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Steelers Charities

Annual Giving
$1.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Over $500,000 (2024 Social Justice Fund alone)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $50,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Western Pennsylvania tri-state area

Contact Details

Overview

Steelers Charities (EIN: 47-1052707) is a Pittsburgh-based public foundation established to actively promote youth sports, social justice, and other charitable endeavors in Western Pennsylvania. The organization carries out its mission primarily through donations received from the corporation and public support from 50/50 raffles at Pittsburgh Steelers home games. Since 2014, the 50/50 raffle alone has benefitted 182 charitable organizations throughout the region, raising $504,157 in 2023. The foundation operates multiple grant programs including youth football initiatives, social justice matching funds, and specialized programs like the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Social Justice Matching Fund: Over $500,000 distributed in 2024 to 30+ organizations
  • Youth Football Grants: Up to $5,000 per grant (with matching requirement)
  • School Athletic Programs: $95,000 distributed among 7 schools (2020-21)
  • Chuck Noll Foundation Grants: $50,000-$150,000 for brain injury research
  • 50/50 Raffle Proceeds: Approximately $500,000+ annually to multiple charities

Priority Areas

  • Youth sports and football programs
  • Social justice initiatives
  • Food security and hunger relief
  • Education and STEM programs
  • Veterans services
  • Domestic violence support
  • Brain injury research and prevention
  • Community-police relations
  • Health and wellness programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual fundraisers for national campaigns (United Way, American Cancer Society, Relay for Life)
  • Organizations outside the Western Pennsylvania tri-state area
  • More than one donation per organization per calendar year
  • Indirect costs (for research grants)

Governance and Leadership

Art Rooney II serves as owner and president of the Pittsburgh Steelers and is deeply involved in charitable leadership. He serves on numerous boards including the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Saint Vincent College (Chairman), University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees, and Pittsburgh Public Theater. The Rooney family has a long legacy of philanthropic involvement in Pittsburgh, with Art Rooney II known as one of the most active NFL owners in civic affairs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Organizations can submit donation requests through the official Pittsburgh Steelers website at https://www.steelers.com/community/donation-requests/. This is not a traditional grant application process but rather a donation request system. Submission does not guarantee funding, and organizations are limited to one donation per calendar year.

For specific programs:

  • Chuck Noll Foundation: Submit 5-10 page proposals electronically to ahavrilla@chucknollfoundation.org
  • Youth Football Grants: Applications available through steelers.com/youth/
  • Social Justice Fund: Recipients are selected through internal processes and player nominations

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified for general donation requests. Chuck Noll Foundation typically awards grants in December following September application deadlines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are eligible for one donation per calendar year. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and priorities:

  • Focus on programs serving Western Pennsylvania communities
  • Demonstrate direct impact on youth, particularly through sports and education
  • Align with social justice and equity priorities
  • Show collaboration with other community organizations
  • For research grants, propose innovative approaches to brain injury prevention and treatment
  • Partner with Steelers players for matching grant opportunities
  • Emphasize programs that promote community cohesion and wellness

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Steelers Charities operates more as a corporate giving program than a traditional foundation with open RFPs
  • Best opportunities come through specific programs like youth football grants or player-matched contributions
  • The foundation prioritizes local Western Pennsylvania organizations with proven community impact
  • Multiple funding streams exist (50/50 raffle, Social Justice Fund, youth programs) but access varies
  • Building relationships with Steelers players can open doors to matching fund opportunities
  • The Chuck Noll Foundation offers the most structured grant application process for research organizations
  • Annual giving exceeds $1 million when combining all programs and 50/50 raffle proceeds

References

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