Opportunity Fund
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in the performing or visual arts, or in social and economic justice, and is based in Greater Pittsburgh, the foundation's stated priorities fit you.
- Arts applicants need an annual budget of $1.5 million or less, while any size of nonprofit may apply for justice funding, provided it has 501(c)(3) status and is not an individual or based outside the United States.
- Requests near $15,000 sit at the median grant, and about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $7,500 and $20,000, though its largest grant was $150,000.
- Submit a letter of inquiry by January 15 or July 15, since staff invite only selected applicants to write a full proposal, and note that 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so relationships may matter.
- Organisations outside Greater Pittsburgh can apply only on a very limited basis.
Overview
Opportunity Fund 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
Opportunity Fund awards project-based grants and operational support to small to mid-size arts organisations, and organisations and initiatives advancing social and economic justice. Its arts funding emphasises performing and visual arts, including theatre, dance, classical chamber music, jazz and craft. Its justice funding focuses on racial justice and includes Black-led movement work, civil liberties and rights, human rights, reproductive freedom, social services, economic independence, housing, tangible aid, transportation, healthcare and other safety-net resources. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organisations and certain governmental entities; arts funding focuses on organisations with annual budgets of $1.5 million or less, while any nonprofit may apply for justice funding regardless of size. Organisations outside the Greater Pittsburgh community can apply only on a very limited basis; at least 75% of yearly awards benefit organisations serving that region. The foundation values listening, trust and investing in people's talents rather than imposing solutions.
Themes
- Performing & Visual Arts
- Social & Economic Justice
- Racial Justice
- Black-Led Movement Work
- Civil liberties
- Civil rights
- Reproductive freedom
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greater Pittsburgh community.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants directly to groups without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Organizations located outside of the United States
- Individuals
How to apply
Submit an LOI by either recurring deadline. Staff read the submissions and invite selected applicants to write a full proposal.
Deadlines: LOI deadlines recur on January 15 and July 15.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 71% 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 487 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Staff primarily assess eligibility and alignment with the Opportunity Fund’s focus areas and values.
- Arts proposals are assessed for rigorous artistic work and fit with the fund’s primary arts areas.
- Social and economic justice proposals are assessed for transformative impact and the depth or reach of their effects.
- Impact on Black/African American/People of African descent and/or LGBTQ people is a consideration for social and economic justice proposals.
- Plans should align goals, design, measurement and budget, and be reasonable, achievable and appropriate to the work.
- The foundation values strategically designed ideas with compelling plans, even when they are unproven.
- A written Financial Summary and Project Budget Variance are required even when a grantee reports by conversation.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to organisations Opportunity Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 156 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Founders First CDC · Charitable$150,0002024 tax year
- Dreams of Hope · Charitable$137,5002024 tax year
- New Sun Rising · Charitable$57,5002024 tax year
- Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation · Charitable$42,5002024 tax year
- Community Theater Project Corporationthe Kelly Strayhorn Theater · Charitable$41,0002024 tax year
- Abolitionist Law Center · Charitable$35,0002024 tax year
- Casa San Jose · Charitable$35,0002024 tax year
- Sisters PGH · Charitable$35,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Medina Jackson — Director
- Michael Tikili — Director
- Marge Petrusa — Director
- Alisha Wormsley — Director
- Dana Bishop-Root — Director
- Jacob Goodman — Executive Director
- Idy Goodman — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,312,420 | $2,506,879 | $50,833,116 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,052,772 | $2,287,869 | $52,117,645 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,284,790 | $2,440,750 | $55,350,477 | 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 Opportunity Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 362-1300
- JGOODMAN@THEOPPORTUNITYFUND.ORG
- Pittsburgh, PA
- theopportunityfund.org
Applying to Opportunity Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (412) 362-1300
- JGOODMAN@THEOPPORTUNITYFUND.ORG
- Pittsburgh, PA
- theopportunityfund.org