievable: With approximately 400-600 applications and 50% funded annually, applicants have reasonable odds if well-aligned with priorities
Equity and community representation are non-negotiable: The Foundation prioritizes organizations with leadership, staff, and decision-making that reflect the communities served. This isn't just about program beneficiaries—it's about who holds power in your organization
Geographic focus is strict: Organizations must be located in or primarily serve Allegheny County unless applying to a specific program with broader geographic scope
Relationship building matters: The Foundation encourages pre-application conversations for larger requests and offers grant-seeker information sessions. Use these opportunities—they demonstrate commitment and allow you to refine your approach
Think multi-year but know the limits: Two-year grants up to $150,000 are available, but the Foundation typically won't fund the same organization for more than four consecutive years. Plan for sustainability beyond Foundation support
Decision timeline requires patience: With 3+ months for standard discretionary grants, plan your funding pipeline accordingly. Don't wait until you're in a funding crisis to apply
Budget realistically and justify thoroughly: The Foundation explicitly encourages organizations to request what they need to succeed. Don't lowball your budget, but be prepared to justify every line item and show how it advances community priorities

References

The Pittsburgh Foundation - How to Apply for Grants https://pittsburghfoundation.org/howtoapplyforgrants Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Guidelines https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantguidelines Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant FAQs https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantfaqs Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Opportunities https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grant-opps Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Our Vision, Mission and Values https://pittsburghfoundation.org/values Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - About Us https://pittsburghfoundation.org/about Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Foundation awarded record $67 million in grants in its 75th year" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/2020-Giving-and-Grants Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Welcoming our new president & CEO" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/schroeder-welcome Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Pittsburgh Foundation grants $480,000 to Small and Mighty nonprofits" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/smallandmighty-2024-grantees Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh awards $1.2 Million to artists and arts groups" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/2024ABAP Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Board of Directors https://pittsburghfoundation.org/bod-current Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Our Staff https://pittsburghfoundation.org/staff Accessed: January 2025
The Pittsburgh Foundation Annual Report 2021 - By the Numbers https://annualreport.pittsburghfoundation.org/2021-annual-report/by-the-numbers/ Accessed: January 2025
Grant Lifecycle Manager - Pittsburgh Foundation Portal https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh Accessed: January 2025