The Pittsburgh Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $59.4 million (2023)
• Success Rate: ~33%
• Decision Time: 3+ months
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $150,000
• Geographic Focus: Allegheny County and southwestern Pennsylvania

Contact Details

Website: https://pittsburghfoundation.org Phone: 412-391-5122 Email: grants@pghfdn.org Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh

Programme Leadership:

• Michelle McMurray, Vice President, Programme and Community Engagement: mcmurraym@pghfdn.org, 412-394-2610
• General inquiries: 412-394-2630

Organisations new to the programme are strongly encouraged to attend a grant-seeker information session. For requests over $150,000, applicants should have a conversation with a programme officer before submitting.

Overview

Established in 1945 with $5,000, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation's oldest community foundations and the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States. The Foundation now manages assets totalling approximately $1.5 billion and oversees approximately 2,500 individual charitable funds. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded over $1.2 billion in grants to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region. In a recent year, the Foundation awarded $67 million in grants, demonstrating its significant ongoing commitment to the region. The Foundation's mission is to improve quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to critical community needs. The Foundation's work is anchored in values of accountability, collaboration, community, racial justice, and trust, with strategic priorities to Promote Philanthropy, Support Community, and Catalyse Partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

General Discretionary Grants: $10,000 - $75,000 (one-year); up to $150,000 (two-year)

• Applications accepted through online portal on a rolling basis
• Typical decision timeline: 3+ months
• Organisations should apply for the amount necessary to successfully complete their work
• Requests over $150,000 require pre-application consultation with a programme officer

Small and Mighty Grants: Up to $40,000 (two-year grants)

• Provides project and operating support to smaller organisations
• Applications accepted when funding cycle is open

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: Average $49,000

• Supports individual Black artists, collectives, and arts organisations
• Grant amounts typically range from $40,000 to $100,000

Emergency Action Fund: Variable amounts

• Expedited review process with decisions within 15 business days
• For urgent community needs

Priority Areas

The Foundation aligns its grantmaking with five strategic focus areas:

1. Basic Needs

• Food security and nutrition assistance
• Housing stability and homelessness prevention
• Healthcare access and mental health supports
• Child care services
• Education and employment training
• Direct assistance to obtain basic necessities for low-income individuals

2. Equity and Social Justice

• Civic participation and community organising
• Policy change initiatives
• Programmes addressing historical and present-day social injustices
• Support for organisations led by and serving communities of colour
• Criminal justice reform and voting rights

3. Environmental Action

• Community health protection
• Environmental preservation
• Climate action and sustainability
• Support for environmental justice in underserved communities

4. Arts and Culture

• Small-to-mid-sized arts organisations
• Individual artists (particularly Black artists)
• Diverse, healthy, and just arts ecosystem
• Cultural programming that serves diverse communities

5. Economic Mobility

• Workforce development and job training
• Entrepreneurship support
• Financial literacy and asset building
• Living wage employment opportunities
• Programmes addressing economic divides

Priority Considerations

The Foundation prioritises funding for organisations that:

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

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation will NOT provide funding for:

• Direct funding for individuals (except individual artists through specific programmes)
• Payments on organisational debt
• Costs and activities completed before a grant decision
• University overhead costs
• Single-disease support organisations
• Educational scholarships (administered through separate scholarship programme)
• Academic research
• Organisations not designated as 501(c)(3) public charities under Internal Revenue Code Section 170(b)(1)(A)
• Private non-operating foundations
• "Disqualified supporting organisations" as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 4966(d)(4)

Geographic Restrictions: Organisations must be located within Allegheny County and/or primarily serve Allegheny County residents (unless otherwise specified in specific grant programmes).

Consecutive Funding Limit: In most cases, the Foundation will not provide more than four years of consecutive funding to a grantee organisation.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

The Foundation has been led by experienced executives committed to addressing community needs and advancing equity. Lisa Schroeder served as President and CEO beginning in 2019, becoming the first woman appointed to lead The Pittsburgh Foundation in its history. Previous leadership included Maxwell King, who emphasised the Foundation's role in addressing economic inequality, stating that the community foundation is in the best position to make progress closing "the shocking economic divide that bedevils our country."

Board Structure

The Pittsburgh Foundation's board of directors comprises 14 leading citizens who direct the organisation's grantmaking activities. Recent board leadership includes:

• Jordan R. Pallitto (Chair)
• Michael P. Reese (Vice Chair)
• Amy Krueger Marsh (Investment Committee Chair)

Other board members include John R. McGinley Jr., William Generett Jr. JD, David A. Lewis M.D., Terry Miller M.S.W., among others.

Current board member information is available at: https://pittsburghfoundation.org/bod-current

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Portal: The Pittsburgh Foundation uses Grant Lifecycle Manager for all grant applications.

• Portal URL: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh
• New organisations: Click "Create New Account" to register
• Existing users: Login with credentials
• Important: Do not create multiple accounts; contact noelr@pghfdn.org to verify account status

Pre-Application Steps:

1. Review grant guidelines at https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantguidelines
2. Attend a grant-seeker information session (strongly encouraged for new applicants)
3. For requests over $150,000, schedule a conversation with a programme officer before applying
4. Confirm organisational eligibility (501(c)(3) status, Allegheny County connection)

Application Requirements:

• Organisations must be 501(c)(3) public charities
• Must be located in or primarily serve Allegheny County (unless otherwise specified)
• Complete online application through Grant Lifecycle Manager
• The system maintains records of application history for future reference

Decision Timeline

Standard Discretionary Grants: 3+ months

• The Foundation works with applicants during review to gather additional information and ask questions
• Timelines vary by specific grant programme
• Check Grant Opportunities page for programme-specific timelines

Emergency Action Fund: 15 business days

• Expedited process for urgent community needs

Post-Decision:

• All applicants are notified of funding decisions
• The Foundation maintains ongoing communication with grantees throughout the grant period

Success Rates

The Pittsburgh Foundation receives nearly 700 applications annually, with approximately one-third receiving funding—approximately a 33% success rate. This competitive process reflects the Foundation's thorough review and commitment to strategic grantmaking aligned with community priorities.

Reapplication Policy

For Successful Grantees: 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 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 explicitly prohibit reapplication by unsuccessful applicants. Organisations are encouraged to contact programme staff for feedback and guidance on strengthening future applications.

Consecutive Funding: The Foundation typically will not provide more than four years of consecutive funding to the same organisation.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

The Foundation emphasises these key factors for applicants:

Alignment with Community Priorities: "The Pittsburgh Foundation aligns its grantmaking with residents' dreams for themselves, their families and their communities." Applications should demonstrate how the proposed work directly addresses community-identified needs.

Demonstrated Commitment to Equity: The Foundation prioritises organisations with "a demonstrated commitment to addressing the historical and present-day impact of social injustices." Applications should explicitly address how the work advances racial equity and social justice.

Community Integration: Organisations should be "representative of the communities they serve, including leadership and staff who have lived experience in the community issues they address" and "meaningfully integrate the experience and perspectives of the communities in their decision-making process."

Realistic Budget Requests: "Applicants should apply for the amount they believe is necessary to successfully complete their work." Don't underbid—request adequate funding for quality implementation.

Recent Funded Projects

Small and Mighty Grants:

• Naomi's Place Transitional Housing Inc. ($40,000): Black-led organisation providing housing for single women and children experiencing housing insecurity
• Open Up ($40,000): Teaches mindfulness and wellness through movement practices and interactive arts to people living with disabilities
• Out of the End Inc. ($40,000): Black-led organisation building foundations in sustainability, livability, and entrepreneurship for Black and Brown communities in Pittsburgh

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh:

• Barrel & Flow Fest, Day Bracey ($40,000): Provides artist support and national promotion for Black artists based in Western Pennsylvania
• Damon Young ($50,000): Supports Made in America, a hybrid literary conversation and salon series
• ALMA | LEWIS ($100,000): Experimental contemporary art platform dedicated to Black culture

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

• "Communities disproportionately impacted by poverty"
• "Lived experience"
• "Racial justice" and "equity"
• "Community organising" and "civic participation"
• "Historically marginalised communities"
• "Representative leadership"

Tips for Standing Out

1. Engage Early: Attend grant-seeker information sessions and connect with programme officers before applying

2. Demonstrate Community Connection: Show deep roots in the community you serve, with leadership and staff from that community

3. Address Equity Explicitly: Don't assume the Foundation will infer your equity commitment—state it explicitly and provide evidence

4. Show Community Voice: Describe how community members shape your work, not just benefit from it

5. Be Specific About Impact: Provide concrete outcomes and how you'll measure success

6. Right-Size Your Request: Request adequate funding to do quality work; the Foundation encourages realistic budgets

7. Align with Strategic Priorities: Clearly connect your work to one or more of the five focus areas

8. Highlight Partnerships: The Foundation values collaboration—show how you work with other community organisations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• 33% success rate means highly competitive: With nearly 700 applications and approximately one-third funded annually, applicants must demonstrate strong alignment with priorities

• Equity and community representation are non-negotiable: The Foundation prioritises organisations with leadership, staff, and decision-making that reflect the communities served. This isn't just about programme beneficiaries—it's about who holds power in your organisation

• Geographic focus is strict: Organisations must be located in or primarily serve Allegheny County unless applying to a specific programme with broader geographic scope

• Relationship building matters: The Foundation encourages pre-application conversations for larger requests and offers grant-seeker information sessions. Use these opportunities—they demonstrate commitment and allow you to refine your approach

• Think multi-year but know the limits: Two-year grants up to $150,000 are available, but the Foundation typically won't fund the same organisation for more than four consecutive years. Plan for sustainability beyond Foundation support

• Decision timeline requires patience: With 3+ months for standard discretionary grants, plan your funding pipeline accordingly. Don't wait until you're in a funding crisis to apply

• Budget realistically and justify thoroughly: The Foundation explicitly encourages organisations to request what they need to succeed. Don't lowball your budget, but be prepared to justify every line item and show how it advances community priorities

References

1. The Pittsburgh Foundation - How to Apply for Grants https://pittsburghfoundation.org/howtoapplyforgrants Accessed: January 2025

2. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Guidelines https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantguidelines Accessed: January 2025

3. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant FAQs https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grantfaqs Accessed: January 2025

4. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Grant Opportunities https://pittsburghfoundation.org/grant-opps Accessed: January 2025

5. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Our Vision, Mission and Values https://pittsburghfoundation.org/values Accessed: January 2025

6. The Pittsburgh Foundation - About Us https://pittsburghfoundation.org/about Accessed: January 2025

7. The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Foundation awarded record $67 million in grants in its 75th year" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/2020-Giving-and-Grants Accessed: January 2025

8. The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Welcoming our new president & CEO" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/schroeder-welcome Accessed: January 2025

9. The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Pittsburgh Foundation grants $480,000 to Small and Mighty nonprofits" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/smallandmighty-2024-grantees Accessed: January 2025

10. The Pittsburgh Foundation - "Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh awards $1.2 Million to artists and arts groups" https://pittsburghfoundation.org/2024ABAP Accessed: January 2025

11. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Board of Directors https://pittsburghfoundation.org/bod-current Accessed: January 2025

12. The Pittsburgh Foundation - Our Staff https://pittsburghfoundation.org/staff Accessed: January 2025

13. The Pittsburgh Foundation Annual Report 2021 - By the Numbers https://annualreport.pittsburghfoundation.org/2021-annual-report/by-the-numbers/ Accessed: January 2025

14. Grant Lifecycle Manager - Pittsburgh Foundation Portal https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=pittsburgh Accessed: January 2025

15. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Pittsburgh Foundation https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/250965466 Accessed: May 2026