The Pittsburgh Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $80.8 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $1.4 billion
• Success Rate: ~50% (approx. 300 of 600 annual applications funded)
• Decision Time: 3+ months for standard grants
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $150,000
• Geographic Focus: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Contact Details

Address: 912 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Floor 10, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-391-5122
Email: grantsrequest@pghfdn.org
Website: https://pittsburghfoundation.org

For questions about the application process, contact grantsrequest@pghfdn.org

Overview

Established in 1945 with just $5,000, The Pittsburgh Foundation has grown to become one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the United States, with current assets totalling $1.4 billion. The Foundation is home to more than 2,300 individual funds established by generous donors. In 2023, the Foundation distributed grants through 1,058 awards to nonprofits serving Allegheny County. Under the leadership of President and CEO Lisa Schroeder, who became the first woman appointed to the position in 2019, the Foundation is committed to helping communities become equitable and vibrant places where everyone can thrive, with grantmaking aligned to residents' needs and prioritising support in five core focus areas. The Foundation also oversees more than 300 scholarship funds, awarding approximately $2.3 million in scholarships annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Discretionary Grant Programmes: $10,000 - $150,000

• One-year grants generally range from $10,000 to $75,000
• Two-year grants generally will not exceed $150,000
• Applications submitted through online portal on a rolling or fixed deadline basis depending on programme

Small and Mighty Grants: For organisations with budgets under $600,000

• Since inception in 2016, the programme has awarded $3.3 million to 85 unique neighbourhood-based nonprofits
• Applications vary by cycle

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: Variable amounts

• Funds individual artists, artist residencies, nonprofit organisations or community-based programmes with a documented history of regularly producing or presenting Black art and/or cultural events advancing the art of the African diaspora
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Exposure Artists Programme: Variable amounts

• Created to cultivate and fund the creative practice of a diverse array of artists and advocates
• Applications open until October 30 annually

Emergency Action Fund: Rapid response grants

• Decision timeline: 15 business days
• For urgent community needs

Priority Areas

The Foundation prioritises five core focus areas:

1. Basic Needs: Supporting food, housing, health care, mental health supports, child care, education and employment
2. Equity and Social Justice: Supporting civic participation and community organising for policy changes
3. Environmental Action: Protecting community health and environmental preservation
4. Arts and Culture: Strengthening small-to-mid-sized arts organisations and supporting individual artists
5. Economic Mobility: Creating pathways to financial stability

The Foundation strongly prioritises organisations that:

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

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly does NOT fund:

• Direct funding for individuals (except individual artists through specific programmes)
• Payments on organisational debt
• Costs and activities completed before a grant decision is made
• University overhead costs
• Single-disease support organisations
• Educational scholarships (handled through separate scholarship programme)
• Academic research
• Private non-operating foundations
• "Disqualified supporting organisations" as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 4966(d)(4)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Lisa Schroeder - President and CEO (appointed February 2019, started June 2019). Schroeder is the first woman appointed to lead The Pittsburgh Foundation. She has announced her intention to retire by March 2026 after six years of leadership.

Schroeder has emphasised human-centred approaches and equity. As she stated: "We will not survive and thrive unless we connect our citizens—all of them—with viable employment (and a way to get there), safe affordable housing, robust K–12 education and health care." Former president Maxwell King described her focus: "She is focused on the human element – on the people who are most in need of what foundations and nonprofits provide."

Board of Directors

The Foundation's board consists of 14 leading citizens who direct actual grantmaking and represent diverse interests, skills and backgrounds.

Board Officers:

• John R. McGinley Jr. - Chair
• William Generett Jr. - Vice Chair
• Kamal Nigam - Secretary
• Laura Shapira Karet - Treasurer

Board Directors:

• Will Allen
• Tracy Certo
• Marc Cherna
• Debra Demchak
• Laura Ellsworth
• Susan Kirsch
• Richard I. Lerach
• David A. Lewis, M.D.
• Amy K. Marsh
• Jordan R. Pallitto
• Walter H. Smith Jr., Ph.D.
• Richard W. Taylor

Application Process & Timeline

Eligibility

To qualify for a grant, organisations must:

• Be designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity
• Be located within Allegheny County and/or primarily serve Allegheny County residents

How to Apply

The Foundation uses an online application portal with a three-step process:

Step 1: Review Grant Information

• Review eligibility criteria, funding priorities, grant types, duration and award amount ranges
• Visit the Grant Opportunities page to see all available grant opportunities

Step 2: Create an Organisational Profile

• Create a single organisational profile in the grants portal (one profile per organisation)
• The profile maintains a record of the organisation's application history
• Required information includes: username (email address), contact information, organisational information (including EIN), organisation executive director/officer, and additional user names and contacts

Step 3: Apply Online

• Log in to the portal to edit contact information, review available grants, and track submitted applications
• Save inquiries as drafts to review or revise later
• Review application status at any time

The Foundation offers two types of grant support:

• Project/Programme Support: Funds for specific programmatic activities that are time-bound with specific goals
• General Operating Support: Funds for any costs necessary to carry out the organisation's mission

Organisations are encouraged to apply for the amount they believe is necessary to successfully complete their work. For requests exceeding $150,000, organisation leaders should have a conversation with a programme officer before submitting.

Decision Timeline

• Standard discretionary grants: 3 months or more from submission to decision
• Emergency Action Fund: 15 business days
• Timeline allows Foundation staff to work with applicants to gather additional information and ask questions
• Grants are recommended by fund holders, with oversight by Foundation staff and approval by the Board of Directors

Success Rates

Of the average 600 applications the Foundation receives annually, approximately 300 receive funding - a 50% success rate. This competitive landscape makes alignment with the Foundation's priorities especially important.

Reapplication Policy

For Funded Organisations: Generally, an organisation 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 for a grant before the end of their 12-month waiting period should contact their programme officer before submitting a new application.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: The Foundation does not appear to have restrictions preventing unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent grant cycles.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's publicly stated priorities and guidance, successful applications demonstrate:

Strong Community Connection and Representation

• Organisations with established history in the communities where they work
• Leadership and staff that reflect and have lived experience in the communities served
• Meaningful integration of community perspectives in all stages of work - design, implementation, evaluation and decision-making

Focus on Equity and Impact

• Clear demonstration of commitment to addressing historical and present-day social injustices
• Primary service to communities disproportionately impacted by poverty
• Alignment with one or more of the Foundation's five focus areas (Basic Needs, Equity and Social Justice, Environmental Action, Arts and Culture, Economic Mobility)

Clear Programme Design

• Specific, time-bound goals for project/programme support applications
• Evidence-based approaches to addressing community needs
• Realistic budgets that request the amount truly necessary for success

Organisational Capacity

• For Small and Mighty Grants: Budget under $600,000 with neighbourhood-based operations
• Demonstrated ability to execute proposed work
• Financial sustainability and responsible management

The Foundation values collaboration and comprehensive approaches. As President Lisa Schroeder emphasised in discussing regional priorities: "We wanted to lift the process above conflicting political loyalties and personal egos by providing a platform for many constituencies to work together."

Given that only 50% of applications receive funding, applicants should ensure strong alignment with stated priorities, particularly around equity, community representation, and service to communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Competitive process: With only 50% of applications funded, ensure strong alignment with the Foundation's five focus areas and equity priorities before applying
• Community representation matters critically: The Foundation explicitly prioritises organisations with leadership and staff who have lived experience in the communities they serve
• Two support types available: Choose between project/programme support (time-bound, specific goals) or general operating support (unrestricted for mission fulfilment)
• Plan for 3+ month timeline: Standard discretionary grants take three months or more for decisions, though Emergency Action Fund grants are decided within 15 business days
• Contact programme officers proactively: For requests over $150,000 or questions about fit, reach out to programme officers before submitting
• Allegheny County focus required: Organisations must be located in or primarily serve Allegheny County residents to be eligible
• Equity lens is essential: Applications should demonstrate clear commitment to addressing social injustices and serving communities disproportionately impacted by poverty

References

• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Financials
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Opportunities
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - How to Apply for Grants
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Guidelines
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant FAQs
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Our Grants
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - GuideStar Profile
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - By the Numbers - 2021 Annual Report
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Lisa Schroeder
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Board of Directors
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Contact Us
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Small and Mighty Grants
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Record $68.8 million raised in 2021
• The Pittsburgh Foundation - Welcoming Lisa Schroeder
• Pittsburgh Quarterly - Lisa Schroeder Profile

All sources accessed December 2025.