The Jack Buncher Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated mission is to encourage ideas and innovations that unlock the potential of individuals and communities, and its theme is ideas and innovation, so proposals built around new approaches fit best.
- The filing states no geographic focus, though the grants it shows are mainly in Pennsylvania and New York, so an organisation elsewhere should not assume it is excluded and could ask the foundation directly.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 247 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $200,000, and half were about $20,000 or less, so a request in that region is realistic, although the largest grant was $2,500,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Apply by letter stating your organisation's purpose, the amount requested and the purpose of the contribution; the filing gives no deadlines, so ask the foundation directly before choosing a date to write.
- The filing does not say how competitive the foundation is or whether relationships matter, so a clear written request is the safe starting point.
Overview
The Jack Buncher Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pittsburgh, PA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (pittsburghfoundation.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its mission as encouraging the pursuit of ideas and innovations that unlock the potential of individuals and communities and enrich people's lives. Its recorded grants reach a varied body of charitable organisations, including Jewish community organisations, libraries, food banks, schools and cultural institutions, as well as providers of health and social services. Its work has also included a nonprofit capacity-building initiative designed to help small and mid-sized area nonprofits obtain technical and managerial support. The initiative sought to help organisations identify and communicate their needs, and focused on projects with the potential to create catalytic change.
Themes
- Ideas and innovation
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania and New York.
How to apply
Submit a letter to the foundation stating the organisation's purpose, the amount requested and the purpose of the contribution.
Application success factors
- Grant size: In its TY2023 filing, half of its 247 grants to organisations were about $20,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 37% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 247 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $20,224 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Jewish Joint Dist-Leadership · Buncher community leadership endowment-6th instlmt$2,500,0002023 tax year
- Jfed Of GR PGH-Endowment For Cmmty · Endowment for community-1st annual instlmt$1,500,0002023 tax year
- Jfed Of GR PGH-Israel Emergency · Ajjdc-urgent needs in ukraine$1,000,0002023 tax year
- American Jewish Joint Dist-Szarvas · Camp szarvas cupola & swim pool$1,000,0002023 tax year
- Jfed Of GR PGH - Misc · Build endowment - 4th instlmt$1,000,0002023 tax year
- United Jewish Federation · Annual gift$500,0002023 tax year
- Jfed Of GR PGH-Annual Campaign Pldge · Annual cmmty campaign pledge 2024$500,0002023 tax year
- Carnegie Mellon University · Jack buncher foundation plaza project$500,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Brian A Schreibler — VP
- Joseph M Jakovic — Secretary
- Howard M Rieger — VP
- Thomas J Balestrieri — VP
- H Willam Doring — Acting President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $22,063,218 | $21,278,555 | $434,244,427 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $21,747,710 | $20,972,366 | $446,462,400 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Jack Buncher Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 851-3288
- Pittsburgh, PA
Applying to The Jack Buncher Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 851-3288
- Pittsburgh, PA