McCune Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- McCune Foundation funds within Education, Human Services, Humanities and Civic themes, with its stated priority being Southwestern Pennsylvania, so a nonprofit whose work sits outside these themes or that area is unlikely to fit.
- It funds by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application will not be considered; an organisation with an existing history with the Foundation that wishes to discuss a Sunset grant is asked instead to contact the Grants Manager directly.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $25,000 and $1,250,000, and half of all grants were $170,000 or less, so a request around that median is a realistic size for most applicants, though the largest grant recorded was $9,400,000.
- For Sunset grants over $750,000, at least 75% of the award must exist in perpetuity, with up to 25% expendable, so larger Sunset requests come with that structural condition.
- Nearly half of grant dollars (44%) went to organisations also funded the previous year, pointing to a relationship-led approach built on longstanding partnerships rather than one-off or first-time funding.
Overview
McCune Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, PNC Bank NA, in Pittsburgh, PA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The McCune Foundation supports non-profit organisations that advance quality of life for people in southwestern Pennsylvania, fostering community vitality and economic growth. Its grantmaking focuses on Education, Human Services, Humanities and Civic. It places a high value on historical investments and longstanding relationships with nonprofit partners, and its sunset strategy is to finish this work while accelerating impact in those core areas. Its two grant categories are Standard and Sunset grants, and both are invitation-only. Standard grants can support concept testing or readiness as organisations move towards a possible Sunset request. Sunset grants are tailored to an organisation’s history with the Foundation, its specific needs and opportunities, and its local context; they should align with and add to existing priorities. Sunset grants may complete existing work or invest strategically in the organisation, often strengthening sustainability and effectiveness.
Themes
- Education
- Human services
- Humanities
- Civic
Geographic Focus
Priority: Southwestern Pennsylvania.
How to apply
Applications for Standard and Sunset grants are by invitation only. An organisation with a history with the Foundation that wishes to discuss a Sunset grant inquiry is asked to contact the Grants Manager for more information.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 44% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 160 grants to organisations were $170,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Sunset grant decisions reflect an organisation’s history with the Foundation, its specific needs and opportunities, and the local context in which it operates.
- A Sunset grant should align with and add to the organisation’s existing priorities.
- For Sunset grants over $750,000, at least 75% of the award must exist in perpetuity, while up to 25% can be expended.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 44% of grant dollars went to organisations McCune Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 84 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $185k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Allegheny Health Network · General support$9,400,0002023 tax year
- Allegheny College · General support$6,000,0002023 tax year
- Washington County Community Foundation · General support$4,212,5002023 tax year
- Literacy Pittsburgh · General support$4,000,0002023 tax year
- Squirrel Hill Health Center · General support$2,500,0002023 tax year
- Neighborhood Academy · General support$2,100,0002023 tax year
- Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh · General support$1,515,0002023 tax year
- Winchester Thurston School · General support$1,250,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
Administered by its trustee, PNC Bank NA.
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $45,383,370 | $42,730,959 | $195,206,543 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $50,634,422 | $47,572,750 | $170,793,742 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to McCune Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 644-8779
- info@mccune.org
- vfahrny@mccune.org
- Pittsburgh, PA (office of its trustee, PNC Bank NA)
- mccune.org
Applying to McCune Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 644-8779
- info@mccune.org
- vfahrny@mccune.org
- Pittsburgh, PA (office of its trustee, PNC Bank NA)
- mccune.org