Community Microgrants

Community Microgrants

Funder: The Hear Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA)

Overview: The Hear Foundation awards community microgrants to support programs that build peace and safety through positive engagements between residents, children, youth, and Pittsburgh Public Safety Professionals. The foundation awarded $200,000 in microgrants in 2023 to 15 local nonprofits.

Funding Details

• 2023 Total Funding: $200,000 distributed across 15 nonprofits
• Geographic Scope: Pittsburgh, PA neighborhoods
• Focus: Programs fostering strong, positive relationships between Pittsburgh Public Safety Professionals and local residents; creating safe communities; bringing healing and support to those impacted by trauma and violence

Focus Areas

• Gun violence reduction
• Healing and trauma support
• Workforce development
• Community-police relationship building
• Youth engagement and mentoring
• Mental health services
• Restorative justice

Recent Grantees (2023)

15 organizations funded including:
• A's Vision (driver training and mentorship for youth)
• Artist Talk (mental health conversations through art)
• Brunch With a Black Man (trauma-informed narrative storytelling)
• Building Black Wealth/Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (workforce development for formerly incarcerated)
• Creating Connections (coach mentorship training)
• Northway East Liberty Ministry Hub (teen café with police-community interaction)
• H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow (summer camp for grades 1-8)
• Imagine Further Collective (mental health workshops)
• Awaken Pittsburgh (trauma healing training)
• Duquesne University Elsinore Bennu Think Tank (restorative justice through humanities)
• Prevent Another Crime Today (P.A.C.T.) (family support for violence survivors)
• Team 412 Boxing (youth athletic and education program)
• Unity Camp (community-police relationship building)
• Youth Connections (police-school civics engagement)
• YouthVoices (youth leadership and social justice)

Review Process

• Overseen by Hear Foundation's diverse 39-member Board of Directors
• Board includes public safety and mental health professionals, activists, grassroots organizations, nonprofit directors, and business leaders

Organization Background

The Hear Foundation is the first and only nonprofit in Pittsburgh dedicated exclusively to collaborating with community leaders, Pittsburgh Public Safety Professionals, residents, and the City to create a safe, thriving community. Co-founded by Leon Ford (police shooting survivor) and former Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert.

Contact

Email: hello@hearfoundation.com Website: hearfoundation.com