The Peirce Family Foundation Inc
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2024, it awarded 37 grants totaling $2,408,416, primarily to Pennsylvania organizations, including educational institutions, cultural organizations, and environmental organizations.
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Peirce Family Foundation Inc gave $2.4M across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,408,416
- +10.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- -7.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,092
- +19.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $18,759,152
- -7.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 37, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (99% 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 The Peirce Family Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says applications must be submitted in writing to Robert N Peirce Jr. They must include the proposed recipient’s name and address, the purpose and nature of the request, the amount requested, an exemption letter, and background information about the organization. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert N Peirce Jr
Mailing address: 2500 Gulf Tower 707 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1919
Phone: (412) 281-7229
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Peirce Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Senator John Heinz History Center ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
220 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 220 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 1% went to recipients in Florida. Washington, Oklahoma, and Virginia each accounted for a reported 0% share.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Peirce Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 37 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $129K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 211% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2021) to $2.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Senator John Heinz History Center Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $500,000 |
| Duquesne University School of Law Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $427,000 |
| Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA | Charitable Contribution | $408,241 |
| Carlow University Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $400,000 |
| Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contirbution | $205,000 |
| Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $201,500 |
| Laughlin Childrens Center Sewickley, PA | Charitable Contribution | $100,000 |
| Urban Impact Fund Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| Pittsburgh Symphony Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $43,000 |
| Manchester Bidwell Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Peirce Family Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,759,152 | $1,279,520 | $2,871,802 | $2,408,416 | 37 | $2,408,416 | $816,134 | $1,140,975 |
| 2023 | $20,362,778 | $2,531,950 | $2,441,264 | $2,178,294 | 40 | $2,178,294 | $436,409 | $1,038,228 |
| 2022 | $20,278,158 | $2,558,461 | $1,890,249 | $1,629,170 | 51 | $1,629,170 | $352,769 | $1,006,575 |
| 2021 | $19,614,849 | $4,383,638 | $1,782,228 | $1,525,174 | 44 | $1,525,174 | $966,896 | $994,484 |
| 2020 | $17,026,879 | $2,143,021 | $2,637,404 | $2,415,990 | 48 | — | $405,688 | $890,775 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peirce Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Robert Morris University describes its mission as helping people build engaged, productive, and successful careers and lives. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden says it inspires people to value plants, garden design, and the natural world through collections, display gardens, education, and environmental conservation. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust describes its work as presenting performing and visual arts, advancing arts education, managing arts facilities, and developing Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
Other 2024 grantees include Carlow University, which describes its mission as offering educational opportunities and preparing compassionate, responsible leaders; Pittsburgh Symphony, whose mission is to engage, enrich, and inspire through live musical experiences; and Fern Hollow Nature Center, which operates an environmental education center.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $2,408,416. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $2,500.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $500,000 to the Senator John Heinz History Center, $427,000 to Duquesne University School of Law, $408,241 to Robert Morris University, $400,000 to Carlow University, $205,000 to Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and $201,500 to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It also awarded $100,000 to Laughlin Childrens Center and $50,000 to Urban Impact Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert N Peirce Jr as president and Joan Peirce as secretary.
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc is led by Robert N. Peirce Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert N. Peirce Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Peirce
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/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 The Peirce Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Peirce Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc gave $2.4M across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 40 grants.
What is The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $65,092, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Peirce Family Foundation Inc that year got $129K on average.
Where does The Peirce Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (12 grants), Sewickley, PA (10 grants), Vero Beach, FL (8 grants) and Moon Township, PA (2 grants).
Who are The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Senator John Heinz History Center ($500,000), Duquesne University School of Law ($427,000) and Robert Morris University ($408,241), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Peirce Family Foundation Inc?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc reported $18.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Peirce Family Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Robert Morris University describes its mission as helping people build engaged, productive, and successful careers and lives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Peirce Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s filing says applications must be submitted in writing to Robert N Peirce Jr. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2903074. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Peirce Family Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Peirce Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-peirce-family-foundation-inc-morg_d42ae7c5c3ca484681c9c49c3dcdf46a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232903074_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Peirce Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-peirce-family-foundation-inc-morg_d42ae7c5c3ca484681c9c49c3dcdf46a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 Peirce Family Foundation Inc'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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