The Heinz Endowments

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $73.5 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $1.6+ billion
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,800,000+
• Typical Grant: $30,000 - $500,000
• Decision Time: 60-90 days (after LOI approval)
• Initial Response: 45 days (LOI review)
• Geographic Focus: Southwestern Pennsylvania (10-county region)
• Number of Grants: 586 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 3200, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Phone: 412-281-5777

Email: grants@heinz.org

Website: www.heinz.org

Application Portal: Blackbaud Applicant & Grantee Portal (accessed via website)

Communications Department:

• Carmen Lee, Senior Communications Officer: clee@heinz.org, 412-338-2628
• Scott Roller, Strategic Communications Manager: sroller@heinz.org, 412-338-2619

Overview

The Heinz Endowments, established from the Howard Heinz Endowment (1941) and the Vira I. Heinz Endowment (1983), is among the leading foundations in the United States. Founded on the legacy of the H.J. Heinz Company family, the foundation concentrates its efforts and resources in southwestern Pennsylvania with grantmaking averaging almost $90 million annually.

In April 2023, Chris DeCardy became president following a national search, bringing a commitment to "continuity across the Endowments' current grantmaking areas with a look to greater impact given present economic and social dynamics." The foundation's mission centers on sustaining leaders creating tomorrow by funding nonprofits, bridging divides, and catalyzing a thriving future with healthy air, clean water, economic opportunity for all, youth equipped with skills, arts that create belonging, and democracy that works for everyone.

With total assets exceeding $1.6 billion, the Endowments distributed $73.5 million in grants during 2023 across 586 awards. The foundation emphasizes three guiding principles: Creativity, Learning, and Sustainability, drawing on the expertise and experience of program staff to inform their work and maintain close partnerships with the community.

Funding Priorities

Seven Priority Strategies

The Heinz Endowments awards grants in seven strategic areas:

1. Arts & Culture

Focus: Making the Pittsburgh region one of the country's outstanding arts centers with a populace that appreciates and participates in the arts. The program embraces that arts and culture are vital to health and well-being of individuals, neighborhoods, and the larger world, enhancing educational progress, civic life, and economic development.

Three Primary Priorities:

• Innovative capacity building for creativity-focused organizations
• Audience-centered engagement
• Supportive infrastructure for the region's arts ecosystem

Grant Programs:

• Small Arts Initiative: $1,000 - $20,000 for project support
• Just Arts Initiative: $1,000 - $150,000 per project
• Creative Heights Program: $10,000 - $40,000 for area artists
• Creative Learning General Operating Support: $20,000 - $100,000

2. Civic Participation

Focus: Strengthening collaborative local governance by bringing together residents, government leaders, and community stakeholders to identify problems and work together on solutions that improve people's lives.

3. Climate, Environment & Health

Focus: Protecting and enhancing the region's environmental systems and public health, advancing a clean economy, reducing disparities, and promoting equitable outcomes.

Four Key Areas:

• Air quality
• Water quality and safety
• Healthy environments for children
• Transition away from an extractive, carbon-polluting economy to a climate-friendly region

Recent Investment: $9.3 million announced in July 2024 to 35 organizations ($6.3 million for environment and health work, $2.2 million for climate projects, $830,000 for food security)

4. Community & Economic Development

Focus: Supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and create economic opportunities for residents of southwestern Pennsylvania.

5. Food Systems

Focus: Improving equitable access to healthy food in southwestern Pennsylvania, addressing food security challenges across the region.

Recent Investment: $830,000 for organizations dedicated to improving food security (2024)

6. Veterans

Focus: Serving southwestern Pennsylvania's more than 220,000 veterans (including approximately 50,000 who served in Iraq or Afghanistan), viewing them as huge and undervalued regional assets.

Five Core Strategies:

• Service Navigation (coordinated pipelines for service providers)
• Full Employment (equipping post-9/11 veterans with skills and networks for meaningful employment with livable wages)
• Leadership (equipping veterans to become regional leaders)
• Additional veteran support services

Context: More than 200,000 service members transition annually to civilian workforce; over half struggle with employment despite highly-valued skill sets.

7. Workforce

Focus: Workforce development for young people ages 16-24, prioritizing funding for nonprofits that connect young adults with vocational training and placement into jobs paying at least $23/hour.

Geographic Eligibility

The foundation concentrates efforts and resources in a 10-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania:

• Allegheny
• Armstrong
• Beaver
• Butler
• Fayette
• Greene
• Indiana
• Lawrence
• Washington
• Westmoreland

Exception: The foundation may consider applications outside this region if the proposal is expressly for the benefit of residents of southwestern Pennsylvania or Pennsylvania state.

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Applicants:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Organizations without IRS 501(c)(3) public charity status
• Organizations outside the geographic focus area (unless benefiting SWPA residents)

Small Arts Initiative Specific Exclusions:

• Single artist projects
• General operating support or staff positions (for this program specifically)
• General marketing activities
• Capital requests
• Benefits or fundraising events
• Arts education programming or youth training programs
• Projects taking place before grant notification dates
• Non-arts organizations using arts as part of their programming
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Chairman: André Heinz

Chair Emeritus: Teresa Heinz

Directors:

• John Heinz (Christopher Heinz)
• María Marteinsdóttir
• Wendy Mackenzie
• Damon Aherne
• Judith Davenport
• Carolyn Duronio
• Sameera Fazili
• Patrick Gallagher
• Nick Hoffman
• Maxwell King
• Shirley Malcom

Board Leadership History: In 2016, Teresa Heinz Kerry retired as chair after decades of leadership. Her three sons—André Heinz, Christopher Heinz, and H. John Heinz IV—serve four-year rotating terms as board chair.

Senior Staff Leadership

President: Chris DeCardy (appointed April 2023)

Senior Leadership Team:

• Christie Cawley - Chief People & Culture Officer
• Michele Sullenger - Vice President, Finance & Administration
• Edward Kolano - Vice President, Chief Investment Officer
• Carmen Anderson - Vice President (strategic areas)

Leadership Quotes

Chris DeCardy, President:

• "Philanthropy is the ultimate expression of optimism and hope. It is the stewardship of resources that were committed in the past to be used for public good in the future."
• "I see myself entering into an organization that has focus, has direction, and has shown that it knows how to make a difference. This is absolutely building on what we're currently doing and the lessons that we've already been learning."
• "Continuity across the Endowments' current grantmaking areas with a look to greater impact given present economic and social dynamics will be a top priority."

André Heinz, Board Chairman (on DeCardy's appointment):

• "We have found a leader whose values align with our long-standing commitment to serve our region," praising "the exemplary leadership experience Chris brings to the Endowments and his work as a passionate, thoughtful and respected collaborator."

Application Process & Timeline

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organizations:

• 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charities under Section 509(a)
• Federally tax-exempt organizations
• Government entities that are federally tax-exempt

Geographic Focus: Must serve southwestern Pennsylvania's 10-county region or Pennsylvania residents

How to Apply

The Heinz Endowments uses a two-stage application process with rolling submissions:

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - For New Applicants

• Who Should Apply: Organizations not yet working with Endowments' staff
• Process: Submit a short LOI through the Blackbaud Applicant & Grantee Portal
• Time Required: Approximately 10 minutes to complete
• Response Timeline: The Endowments aim to respond to all inquiries within 45 days
• Outcome: If approved, organization will be invited to complete a general application

Stage 2: General Application

• Who Should Apply: Organizations already working with Endowments' staff OR those invited after successful LOI
• Portal: Blackbaud Applicant & Grantee Portal (accessed via heinz.org/grants)
• Submission Basis: Rolling (no fixed deadlines)

Required Components:

1. Descriptive proposal narrative
2. Organization's annual or project budget information
3. Audited financial statements
4. Signed Patriot Act compliance statement

Review Process

• Program team carefully reviews each application
• If proposal could be a good fit, program officers perform additional due diligence
• Due diligence may include site visits (in-person or virtual) and meetings
• Supported proposals move through approval and funding process

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: Typically 60-90 days from application submission to funding decision

Timeline Influenced By:

• Request amount
• Timing of Board meetings
• Alignment to one of seven priority strategies

Notification Process: If approved, grantees receive a notification packet including:

• Grant agreement
• Guidelines for follow-up reporting
• Press release information
• Payment made shortly after signed grant agreement is returned

Reapplication Policy

The search results did not reveal a specific waiting period or formal reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. However, the foundation emphasizes open communication and states they "greatly value relationships with grantees and applicants."

For specific programs like the Small Arts Initiative: If a previously funded project is not complete, applicants may submit a proposal for a new project if accompanied by an interim report on the outstanding grant. Generally, new grant funds will not be released until satisfactory final reports on prior grants are received.

For Reapplication Questions: Contact grants@heinz.org directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Factors

1. Strategic Alignment

• Proposals must align clearly with one of the seven priority strategies
• Review previously awarded grants in your area on the Grants Awarded database before applying
• Understand the specific priorities within your strategic area (e.g., for Arts & Culture: capacity building, audience engagement, or infrastructure support)

2. Geographic Focus

• Must serve the 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region
• Clearly demonstrate direct benefit to SWPA residents
• If outside the region, explicitly explain benefit to SWPA or Pennsylvania residents

3. Data-Driven Outcomes

• Applications should be specific about outcomes
• Include data-driven metrics to measure achievement
• Where applicable, include at least one goal addressing equitable opportunities and impacts

4. Equity and Inclusion

• For Creative Learning grants: Programs should intentionally prioritize racial equity, justice, and inclusion
• Address ways to maximize equitable opportunities and impacts
• Demonstrate commitment to reducing disparities

Program-Specific Success Criteria

For Arts & Culture/Creative Learning Programs:

• Quality: Programs should meet high artistic standards and be artistically rigorous
• Youth-Adult Partnerships: Programs should be youth-driven, honor student voice, focus on positive relationship-building and social-emotional growth
• Anti-Racism: Intentionally prioritize racial equity, justice, and inclusion
• Set high expectations of youth participants
• Provide authentic, purposeful learning experiences

For Small Arts Initiative:

• Submit clear, realistic, detailed budgets
• Budget figures should be research-based
• Request funding amounts that relate to actual need (not inflated)

Proposal Best Practices

Budget Preparation:

• Provide detailed, realistic budgets based on research
• Ensure requested amount directly relates to actual project needs
• Include information about organization's annual budget or project budget

Narrative Strength:

• Clearly articulate alignment with Endowments' priorities
• Demonstrate understanding of regional context and needs
• Show how project addresses specific community challenges

Relationship Building:

• The foundation "greatly values its relationship with grantees and applicants"
• They are "committed to an environment of open and honest communication"
• Goal: Grantees and applicants should "feel valued and respected," understand strategies and processes, and receive timely responses to questions
• Don't hesitate to contact grants@heinz.org with questions

Recent Funding Examples to Study

Sarah Heinz House (Fall 2024): $1.8 million for critical facility upgrades (roof repairs, pool resurfacing, climbing wall replacement, fencing updates, security systems) plus $1.25 million for community outreach plan to extend services to more youth and older adults

Environmental Initiative (July 2024): $9.3 million to 35 organizations for climate change, environment-related health effects, and food access

Riverlife (2024): $220,000 to advance "Completing the Loop" - a 15-mile, 1,050-acre interconnected riverfront parks and trails system

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (2024): $202,388 to expand fundraising capacity

Carlow University (2024): $487,846 to expand credentialing and apprenticeship opportunities in early childhood education

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Start with an LOI: New applicants must begin with a 10-minute Letter of Inquiry and can expect a response within 45 days—this is your opportunity to make a strong first impression aligned with one of seven priority strategies.

2. Regional Focus is Non-Negotiable: Your organization must serve southwestern Pennsylvania's 10-county region (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland). Applications outside this area are rarely considered unless explicitly benefiting SWPA residents.

3. Equity Must Be Central: Include at least one goal addressing equitable opportunities and impacts. For youth-focused programs, demonstrate intentional prioritization of racial equity, justice, and inclusion—this is not optional.

4. Study Their Grants Database: Before applying, thoroughly review previously awarded grants in your strategic area on their website to understand funding patterns, typical grant sizes, and types of organizations they support.

5. Data-Driven Outcomes Required: Vague goals won't succeed. Applications must be specific about measurable outcomes with clear metrics for achievement—show exactly how you'll demonstrate impact.

6. Grant Range Varies Widely: Prepare for anything from $1,000 (Small Arts Initiative) to over $1 million for major organizational initiatives. Typical grants range $30,000-$500,000, so tailor your request to realistic project needs.

7. Relationship-Oriented Funder: The foundation values "open and honest communication" and wants applicants to "feel valued and respected." Don't hesitate to contact grants@heinz.org with questions before or during the application process—they expect engagement.

References

1. The Heinz Endowments Official Website - Homepage. https://www.heinz.org/ (Accessed February 2026)

2. The Heinz Endowments - Grants Information. https://www.heinz.org/grants (Accessed February 2026)

3. The Heinz Endowments - Board of Directors and Staff. https://www.heinz.org/about-us/board-and-staff (Accessed February 2026)

4. The Heinz Endowments - Strategic Areas. https://www.heinz.org/strategic-areas (Accessed February 2026)

5. The Heinz Endowments - Grants Awarded Database. https://www.heinz.org/grants/grants-awarded (Accessed February 2026)

6. The Heinz Endowments - History. https://www.heinz.org/about-us/history (Accessed February 2026)

7. "Chris DeCardy Named President of The Heinz Endowments." Press Release, January 2023. https://www.heinz.org/pdfs/Heinz%20Endowments%20announces%20President.pdf (Accessed February 2026)

8. WESA Pittsburgh. "Heinz Endowments names Chris DeCardy as new president." January 9, 2023. https://www.wesa.fm/identity-community/2023-01-09/heinz-endowments-name-chris-decardy-as-new-president (Accessed February 2026)

9. Pittsburgh Magazine. "Heinz Endowments Boosts Environmental and Food Security Efforts With New Grants." 2024. https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/heinz-endowments-climate-efforts/ (Accessed February 2026)

10. The Heinz Endowments. "Application Guidelines." https://www.heinz.org/UserFiles/Library/application-guidelines.pdf (Accessed February 2026)

11. The Heinz Endowments. "Creative Learning Funding Guidelines for Applicants." 2023. https://www.heinz.org/pdfs/Heinz_Endowments_Creative_Learning_Funding-Guidelines-for-Applicants_2023.pdf (Accessed February 2026)

12. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Heinz Endowments. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/251721100 (Accessed February 2026)

13. Wikipedia. "Heinz Endowments." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Endowments (Accessed February 2026)

14. Inside Philanthropy. "The Heinz Endowments." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-h/the-heinz-endowments (Accessed February 2026)

15. Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. "A $202,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments bolsters PWSA's fundraising capacity." March 27, 2024. https://www.pgh2o.com/news-events/news/press-release/2024-03-27-202000-grant-heinz-endowments-bolsters-pwsas-fundraising (Accessed February 2026)

16. The Heinz Endowments. "Audited Consolidated Financial Statements 2023 & 2024." https://www.heinz.org/UserFiles/File/2023%20&%202024%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements%20-%20The%20Heinz%20Endowments.pdf (Accessed February 2026)