The Buhl Foundation
The Buhl Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1927 as a memorial to Louise C. Buhl by her husband, Henry Buhl, Jr. The Foundation was created as the first multipurpose foundation in Pittsburgh and operates to distribute the remainder of Henry Buhl Jr.'s estate in perpetuity. The Foundation also administers funds established by Henry C. Frick (1909) and Emilie McCreery (1938). It maintains a staff of 6 employees and is headquartered at 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$101.9M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
+11.5% YoY
Grant Count
90
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+26.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Buhl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Buhl Foundation exists to create community legacies by leveraging its resources to encourage people and organizations to dream, to innovate and to take action. The Foundation's mission emphasizes the well-being of citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Core Principles: The Foundation's work is grounded in three key areas:
- Quality of Life
- Thought Leadership & Innovation
- Systems Change with Scalable Solutions
Primary Funding Areas:
The Foundation maintains two distinct geographic and thematic strategies:
Pittsburgh's Northside Initiative (One Northside): The majority of Foundation funds are directed toward Pittsburgh's 18 Northside neighborhoods, home to approximately 40,000 residents. This place-based strategy emphasizes resident-driven priorities across five key pillars:
- Education
- Employment
- Health
- Place
- Safety
Regional Focus: Beyond the Northside commitment, the Foundation supports four major areas across the Pittsburgh region:
- Education (initiatives that foster learning environments critical to building a knowledgeable and talented population)
- Youth Development (projects providing opportunities for young people to thrive, be safe, and live in healthy communities)
- Economic Development
- Social Research
The Foundation emphasizes developmental or innovative grants to regional institutions, with particular interest in K-12 education and regional concerns related to children and youth.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,500 to $300,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Buhl Foundation's primary geographic focus is Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Foundation has made a strategic commitment to Pittsburgh's Northside, directing the majority of its funds to the 18 neighborhoods in that area. The Foundation also maintains a regional focus on broader Pittsburgh community needs.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $101,918,980
- Total Revenue: $4,156,233
- Total Expenses: $6,320,909
- Total Liabilities: $1,350,000
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since February 1994; EIN: 25-0378910
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $101,918,980 | $97,756,312 | $96,634,667 |
| Revenue | $4,156,233 | $4,740,052 | $13,373,602 |
| Expenses | $6,320,909 | $4,154,641 | $5,088,606 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,271,650 | $5,842,807 | $4,323,161 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,661,032 | $4,216,936 | $12,929,662 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,811,071 | $4,736,710 | $5,174,447 |
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 The Buhl Foundation
Buhl Foundation Grant Program
THE BUHL FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Buhl Foundation: McCreery Memorial Fund Grant
THE BUHL FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Henry C. Frick Educational Fund Grant
THE BUHL FOUNDATION
Amount
US $2,500 - US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include A Schools ($200,000), Children's Museum of Pittsburgh ($200,000), Carnegie Institute (carnegie Science Center) ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A SCHOOLS PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT THE REIMAGINE PERRY PROCESS AND SERVE AS THE ONE NORTHSIDE "EDUCATION ANCHOR" | $200,000 |
| A SCHOOLS PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED NETWORK OF PARENTS AND STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS THE NORTHSIDE, OVER THREE YEARS | $25,000 |
| ADVANCING ACADEMICS TURTLE CREEK, PA | TO CONTINUE GROWING AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED NETWORK OF PARENT AND STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS THE NORTHSIDE, OVER THREE YEARS | $10,000 |
| ALLEGHENY COLLEGE - CREEK CONNECTIONS MEADVILLE, PA | TO SUPPORT STRONG SCIENCE EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN PITTSBURGH AREA MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, OVER THREE YEARS | $10,000 |
| ALLEGHENY COLLEGE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT THE 2023 NEXT IS NOW INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
| ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | TO SUPPORT THE CONVERSION OF THE ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL SITE IN BRIGHTON HEIGHTS INTO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE | $25,000 |
| ALLEGHENY RIVERTRAIL PARK PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT THE FRONT YARD CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO REDEVELOP A SCRAPYARD AND MARINA INTO A PUBLIC PARK | $25,000 |
| ARTISTS IMAGE RESOURCE PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT K-12 EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WITH AREA SCHOOLS, OVER THREE YEARS | $10,000 |
| ASSET INC PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT THE STEM FROM SQUARE ONE PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON NORTHSIDE YOUTH, OVER THREE YEARS | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATED ARTISTS OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT VISUAL ARTS CAREER ORIENTATION PROGRAM, OVER THREE YEARS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees: Peter F Mathieson, Saleem H Ghubril, and Kim Tillotson Fleming
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIM TILLOTSON FLEMING | CHAIRMAN | 4 | $7,500 |
| ANNE LEWIS | VICE CHAIRMAN | 3 | $7,500 |
| CAROLYN D DURONIO | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 3 | $7,500 |
| QUINTIN B BULLOCK | DIRECTOR | 3 | $7,500 |
| SALEEM H GHUBRIL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $7,500 |
| PETER F MATHIESON | DIRECTOR | 4 | $7,500 |
| LARA E WASHINGTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $7,500 |
| JON KOTESKI | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| DIANA A BUCCO | PRESIDENT | 48 | $348,005 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Citizen Science Lab secured a $100,000 grant from the Buhl Foundation for Project Dream STEM Center, demonstrating the Foundation's continued investment in education and youth development initiatives.
Grantmaking - The Buhl FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Buhl Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Buhl Foundation exists to create community legacies by leveraging its resources to encourage people and organizations to dream, to innovate and to take action. The Foundation's mission emphasizes the well-being of citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. **Core Principles:** The Foundation's work is grounded in three key areas: • Quality of Life • Thought Leadership & Innovation • Systems Change with Scalable Solutions **Primary Funding Areas:** The Foundation mai…
How do I apply for a grant from The Buhl Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The Foundation made 126 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,500 to $300,000. **Total Giving:** $3,558,932 in grants (2024) **Active Grant Programs:** • Buhl Foundation Grant Program • Buhl Foundation: McCreery Memorial Fund Grant • Henry C. Frick Educational Fund Grant **Approach:** The Foundation operates with an entrepreneurial spirit in its giving, emphasizing transformational impact. All applications for funding und…
Where does The Buhl Foundation make grants?
The Buhl Foundation's primary geographic focus is Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Foundation has made a strategic commitment to Pittsburgh's Northside, directing the majority of its funds to the 18 neighborhoods in that area. The Foundation also maintains a regional focus on broader Pittsburgh community needs.
What size grants does The Buhl Foundation award?
In 2024, The Buhl Foundation awarded 90 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Buhl Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Buhl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Buhl Foundation's EIN?
The Buhl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-0378910. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Buhl 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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