The Birmingham Foundation
The Birmingham Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a community-focused funder serving South Pittsburgh, with a primary focus on early childhood education and development and on helping children from birth to age eight and their families thrive.
The Birmingham Foundation at a glance
In short: The Birmingham Foundation gave $1.2M across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,210,767
- -15.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -9.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,723
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $25,028,018
- +2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 30, 2025)
- 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 The Birmingham Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a letter of intent process for its annual grant cycles, subject to cycle-specific requirements. Its website describes two cycles, Spring and Fall, and directs new and returning applicants to begin through its grant process. Applicants must qualify as a public charity for 501(c)(3) tax exemption, operate within the foundation’s geographic focus, and align with its early childhood education and development focus. Grants are generally not made for deficits, fundraising, religious activities, efforts to influence legislation, general research, scholarships, political campaigns, or loans. The foundation says awards are made year to year. Its 2024 filing additionally states that grants are not made to individuals or other private foundations and may be limited to a period such as one to three years.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists Fall 2026 as invitation-only, with applications scheduled to open October 5 and close October 19, 2026. For Spring 2027, it lists an LOI period of March 8–22, 2027, followed by an application period of April 9–19, 2027.
- Deadline
- The website lists Fall 2026 as invitation-only, with applications scheduled to open October 5 and close October 19,…
- Next open deadline
- March 22, 2027 (Birmingham Foundation Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: Michelle Figlar
Mailing address: 320 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Phone: (412) 481-2777
Website: https://birminghamfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Birmingham Foundation
Who The Birmingham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Brashear Association Inc ($125K). Together the top 10 received $730K.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 150 grants of 193 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves South Pittsburgh communities in zip codes 15203, 15210, and 15211. Its website lists Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Duquesne Heights, Knoxville, Mount Oliver, Mount Washington, St. Clair Village, and South Side among the neighborhoods in its target area. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Birmingham Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 30 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2021) to $1.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brashear Association Inc Pittsburgh, PA | Fall 2024 Holiday Assistance | $125,000 |
| Lighthouse Memorial Christian Center Pittsburgh, PA | 2025 Spring Program Grant | $60,000 |
| Voices Against Violence Pittsburgh, PA | Wavy's world summer experience - pd to hilltop alliance | $60,000 |
| Hilltop Community Children's Center Pittsburgh, PA | Operating Grant | $50,000 |
| Hello Neighbor Pittsburgh, PA | Fall 2024 Grant - Smart Start | $50,000 |
| Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Pittsburgh, PA | Promoting Nature Focused Learning & Wellness | $50,000 |
| Hilltop Community Children's Center Pittsburgh, PA | Off-Cycle Grant | $50,000 |
| Hello Neighbor Pittsburgh, PA | Empowerment Giving - Language Interpretation Pilot | $50,000 |
| Literacy Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | An Investment in S PGH Hilltop Families | $50,000 |
| A Schools Pittsburgh, PA | Circle Our Schools | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Birmingham 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 | $25,028,018 | $1,309,270 | $1,803,022 | $1,210,767 | 37 | $1,591,169 | $1,043,754 | $1,104,551 |
| 2024 | $24,310,952 | $1,339,913 | $1,979,071 | $1,425,702 | 41 | $1,780,212 | $701,361 | $1,035,992 |
| 2023 | $22,265,483 | $558,615 | $1,686,721 | $1,190,149 | 44 | $1,577,250 | $480,227 | $973,236 |
| 2022 | $21,006,213 | $3,985,073 | $1,675,596 | $1,286,685 | 36 | $1,628,513 | $3,852,642 | $1,842,638 |
| 2021 | $26,042,579 | $998,750 | $1,373,728 | $1,140,937 | 35 | — | $899,864 | $1,004,559 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Birmingham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations in developing, implementing, and advancing efforts to help South Pittsburgh children from birth to age eight and their families thrive.
Its website identifies three focus areas: Maternal and Child Health, including prenatal-to-age-three services; Early Care and Education, for children from birth to age eight; and Parent and Family Wellbeing. Examples listed include prenatal and postnatal care, home visiting, developmental screenings and early intervention, quality early learning, family engagement, access to services, and social connectedness.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose services align with its focus areas and geographic requirements. Among its 2025 grantees, Hilltop Community Children’s Center describes its mission as providing a safe, nurturing, educational environment for children while their parents work, study, or participate in job training. Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh says it provides children with books, resources, motivation, and opportunities to develop a lifelong love of reading. These are grantee descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $1,210,767 through 37 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $125,000, with a median of $30,000. Most awards on the foundation’s website are described as being in the $5,000–$50,000 range.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $125,000 to Brashear Association Inc. for holiday assistance; $60,000 to Lighthouse Memorial Christian Center for a spring program grant; and $60,000 to Voices Against Violence for a summer experience. Other notable awards included $50,000 each to Hilltop Community Children’s Center, Hello Neighbor, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Literacy Pittsburgh, and A Schools. These awards were all reported for Pennsylvania recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy Nevin MD, Anne Marie Toccket, Beth Marcello, Betty Kripp, Carey A Harris, Kenneth McCrory CPA, and Maurita Bryant as directors. It lists Duane W Swager II as assistant treasurer, Eileen O Smith as secretary, and Mark Bibro as treasurer.
The Birmingham Foundation is led by Michelle Figlar, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle Figlar
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$62K (2023) → $210K (2025)
Terrence Wirginis
Chairman
President → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Marcello
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty Kripp
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carey A. Harris
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth McCrory CPA
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maurita Bryant
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Prince Matthews
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Matthews
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Kennedy
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Siefken
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Nevin MD
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Marie Toccket
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Vinciguerra Msw Mid
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Serafina Lanna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark S. Bibro
Treasurer
Executive Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$135K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Duane W. Swager II
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen O. Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William T. Simmons Esq.
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Rachel Vinciguerra (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jack Simmons (2023) — Director
- Former: H. Don Gordon (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Max Harleman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Hugo Churchill (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $210K, to Michelle Figlar (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Birmingham Foundation
How much does The Birmingham Foundation give each year?
The Birmingham Foundation gave $1.2M across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 41 grants.
What is The Birmingham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Birmingham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $32,723, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Birmingham Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Birmingham Foundation give grants?
The Birmingham 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 (33 grants).
Does The Birmingham Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of The Birmingham Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Birmingham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Birmingham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Brashear Association Inc ($125,000), Hilltop Community Children's Center ($100,000 across 2 grants) and Hello Neighbor ($100,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Birmingham Foundation?
The Birmingham Foundation reported $25.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Birmingham Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations in developing, implementing, and advancing efforts to help South Pittsburgh children from birth to age eight and their families thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Birmingham Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a letter of intent process for its annual grant cycles, subject to cycle-specific requirements. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Birmingham Foundation's EIN?
The Birmingham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-0965572. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Birmingham Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Birmingham Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-birmingham-foundation-morg_83a1a1c799e14c389a63b052a2395651
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_250965572_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Birmingham Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-birmingham-foundation-morg_83a1a1c799e14c389a63b052a2395651},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 The Birmingham 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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