The Pittsburgh Foundation
The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation's oldest and largest community foundations, established in 1945. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and community foundation dedicated to improving quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to critical community needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5B
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$64.0M
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
1,132
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
+8.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Pittsburgh Foundation works to create a vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region that supports everyone—regardless of race, identity or circumstance—to thrive and fulfill their potential.
Core Focus Areas: The Foundation aligns grantmaking to residents' needs and prioritizes support in five core focus areas. Specific program areas include:
- Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh — Funds individual artists, artist residencies, nonprofit organizations and community-based programs that present or produce the art of Africa and the African diaspora
- The Social Justice Fund — Created to strengthen support for efforts that address the root causes of inequity and increase engagement
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Economic development
- Science and STEM education
Grantmaking
The Foundation operates multiple grant-making programs:
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Pittsburgh Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $1.54 billion
- Total revenue: $159 million
- Total expenses: $88.3 million
- Total liabilities: $92.4 million
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $1.401 billion
- Total revenue: $80.275 million
- Total expenses: $80.771 million
- Net assets: $1.323 billion
Staffing:
- Approximately 84 employees (2023)
Financial Sustainability: The Foundation maintains strong financial reserves (6+ months) and well-diversified revenue sources. The organization has demonstrated excellent stewardship of fiscal resources through stringent attention to efficient and cost-effective management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,541,081,247 | $1,401,303,944 | $1,291,404,891 |
| Revenue | $159,126,734 | $80,275,888 | $91,513,611 |
| Expenses | $88,303,139 | $80,771,324 | $82,468,046 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $70,227,933 | $38,778,764 | $48,056,319 |
| 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
152 open opportunities from The Pittsburgh Foundation
Ackerman Scholarship Fund for The Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania Grant
THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION
Amount
More than
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: General Operating Support Grant
THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
African American Volkswagen Employees' Scholarship Fund Grant
THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Pittsburgh ($2,414,272), The Pittsburgh Promise ($1,343,837), Scholarship America Inc ($1,209,399).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | EDUCATION | $2,414,272 |
| THE PITTSBURGH PROMISE PITTSBURGH, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT FINANCIAL AID | $1,343,837 |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC DETROIT, MI | SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,209,399 |
| CARNEGIE MUSEUMS OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES | $878,397 |
| PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PITTSBURGH, PA | HIGHER EDUCATION | $788,449 |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PA PITTSBURGH, PA | HUMAN SERVICES | $767,441 |
| FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND CINCINNATI, OH | PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $702,331 |
| CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY PITTSBURGH, PA | HIGHER EDUCATION | $691,911 |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE ORLANDO, FL | PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $659,116 |
| BEAVER COUNTY MARCELLUS AWARENESS COMMUNITY AMBRIDGE, PA | ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT | $631,534 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Lisa Schroeder (appointed in 2019, first woman to hold the position)
Principal Officer: Elisabeth M. Schroeder
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILL ALLEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARC CHERNA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEBORAH DEMCHAK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA ELLSWORTH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM GENERETT JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REV GLENN GRAYSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD LERACH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID LEWIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMY K MARSH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERRY MILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TONI MURPHY | DIRECTOR (EXIT 4/24) | 1 | — |
| JORDAN PALLITTO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR WALTER SMITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN R MCGINLEY JR | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KAMAL NIGAM | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LAURA KARET | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ELISABETH SCHROEDER | PRESIDENT/CEO | 50 | $647,859 |
| JONATHAN BRELSFORD | CIO & SVP OPERATIONS | 40 | $307,282 |
| BRYAN TAIT ASST TREASURER | CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $222,428 |
| MICHELLE MCMURRAY VP | PROGRAM & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 40 | $212,589 |
| LINDSAY AROESTY | VP DEVELOPMENT & DONOR SVC | 40 | $202,657 |
| DOUG ROOT | VP COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $247,883 |
| JENNIE ZIONCHECK | CHIEF OF STAFF/STRAT IMPLE | 40 | $229,503 |
| PHIL KOCH | VP POLICY/COMM IMPACT | 40 | $220,231 |
| CHARMELLE JACKSON | CHIEF HR & CULTURE OFFICER | 40 | $174,160 |
| MICHAEL YONAS | VP PUB HEALTH RESEARCH/LEARNING | 40 | $187,610 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh** — Awarded $1.2 million to artists and arts groups
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh awards $1.2 Million to artists and arts**Small and Mighty Nonprofits** — Granted $480,000 to small and mighty nonprofits
Pittsburgh Foundation grants $480,000 to Small and Mighty nonprofits**Racial Justice Grantmaking** — Awarded $1.74 million to further racial justice in Pittsburgh
$1.74 million to further racial justice in PittsburghSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Pittsburgh Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Pittsburgh Foundation works to create a vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region that supports everyone—regardless of race, identity or circumstance—to thrive and fulfill their potential. **Core Focus Areas:** The Foundation aligns grantmaking to residents' needs and prioritizes support in five core focus areas. Specific program areas include: • **Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh** — Funds individual artists, artist residencies, nonprofit organizations and comm…
How do I apply for a grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation?
**Grant Programs:** The Foundation operates multiple grant-making programs: • **Donor-Advised Program** — More than 1,200 donor-advised funds through which donors recommend grants to nonprofit organizations, with oversight by Foundation staff and approval by the board • **Donor-Designated Grant-Making Program** — Allows donors to create funds specifying eligible nonprofits to receive annual grants in perpetuity • **Competitive Grant-Making Program** — Awards grants from unrestricted funds and f…
Where does The Pittsburgh Foundation make grants?
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on **Allegheny County, Pennsylvania** and the Pittsburgh region.
What size grants does The Pittsburgh Foundation award?
In 2024, The Pittsburgh Foundation awarded 1,132 grants totaling $64.0M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Pittsburgh Foundation's EIN?
The Pittsburgh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-0965466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Pittsburgh Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
The Ayco Charitable Foundation
COHOES, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
4,719
Total Given
$287.7M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
SAINT LOUIS, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
NORWALK, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Pittsburgh Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Pittsburgh Foundation to a real strategy.