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Jack Buncher Foundation

Annual Giving
$21.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $5.0M

Jack Buncher Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $21,278,555 (2023)
  • Assets: $184.8 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 297 awards (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania
  • Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
  • Application Method: Common Grant Application Format (CGAF) accepted

Contact Details

Address: 1251 Waterfront Place, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Phone: (412) 422-9900

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public-facing website. It is a member of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania.

Overview

The Jack Buncher Foundation was established in 1974 by Jack G. Buncher (1911-2001), a Pittsburgh real estate developer and philanthropist who built his fortune from a family scrap yard business into one of Pittsburgh's largest real estate portfolios. Upon his death in 2001, Buncher donated 100% of The Buncher Company stock—valued at $197 million at the time—to charity, with 55% going to the Jack Buncher Foundation and 9% each to five major Pittsburgh institutions.

Today, the foundation holds approximately $185 million in assets and distributes over $21 million annually in grants. The foundation is funded primarily through investment income and real estate holdings, with 84.6% of revenue coming from dividends. The foundation is led by Bernita Buncher, Jack's daughter, who serves as Chair of the Board. The foundation operates with a small staff including a Grant Manager and Grants Administrator, and focuses on encouraging "the pursuit of ideas and innovations that unlock the potential of individuals and communities, and that enrich people's lives."

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on five key fields:

  • Arts and Culture: Major support for music education, including a $5 million gift to Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music
  • Health and Medical Care: Support for organizations serving people with limited medical care and disabilities
  • Education: Funding for Jewish studies, student life programs, and educational initiatives
  • Human Services: Support for veterans, seniors, economically disadvantaged people, and children with disabilities
  • Disease and Conditions: Programs addressing specific health challenges

Priority Population Groups

The foundation specifically targets grants to benefit:

  • Children and youth
  • Economically disadvantaged people
  • Low-income and poor people
  • Students and academics
  • Veterans
  • Seniors
  • People with disabilities

Geographic Focus

While the foundation is based in Pittsburgh, its primary geographic focus is Allegheny County and Westmoreland County in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Notable Programs and Initiatives

The Buncher Nonprofit Leadership Program: A capacity-building initiative that provides free professional and organizational development to nonprofits with annual operating budgets of $1 million or less.

Buncher Change Agents Nonprofit Capacity-Building Initiative: Launched in partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation with a $200,000 commitment to help small and mid-sized nonprofits become stronger and more agile. Participating nonprofits received up to $10,000 to fund operational changes, along with technical support for strengthening administrative and marketing practices.

Examples of Recent Grants

  • $5 million to Carnegie Mellon University (2020): Established the Jack Buncher Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies and the Jack Buncher Director of Jewish Student Life position
  • $5 million to Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music (2017): Created the Jack G. Buncher Chair and supported music education programs
  • $10,000 to United Way of Washington County: Unsolicited, one-time Special Year grant
  • Over $1.4 million to The Pittsburgh Foundation (2019-2020): Advanced internal operations, donor engagement, and community impact programs
  • Support to Variety Pittsburgh: Funded programs providing adaptive bicycles, strollers, and communication devices to over 4,000 children with disabilities

Governance and Leadership

Bernita Buncher - Chair of the Board

Bernita is the daughter of Jack G. Buncher and has championed the foundation's major philanthropic initiatives. She is a classical music enthusiast and trustee of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. According to Variety Pittsburgh, she has "such a gentle and passionate spirit" and demonstrates "openness to the kids and being changed by them" in the foundation's work with children with disabilities.

H. William Doring - Acting President/Treasurer (serves without compensation)

Karen Emmerich - Grant Manager (compensation: $100,250)

Emmerich has stated about the foundation's capacity-building work: "The Buncher Initiative was launched... so that small and mid-sized area nonprofits could receive the technical and managerial support they deserve."

Christina Schantz - Grants Administrator (compensation: $54,995)

The foundation operates with a lean staff of 4 employees, keeping administrative costs low while maintaining a high level of charitable disbursements (97.5% of expenses go to grants and programs).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jack Buncher Foundation accepts the Common Grant Application Format (CGAF), the standardized application used by many funders in the Pittsburgh region through Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania.

According to historical application guidelines, applications should be submitted in letter form to the Foundation stating:

  • Purpose of organization
  • Amount of requested contribution
  • Purpose of said contribution

Note: The foundation does not have a public-facing website with online application portal. Applications are submitted by mail or potentially through the CGAF system. Contact the foundation directly at (412) 422-9900 for current application procedures.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the foundation made 297 awards in 2022, there appears to be ongoing grantmaking throughout the year rather than a single annual cycle.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's history and funded projects, applicants should consider:

1. Focus on Innovation and Catalytic Change

The foundation's mission emphasizes "ideas and innovations that unlock potential." According to their capacity-building work, they seek projects with potential for "catalytic change" rather than maintenance funding. Karen Emmerich has highlighted the foundation's interest in helping organizations become "stronger and more agile."

2. Demonstrate Direct Impact on Priority Populations

Successful grants have consistently focused on children and youth, economically disadvantaged populations, and those with specific needs (disabilities, limited medical care, etc.). The foundation values understanding the needs of beneficiaries—Bernita Buncher is noted for taking time to understand the needs of kids and families served by programs.

3. Consider Capacity-Building Requests

The foundation has shown particular interest in helping smaller nonprofits (under $1 million operating budget) strengthen their operations, marketing, and administrative practices. Operational improvement grants of up to $10,000 have been awarded through their capacity-building initiatives.

4. Geographic Alignment

Strong preference for organizations serving Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. Regional focus on southwestern Pennsylvania.

5. Long-Term Relationship Building

The foundation has demonstrated multi-year, multi-grant relationships with organizations like Carnegie Mellon University, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Variety Pittsburgh. Initial grants may lead to expanded partnerships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The foundation accepts the Common Grant Application Format (CGAF), making it easier for organizations already applying to other Pittsburgh-area funders
  • Demonstrated annual giving of over $21 million with nearly 300 grants awarded suggests significant funding capacity, though individual grant sizes vary widely
  • Lean toward innovation and capacity-building rather than general operating support—frame requests around transformative change and organizational strengthening
  • Priority for southwestern Pennsylvania organizations, particularly those serving Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties
  • Family foundation with personal touch—leadership takes time to understand beneficiary needs and values genuine relationships with grantees
  • No public website or online portal—relationship-building and direct contact are important; consider reaching out by phone to discuss potential fit before applying
  • Track record of major gifts to education and cultural institutions combined with smaller grants to human service organizations suggests capacity for grants at multiple funding levels

References

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