McElhattan Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6,080,217 (2024)
Number of Grants: 83 awards in 2024
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Generally within 1 week after board review
Grant Range: $50,000+ (preferred for prior grantees; smaller amounts for new applicants)
Geographic Focus: National for workplace safety; Pittsburgh, Knox, and Franklin, PA for other programs

Contact Details

Address: 5840 Ellsworth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: 412-430-0090
Email: info@mcelhattan.org
Website: www.mcelhattan.org
EIN: 25-1756557

Overview

Established in 1994 as the charitable arm of Industrial Scientific Corporation, the McElhattan Foundation was founded by K.E. McElhattan and his son, Kent McElhattan. The foundation operates with approximately $246.6 million in assets and distributed over $6 million in grants in 2024. The foundation challenges applicants to "Bring us bold ideas," reflecting its commitment to supporting innovative, transformative initiatives across four strategic program areas. The foundation's workplace safety focus stems directly from the family's business—Industrial Scientific Corporation manufactures life-saving gas-monitoring devices—and the McElhattan family has made a bold commitment to ending death on the job by 2050. Kent McElhattan served on the National Safety Council Board of Directors for a decade, including as chairman from 2010-2013, demonstrating the family's deep engagement with workplace safety issues.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation funds in four distinct program areas:

1. Ending Death on the Job (Workplace Safety)

Geographic Scope: National
Focus: Technology-driven workplace safety initiatives aimed at eliminating workplace fatalities by 2050
Example Grant: $3 million to National Safety Council (2024) for Work to Zero program to increase employers' adoption of life-saving safety technology
Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal

2. Out-of-School-Time Learning (Education)

Geographic Scope: Western Pennsylvania, with emphasis on Pittsburgh
Focus: Youth development programs and educator diversity initiatives, including the "Power of One" teacher diversification program
Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal

3. End-of-Life Planning & Care

Geographic Scope: Not specified, likely regional
Focus: Three strategic areas: Awareness and Documentation, Caregiver/Provider Training and Support, and Technological Innovation
Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal

4. Economic Development in Knox & Franklin, PA

Geographic Scope: Knox and Franklin, PA only
Focus: Locally-led initiatives improving job opportunities, health, safety, and quality of life; includes the McElhattan Challenge for entrepreneurs
Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal

Priority Areas

Technological innovation to prevent workplace deaths and injuries
Expanding diversity in the educator workforce
Improving end-of-life planning, awareness, and caregiver support
Economic development in Knox and Franklin, PA communities (the McElhattan family's ancestral home)
Bold, transformative ideas that create systemic change

What They Don't Fund

Individuals seeking financial aid or scholarships
Non-501(c)(3) organizations
Lobbying or political campaigns
Conferences
Safety equipment repairs
CPR training
Most equipment purchases
Medical bills
Development projects outside Franklin/Knox, PA (for economic development program area)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Kent McElhattan – Chairman, President and CEO
Martha McElhattan – Secretary
Shirley McElhattan, MD – Vice Chair
Josh McElhattan
Larry S. Blair, Esq.
Elaine Bonoma
Erin McClelland
Jim Woll – Chief Financial Officer (ex officio)

Staff

Kent McElhattan – Chairman and CEO
Katherine Chamberlain – Chief Administrative Officer
Jim Woll – Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Jocelyn Horner Kelly – Senior Director, Ending Death on the Job & End of Life Planning & Care
Gina Evans – Senior Program Director, Education
John Lozecki – Program Director, Education
Dr. Gigi Vinod – Director, Research and Impact

The foundation emphasizes bold thinking, as reflected in its tagline "Bring us bold ideas." This entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy stems from Kent McElhattan's background as a business leader and his commitment to using technology and innovation to solve social problems.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts proposals on a rolling basis through a four-stage process:

Stage 1: Request for Information (RFI)

Review program guidelines and determine eligibility
Complete the RFI Questionnaire online
Foundation staff review the RFI and contact eligible applicants

Stage 2: Invitation to Full Proposal

Staff develop a recommendation for the Board
Board votes on recommendations on a rolling basis
If invited, submit Full Proposal via the grant portal
Staff may request additional information
Foundation staff schedule either in-person or virtual site visit

Stage 3: Recommendation

Staff evaluate the full proposal and conduct site assessments
Site visits include meetings with executive director and key project team members
Staff prefer to observe typical operations and the proposed program

Stage 4: Decision

Staff notify applicants of Board decision
Successful applicants complete a Grant Agreement through the portal before funding distribution

Required Application Materials:

Project budget
Résumé or LinkedIn profile for organization leadership
List of Board of Directors
Latest balance sheet
Most recently available income statement
Cash flow statement
Projected cash flow for the next 12 months
List of top ten funding sources and uses (for past five years)
Audited financial statement

Special Opportunities:
The foundation periodically issues specific Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with defined timelines and deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Board Review: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines)
Notification: "Generally within a week" after board decision
Status Updates: Automated confirmations upon submission; staff schedule calls if eligible; confirmation after full proposal submission

The rolling basis means applicants can submit at any time, and decisions are made continuously throughout the year rather than in cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation made 83 grants in 2024, 100 in 2023, and 86 in 2022, indicating a substantial grantmaking operation.

Reapplication Policy

Grantees are eligible to receive funding from the McElhattan Foundation once every 12 months, provided they remain in good standing with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated preferences and approach:

Grant Size Strategy:

The foundation is "most receptive to large requests ($50K+)" from prior grantees
New organizations should "suggest a smaller initial request" to build a stronger foundation for future proposals
This suggests a relationship-building approach where the foundation prefers to start small and grow partnerships over time

Bold, Transformative Ideas:

The foundation explicitly asks applicants to "Bring us bold ideas"
They seek innovative approaches that can create systemic change
Technology-driven solutions appear particularly aligned with their workplace safety mission

Alignment with the 2050 Vision:

For workplace safety grants, demonstrate how your project contributes to the goal of ending workplace deaths by 2050
Show understanding of how technology can advance safety outcomes

Geographic Requirements:

Carefully verify geographic eligibility for your specific program area—requirements differ by focus area
Economic development grants are restricted to Knox and Franklin, PA only
Workplace safety grants have national scope
Education and palliative care programs focus on western Pennsylvania

Site Visits as Critical Component:

The foundation prioritizes in-person visits to observe programs
Be prepared to host the executive director and key project team members
This signals the foundation's commitment to relationship-based grantmaking

Strong Operational Foundation:

Extensive financial documentation requirements suggest they want to fund organizations with solid financial management
Five-year funding history requirement indicates they value organizational stability and track record

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Start small, think big: New applicants should request smaller amounts initially (under $50K) but can grow to larger grants ($50K+) as the relationship develops
Technology and innovation matter: The foundation values technological solutions and innovative approaches, particularly for workplace safety
Geographic precision is critical: Each program area has different geographic requirements—verify eligibility carefully before applying
Rolling deadlines offer flexibility: No need to wait for specific cycles; apply when your organization is ready
Quick decisions: One-week turnaround after board review is exceptionally fast for a foundation of this size
Relationship-based grantmaking: Site visits and 12-month reapplication policies suggest the foundation invests in long-term partnerships
Bold ideas welcome: The foundation's tagline isn't just rhetoric—they genuinely seek transformative, ambitious proposals that can create systemic change
Prepare comprehensive financials: The extensive financial documentation requirements mean you need strong operational systems in place before applying

References

Research accessed December 2025