Henry L. Hillman Foundation Grant

Henry L. Hillman Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Hillman Family Foundations
Last Updated: December 06, 2025

Summary

The Henry L. Hillman Foundation Grant supports innovative projects aimed at improving the quality of life in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. With a focus on civic leadership, collaboration, and new models of economic development, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that leverage community assets and address pressing social needs. Grant recipients must be 501(c)(3) organizations, with the aim of fostering healthy neighborhoods, strengthening democracy, and promoting sustainable regional infrastructure.

Overview

Background Solving big problems through civic leadership, collaboration, and innovation Henry L. Hillman Foundation inspires, invests in, and leverages great ideas to make Pittsburgh one of the world’s most forward-looking cities. Henry L. Hillman Foundation’s mission is to inspire, invest in, and leverage great ideas and initiatives for outcomes that improve the quality of life in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. Henry L. Hillman Foundation seeds and scales innovative solutions to address significant community needs. Projects supported by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation are forward-looking, collaborative, and seek to leverage the Pittsburgh region’s competitive advantages. Strategic Portfolios Henry L. Hillman Foundation has a broad interest in initiatives that are timely and designed to take advantage of an emerging opportunity. The Foundation will prioritize investments that align with the following “portfolio” focus areas: Aging Well Preparing for a smaller and older regional population Support healthy aging, with a focus on caregivers and aging in place Leverage the assets and value of the aging population Big Ideas and New Models Solving big problems through collaboration, leadership, and new ways of thinking Support and incentivize nonprofit partners to take risks and to try new ways of approaching their work Capturing the Next Economy Shaping the future of work and new models of economic development Grow and strengthen the region’s innovation economy Support Pittsburgh’s growth as a leader in the future of work and learning Promote economic mobility and diverse pathways to living wage careers, particularly within the innovation economy Healthy Neighborhoods Safe, healthy, and thriving communities that positively influence social determinants of health Prevent displacement and concentration of poverty through enhancing the availability of high-quality, affordable housing Improve the environment for healthy living, including through safe housing, clean air, healthy food, and accessible outdoor spaces Support the vibrancy of Main Street business districts and strive to make Pittsburgh a leading city for individuals who want to start or grow a business Strengthening Democracy Good governance and ethical society for collective long-term prosperity Support high-quality public media for an informed population Increase civic engagement and ensure equitable and accurate representation Develop skills and tools for more effective civic participation Encourage policy progress and innovation across portfolio focus areas Sustainable Regional Infrastructure Innovation and investment in twenty-first century communications, energy, and other systems that support success within the other portfolio focus areas Modernize infrastructure and systems through innovation, with a focus on quality, affordability, and security Enhance broadband connectivity and the development and deployment of digital tools Transition to a low-carbon economy Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicant organizations must be classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and as public charities under Section 509(a) of that code.The geographic focus of the Foundation’s grantmaking program is Pittsburgh/southwestern Pennsylvania area.The Board reserves the right to approve grants in other locations at its discretion.While the Foundation entertains requests from a wide variety of organizations, most grants are initiated at the direction of the program staff and Board of Trustees of the Foundation.The Foundation's primary geographic focus is Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Funding for projects in the surrounding nine counties in southwestern Pennsylvania – Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland – will typically focus on innovative program pilots and significant county-level priorities.

Ineligibility

Activities for which the Henry L. Hillman Foundation does not encourage requestsOrganizations based outside of the United StatesSupport for organizations that are not a 501(c)(3) or government agency, and therefore require a fiscal sponsorship, unless the sponsorship is a temporary situation and/or the sponsorship arrangement meets rigorous criteria for oversight and supportDirect support for individualsConference, event, or training sponsorshipsDocumentary and film projectsEndowment contributionsDebt reductionAnnual appeals