The Pittsburgh Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $59.4 million (2023)
Total Assets: $1.5 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 totaling $1.5 billion. The Foundation is home to more than 2,300 individual funds established by generous donors. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $59.4 million in grants through 1,058 awards to nonprofits serving Allegheny County. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded $1.2 billion in grants. 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 prioritizing 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 Programs

Discretionary Grant Programs: $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 program

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

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

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: Variable amounts

Funds individual artists, artist residencies, nonprofit organizations or community-based programs 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 Program: 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 prioritizes five core focus areas:

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

The Foundation strongly prioritizes organizations 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 programs)
Payments on organizational debt
Costs and activities completed before a grant decision is made
University overhead costs
Single-disease support organizations
Educational scholarships (handled through separate scholarship program)
Academic research
Private non-operating foundations
"Disqualified supporting organizations" 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 emphasized human-centered 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, organizations 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 Organizational Profile

Create a single organizational profile in the grants portal (one profile per organization)
The profile maintains a record of the organization's application history
Required information includes: username (email address), contact information, organizational information (including EIN), organization 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/Program 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 organization's mission

Organizations are encouraged to apply for the amount they believe is necessary to successfully complete their work. For requests exceeding $150,000, organization leaders should have a conversation with a program 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 Organizations: 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 for a grant 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 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

Organizations 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 Program Design

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

Organizational Capacity

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

The Foundation values collaboration and comprehensive approaches. As President Lisa Schroeder emphasized 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 prioritizes organizations with leadership and staff who have lived experience in the communities they serve
Two support types available: Choose between project/program support (time-bound, specific goals) or general operating support (unrestricted for mission fulfillment)
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 program officers proactively: For requests over $150,000 or questions about fit, reach out to program officers before submitting
Allegheny County focus required: Organizations 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

All sources accessed December 2025.