POISE Foundation is a community foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, incorporated in December 1980 and tax-exempt since July 1981. Operating as a public charity under 501(c)(3) status, POISE functions as a philanthropic organization that receives funds from a variety of donors. The foundation structures these funds as either unrestricted support for its grantmaking strategy or donor-directed contributions for specific charitable purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.4M
-16.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.4M
+38.4% YoY
Grant Count
111
+122.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-37.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: POISE amplifies the power of Black communities to fuel transformative change and uplift pathways to self-determination and shared success.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education improvement and strengthening educational opportunities for the Black community
- Economic opportunity development
- Cultural advancement
- Human services
- Scholarships for private school education (pre-K through 12th grade)
- Leadership development and advocacy
- Sustainable Black community initiatives
The foundation's grantmaking is designed to impact the local Pittsburgh community, with a particular emphasis on organizations providing services that significantly improve quality of life for the Pittsburgh region's African American community. POISE prioritizes supporting projects that address root causes for long-lasting and deep community impact.
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $5,046 to $1,208,400.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
POISE primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Mississippi, with particular emphasis on the Pittsburgh region and Allegheny County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2024): $14,434,642
Annual Revenue (2024): $5,688,735
Total Giving (2024): $5,711,289
Annual Expenses (2024): $8,898,352
Staffing: 16 employees (as of 2024)
Donor-Advised Fund: According to its December 2024 tax filing, POISE operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
Audit Finding: An independent audit for the fiscal year ending December 2024 identified a significant deficiency in internal controls—a deficiency in internal financial or governance controls that could limit the organization's ability to track and report financial data reliably. This deficiency is less severe than a material weakness but warrants attention from management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,434,642 | $17,244,018 | $13,933,027 |
| Revenue | $5,688,735 | $11,325,031 | $9,083,941 |
| Expenses | $8,898,352 | $8,668,528 | $12,593,865 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $864,640 | $316,324 | $460,275 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Poise Foundation
Critical Community Needs Fund Grant
POISE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
POISE Community Impact Grants
POISE FOUNDATION
Amount
US $1,000 - US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Urban Youth Action Grant
POISE FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Program to Aid Citizen Enterprize ($1,208,400), Alliance for Police Accountability ($384,725), Black Tech Nation ($140,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEGHENY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $384,725 |
| BIDWELL STREET UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PITTSBURGH, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,300 |
| BLACK TECH NATION PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $140,000 |
| FLOURISHING COMMUNITIES INC PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $34,241 |
| KINGDOM VIEW MINISTRY PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| PITTSBURGH HARDBALL ACADEMY PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $36,150 |
| POORLAW PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $110,916 |
| PROGRAM TO AID CITIZEN ENTERPRIZE PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,208,400 |
| PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S NETWORK PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder & President: Bernard H. Jones Sr. — Founded the organization and established its early direction. Early in his life, Bernard developed an appreciation for and concern for the human condition, particularly as experienced by poor, urban youth. He founded Urban Youth Action (UYA) in 1966, which continues to serve young people in workforce preparation.
Current Leadership:
- Mark Lewis — CEO
- Karris Jackson — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY R SPENCER | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| RON LAWRENCE | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| DALE C PERDUE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DARRELL E SMALLEY | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| LUCILLE DABNEY | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANNETTE GILLCRESE | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RHONDA FISCHER | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| REV CORNELL JONES | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SAMANTHA CLANCY | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK LEWIS | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 50 | $157,325 |
| KARRIS JACKSON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 45 | $138,108 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
POISE Foundation has announced multiple rounds of grants awarded through its Critical Community Needs Fund (CCNF). The foundation has a documented history of awarding grants to Black-led organizations, with previous announcements indicating the foundation awarded nearly 90 Black-led organizations more than $900,000.
POISE Foundation Announces Latest Round of Grants Awarded ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Poise Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** POISE amplifies the power of Black communities to fuel transformative change and uplift pathways to self-determination and shared success. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education improvement and strengthening educational opportunities for the Black community • Economic opportunity development • Cultural advancement • Human services • Scholarships for private school education (pre-K through 12th grade) • Leadership development and advocacy • Sustainable Black community initia…
How do I apply for a grant from Poise Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,046 to $1,208,400. **Grant Programs:** • POISE Community Impact Grants • Critical Community Needs Fund (CCNF) • Human Equity and Justice Fund (HEJF) • Urban Youth Action Grant • Urban Youth Action Flex Grant • Education Improvement Tax Credit Program (providing scholarships to families attending private schools) **Additional Services:** POISE provides grants administration services for third-party organizations and acts as a fiscal sponsor for var…
Where does Poise Foundation make grants?
POISE primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Mississippi, with particular emphasis on the Pittsburgh region and Allegheny County.
What size grants does Poise Foundation award?
In 2024, Poise Foundation awarded 111 grants totaling $5.4M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Poise Foundation's EIN?
Poise Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1393426. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Poise Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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