Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It supports children and youth through grants and collaboration with public and private organizations, with a mission centered on improving emotional health and well-being in Allegheny County.
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation at a glance
In short: Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation gave $216K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $216,250
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- -10.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,650
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,385,168
- +8.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (10 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation directs applicants to its website for application forms, materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. The 2026 application cycle is open, and proposals are due **September 30, 2026**.
- Contact
Application contact: Pam Golden The Pittsburgh Child Gui
Mailing address: 611 William Penn Plance Suite 303, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 434-1665
Website: https://pittsburghchildguidancefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sojourner House ($15K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($22,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 124 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission serves children and youth living in Allegheny County. In 2025, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 23 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 48% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $193K (2021) to $263K (2023). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $216K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sojourner House Pittsburgh, PA | Youth focused initiatives provide homework help; work to improve school attendance, academic performance; provide mentoring for teens grades 6 - 12 and summer camp for grades 1- 8 to reduce learning loss and promote physical and emotional health. | $15,000 |
| Familylinks Pittsburgh, PA | Young adults, ages 16 - 21 who are transitioning out of foster care are housed in a supervised apartment-style living to enable the successful transition to independent living. | $15,000 |
| Homeless Children's Education Fund Pittsburgh, PA | Teen outreach program gives rising juniors and seniors paid work experiences, mentorship, training for those who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness. 90% of seniors graduate on time; 82% will exceed proficiency in academics. | $13,500 |
| Youth Guidance (Becoming a Man) West Homestead, PA | Works with 550 male students grades 6 to 12 to increase school engagement, academic attainment and improve social and emotional wellbeing through engagement with role models and being a reliable presence in their schools and lives. | $12,500 |
| Women's Center & Shelter Pittsburgh, PA | The 125 children living in shelter for 5 or more days will maintain school attendance; receive tutoring reading sessions and physical activity and engage in field trips. Average length of stay is 60 days. | $12,000 |
| Dragon's Den Pittsburgh, PA | After school & summer camp for 250 youth in west homestead, whitaker and munhall. Work with 30+ partners to offer workshops focused environment, culture/heritage, physical/mental health topics. | $12,000 |
| The Pittsburgh Project Pittsburgh, PA | An after school program for 250 children & teens k- 12 on the north side. Participants receive homework help, transportation, extracurricular lessons, and engage in community service. High school students participate in the leaders in training program to explore post secondary plans. | $10,000 |
| Schools That Can Pittsburgh, PA | Will work with 30 students ages 5 - 11 to pilot a student-led, community care system in schools for children with disabilities; high stress levels. | $10,000 |
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $22,500 |
| Neighborhood Learning Alliance Pittsburgh, PA | Program will support 100 youth 6 - 17,from mckeesport, wilkinsburg, duquesne and other low income communities, who would not otherwise be able to participate in the scouting program. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,385,168 | $496,157 | $475,596 | $216,250 | 25 | $432,984 | $457,417 | $438,338 |
| 2024 | $8,654,548 | $443,756 | $488,055 | $247,200 | 28 | $446,631 | $407,476 | $416,235 |
| 2023 | $8,208,196 | $223,599 | $483,433 | $262,500 | 26 | $449,060 | $177,788 | $388,547 |
| 2022 | $7,600,838 | $171,605 | $455,537 | $213,500 | 22 | $404,510 | $164,176 | $399,605 |
| 2021 | $9,552,303 | $3,474,425 | $449,300 | $193,000 | 23 | $375,504 | $3,447,546 | $416,450 |
| 2020 | $9,010,403 | $394,562 | $410,816 | $205,250 | 20 | — | $374,350 | $390,207 |
| 2019 | $8,166,877 | $446,686 | $404,610 | $199,300 | 23 | — | $421,442 | $384,502 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $438K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to improve the emotional health and well-being of children and youth living in Allegheny County through grants and collaboration on innovative policies, practices, and programs. Its SEL goals include encouraging high school completion, increasing self-confidence, fostering career exploration, connecting young people with role models, and teaching life- and work-ready skills.
Its 2025 grantmaking also supported prevention and direct-service efforts related to family homelessness, including case management and modest rent or utility assistance provided by some grantees. Other grants supported children’s enrichment, education, and tutoring.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Homeless Children’s Education Fund says it advances the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County through educational programs, advocacy, and community partnerships. Brookline Teen Outreach describes its work as providing free educational and social programming, life-skills workshops, tutoring, community service opportunities, and licensed counseling for youth ages 10–18 in the Greater Pittsburgh area. FamilyLinks describes itself as a human-service provider offering, among other services, mental health support, emergency shelter, and supportive housing.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded $216,250 in 25 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $15,000, with a median award of $10,000. Prior-year grantmaking was $247,200 across 28 grants in 2024 and $262,500 across 26 grants in 2023.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $15,000 to Sojourner House for youth-focused academic support, mentoring, and summer camp; $15,000 to FamilyLinks for supervised housing to support young adults transitioning out of foster care; and $13,500 to Homeless Children’s Education Fund for paid work experiences, mentorship, and training for teens affected by or at risk of homelessness. Other notable awards included $12,500 to Youth Guidance (Becoming a Man) for work with male students on school engagement, academic attainment, and social and emotional well-being; $12,000 each to Women’s Center & Shelter and Dragon’s Den; and $10,000 each to The Pittsburgh Project, Schools That Can, an individual recipient, Neighborhood Learning Alliance, Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens, and East End Cooperative Ministry.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Paul Spradley as president, Joan Eichner as vice president, Aaron S. Aldrich as treasurer, Michele Rone Cooper as secretary, and Pamela W. Golden as executive director. Trustees listed include James W. Weems Jr., Cara Ciminillo, Megan Nestor, Judge David Spurgeon, and Melinda Bondarenka.
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation is led by Pamela W. Golden, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Pamela W. Golden
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$102K (2019) → $125K (2025)
Paul Spradley
President
Trustee → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge David Spurgeon
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Nestor
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cara Ciminillo
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James W. Weems Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Bondarenka
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Rone Cooper
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Eichner Dr
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron S. Aldrich MBA
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Brian S. Allen (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Police Chief Jason Lando (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Robert James Esq. (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Scott Hollander Esq. (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sister Janice Vanderneck (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Commander Jason Lando (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Linda Krynski PhD (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: William McKain (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Gay M. Fogarty (2019–2021) — President
- Former: John Eichner Dr (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Katherine P. Lovelace (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Maurita J. Bryant (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Patricia L. Valentine (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $125K, to Pamela W Golden (Executive Direc).
Frequently asked questions about Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation
How much does Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation give each year?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation gave $216K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $247K across 28 grants.
What is Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's typical grant size?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,650, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation give grants?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (16 grants).
Does Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's largest grantees?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sojourner House ($15,000), Familylinks ($15,000) and Homeless Children's Education Fund ($13,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($22,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $433K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $438K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve the emotional health and well-being of children and youth living in Allegheny County through grants and collaboration on innovative policies, practices, and programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation?
The foundation directs applicants to its website for application forms, materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's EIN?
Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-0965465. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 1, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pittsburgh-child-guidance-foundation-morg_aff4ad15420d43f289918376d080ddfe
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_250965465_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pittsburgh-child-guidance-foundation-morg_aff4ad15420d43f289918376d080ddfe},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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