Alcoa Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Alcoa Foundation's geographic focus is around the world, though it states that projects should be based in regions where Alcoa operates, so it is worth checking this before applying.
- It funds three priority areas — Community Resilience, Economic Resilience and Landscape Resilience — spanning education, health, clean water, STEM programmes, skills development, entrepreneur development, biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration, so a good fit sits within these themes.
- Applications are by invitation only and it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity is better served by building a relationship or being identified by the foundation than by sending a cold proposal.
- Most grants are modest: about eight in ten of its 233 grants fall between $15,000 and $210,000, with a median grant of $40,000, so pitching a request in that range is realistic, although the largest grant made was $1,800,000.
- Giving looks relationship-led rather than wide open to newcomers, since 46% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, and there is no stated application cycle or deadline to plan around.
Overview
Alcoa Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pittsburgh, PA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Alcoa Foundation collaborates with trusted charitable organisations around the world on projects that advance sustainable social, environmental and economic outcomes, prioritising regions where Alcoa operates. It funds initiatives in three priority areas. Community Resilience covers access to education, health and clean water, STEM-related school programmes and student mentorship, and food security. Economic Resilience includes skills development, economic diversification, entrepreneur development and STEM-related regional workforce development. Landscape Resilience covers biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, habitat restoration, and greenspace and waterways stewardship. Its grantees are charitable organisations; it selects projects for alignment with its priorities and sustainable outcomes. It seeks outcome-focused, measurable projects that can continue without ongoing Foundation funding and include diverse and underserved populations, and values volunteering opportunities when appropriate and feasible.
Themes
- Community Resilience
- Economic Resilience
- Landscape Resilience
Geographic Focus
Around the world.
How to apply
Grant applications are by invitation only.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 46% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 233 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Projects should align with Alcoa Foundation's priority focus areas.
- Projects should be based in regions where Alcoa operates.
- Projects should be outcome-focused and deliver measurable results that can be tracked and communicated.
- Projects should be sustainable over time without ongoing Alcoa Foundation funding.
- Projects should have the capacity to meet the terms of Alcoa Foundation granting agreements and reporting requirements.
- Projects should demonstrate commitment to the inclusion of diverse and underserved populations.
- Projects should provide volunteering opportunities when appropriate and feasible.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 72%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 46% of grant dollars went to organisations Alcoa Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 72% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Australia, Canada, Brazil, Guinea).
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 79 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Teach For All · Fostering teacher wellbeing to improve student outcomes$1,800,0002024 tax year
- Conservation Volunteers Australia · Seatosource - peel-harvey catchment$600,0002024 tax year
- Anglicare Wa · Young hearts$510,0002024 tax year
- City of Bunbury · Noongar arts program independent art space$490,0002024 tax year
- Scitech · Alcoa foundation digital technologies enrichment program$465,0002024 tax year
- Fundacao de Integracao Amazonica · Maniva tapajos project$430,0002024 tax year
- EdConnect Australia · Connecting generations for school success$351,0002024 tax year
- Associacao Grupo Mais Unidos · Extension of the 1st edition of: rede amazonia +conectada program$288,9462024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kayla Branch — Assistant Secretary
- Daniel Santos — Ex-Officio Director (Enter 05/24)
- Gaby Poirier — Ex-Officio Director (Enter 05/24)
- Elsabe Muller — Ex-Officio Director (Enter 05/24)
- Nicol Gagstetter — Ex-Officio Director (Enter 05/24)
- Molly Beerman — Ex-Officio Director
- Katie Waruszewski — Treasurer
- Rosa Garcia Pineiro — Ex-Officio President
- Caroline Rossignol — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,589,725 | $6,259,395 | $128,278,678 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,715,493 | $5,897,604 | $141,663,592 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,347,756 | $6,461,440 | $150,267,795 | Filing for 2024 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 Alcoa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pittsburgh, PA
- alcoa.com/foundation/en
Applying to Alcoa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pittsburgh, PA
- alcoa.com/foundation/en