Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh logo

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pittsburgh, PA EIN: 25-6055022 Website

The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1963 to support charitable causes in the Pittsburgh region, it now invests in organizations in Pittsburgh and around the world to address social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh at a glance

In short: Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh gave $25.4M across 113 grants in 2024 (avg $225K), top state Pennsylvania. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$25,443,473
+48.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
113
+50.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$225,163
-1.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$100,000
Total assets
$175,451,066
-3.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
34% first-time grantees (38 of 113, 2024)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. The 2024 filing describes written request materials, but the foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Review Cycle
None listed on the 2024 filing.
Deadline
None listed on the 2024 filing.
Contact

Application contact: Anne Marie Toccket
Mailing address: 535 Smithfield Street Suite 960, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 928-7701
Email: info@posnerfoundation.org
Website: https://posnerfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Carnegie Mellon University: $3.0MCarnegie Mellon University$3.0MACLU Foundation: $2.0MACLU Foundation$2.0MRefed Inc: $1.3MRefed Inc$1.3MUnion for Reform Judaism: $1.1MUnion for Reform Judaism$1.1MPrimary Care Health Services Inc: $1.0MPrimary Care Health ServicesInc$1.0MSave the Children: $1.0MSave the Children$1.0MSimmons University: $1.0MSimmons University$1.0MVillage Capital: $800KVillage Capital$800KAmerican Jewish World Service: $500KAmerican Jewish World Service$500KGlobal Foodbanking Network: $500KGlobal Foodbanking Network$500K

The largest 2024 recipient was Carnegie Mellon University ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $12.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

412 grants across all recorded years

128<$50K83$50–100K85$100–250K66$250–500K34$500K–1M16$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 412 (31%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation says it invests in organizations around the world and in its Pittsburgh community. In 2024, 36% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 21% to New York, 12% to the District of Columbia, 5% to Massachusetts, and 5% to Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

21states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 113 itemized grants.

Cities

PittsburghNew YorkWashingtonPrincetonSeattlePhiladelphiaBostonOaklandDuquesneFairfieldGambierLong Island CityStamfordWarwickBeverly HillsBrooklynSan FranciscoAustinburgBethel ParkChicago

Is Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh open to new grantees?

34%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 38 of 113 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $93K; repeat grants $292K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $150K repeat.

  • 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 84% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 170% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$10M$20M$30M73 grants2020 70 grants2021 81 grants2022 75 grants2023 113 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13.1M (2020) to $25.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 113 grants totaling $25.4M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAUnrestricted/ General Use$3,050,000
ACLU Foundation New York, NYUnrestricted/ General Use$2,000,000
Refed Inc Long Island City, NYUnrestricted/ General Use$1,250,000
Union for Reform Judaism Washington, DCUnrestricted/ General Use$1,075,000
Primary Care Health Services Inc Pittsburgh, PAUnrestricted/ General Use$1,000,000
Save the Children Fairfield, CTUnrestricted/ General Use$1,000,000
Simmons University Boston, MAUnrestricted/ General Use$1,000,000
Village Capital Houston, TXUnrestricted/ General Use$800,000
American Jewish World Service New York, NYUnrestricted/ General Use$500,000
Global Foodbanking Network Chicago, ILUnrestricted/ General Use$500,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$175,451,066$23,484,494$29,659,320$25,443,473113$26,409,944$20,564,871$15,525,191
2023$181,408,264$19,658,594$20,703,667$17,092,75375$17,860,006$17,058,519$13,864,219
2022$182,613,119$30,133,798$21,695,625$18,030,71781$18,637,508$27,316,499$14,512,947
2021$174,236,576$21,112,098$17,243,410$13,858,18070$14,290,290$17,048,718$16,678,493
2020$170,500,037$20,216,193$15,997,523$13,070,53673—$17,678,717$12,917,767

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh reported a distributable amount of $15.5M for 2024 — 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 stated aim is to advance long-term structural solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. Its priority areas are education, environment, civil society, global initiatives, Jewish life, and incubators.

Education includes support for student success, including efforts to help first-generation students access, afford, thrive in, and complete college; education for displaced youth; and regional literacy. Environment work includes preventing food waste, climate resiliency, climate-smart agriculture, and landfill diversion. Civil society initiatives include support for immigrant and refugee neighbors, journalism, gun-violence prevention, and voting rights. The foundation also describes its Global Initiatives program as supporting leaders and ideas addressing global issues.

Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Carnegie Mellon University received a grant; the university describes its mission as providing a transformative educational experience and cultivating a collaborative university community. Primary Care Health Services Inc., which received a grant, says it provides primary and preventive care to medically underserved and indigent people in Allegheny County regardless of ability to pay. American Jewish World Service, another grantee, says it works to realize human rights and end poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. NPR describes its work as producing and distributing noncommercial journalism and cultural programming, while Spotlight PA says it conducts investigative and public-service journalism to hold powerful public and private forces accountable.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 113 grants totaling $25,443,473. Grant amounts ranged from $1,140 to $3,050,000, with a median of $100,000. The largest awards included $3,050,000 to Carnegie Mellon University, $2,000,000 to the ACLU Foundation, $1,250,000 to ReFED Inc., $1,075,000 to the Union for Reform Judaism, and $1,000,000 each to Primary Care Health Services Inc., Save the Children, and Simmons University. These grants were listed as unrestricted/general use.

The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited proposals. The 2024 filing lists a process for requests: submit a brief written statement describing the purpose of the requested funds and the applicant’s activities, accompanied by the applicant’s determination letter and financial data. The filing lists no deadline and says awards reflect the foundation’s legacy giving and emerging interests, with a focus on environment, human rights, education, Jewish life, and civil society.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation’s website identifies Henry Posner III as chairman of the board of trustees, with Paul Posner, Anne Molloy, John Hensler, and Ida Posner also serving as trustees. Its 2024 filing lists Henry Posner III, Paul M. Posner, Anne M. Molloy, and John F. Hensler as trustees.

The website identifies Anne Marie Toccket as executive director, Hana Uman as senior program officer, and Naomi Morris as program officer.

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Anne M. Molloy

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Henry Posner III

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John F. Hensler

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul M. Posner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh

How much does Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh give each year?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh gave $25.4M across 113 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17.1M across 75 grants.

What is Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's typical grant size?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $225,163, across 113 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh that year got $93K on average.

Where does Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh give grants?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's top state is Pennsylvania, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (21%) and District of Columbia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (46 grants), New York, NY (12 grants), Washington, DC (11 grants) and Princeton, NJ (3 grants).

Does Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (113 of 113) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's largest grantees?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's largest 2024 grantees include Carnegie Mellon University ($3,050,000), ACLU Foundation ($2,000,000) and Refed Inc ($1,250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh reported $175.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $26.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh fund?

The foundation’s stated aim is to advance long-term structural solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. Its priority areas are education, environment, civil society, global initiatives, Jewish life, and incubators. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's EIN?

Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6055022. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/posner-foundation-of-pittsburgh-morg_1e525d6440e940b0b393255c61e10596

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256055022_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/posner-foundation-of-pittsburgh-morg_1e525d6440e940b0b393255c61e10596},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh'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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