McAuley Ministries - Outreach & Sustainability Grants

McAuley Ministries - Outreach & Sustainability Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: McAuley Ministries
Amount: US $10,000 - US $500,000
Last Updated: July 22, 2025

Summary

McAuley Ministries offers Outreach & Sustainability Grants to support local nonprofits in Pittsburgh, targeting health, education, and community development. Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that enhance community vibrancy and address local needs. Eligible organizations must be IRS-certified 501(c)(3) entities and align with McAuley Ministries' mission. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that foster self-sufficiency, improve health outcomes, and promote economic development in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Overview

Background McAuley Ministries is the grant-making foundation of Pittsburgh Mercy. Established in 2008, McAuley Ministries serves as a catalyst for change, committing resources and working collaboratively to promote healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. Grant-making priorities include health and wellness; education; community and economic development; capacity-building support for nonprofit organizations; and program initiatives which focus on the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland, communities historically served by the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. McAuley Ministries also provides support to organizations that are sponsored by and/or affiliated with the Sisters. Geographic Priority McAuley Ministries honors the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy by focusing its grantmaking on the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Mercy in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods traditionally served by the health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy: the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland. What We Fund Proposals funded by McAuley Ministries: New programs and projects.Ongoing programs and projects.Capacity-building initiatives, including general operating support when organizations have a track record of producing outcomes for residents and the community.Capital projects that advance the strategic priorities of McAuley Ministries. Health & Wellness McAuley Ministries helps communities build gardens encouraging healthy eating and community socialization. McAuley Ministries supports initiatives that improve the overall health status of residents of the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland by meeting basic needs, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and providing community-based health care through innovative service delivery models. Priorities include: Affordable and safe housing for low- and moderate-income families and special populations, including seniors, veterans, persons who are homeless, and persons with disabilities.Support for organizations providing a safety net for basic needs (e.g., food, shelter, transportation, and access to health insurance).Initiatives that help seniors to thrive and age in place.Behavioral health initiatives that recognize and address the impact of community trauma.Evidence-based initiatives that prevent and interrupt gun violence.Support for Pittsburgh Mercy innovation that advances new models of health care for vulnerable populations.Community gardens and play spaces that encourage healthy eating, exercise, and community socialization. Community & Economic Development We fund initiatives that 1) assist individuals and families in the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland to transition from poverty to self-sufficiency, and 2) contribute to community vibrancy and quality-of-life. Priority will be given to: Workforce development that links training to family-sustaining jobs. Youth employment initiatives that introduce young people to careers and foster a strong work ethic.Business incubators that support emerging resident-owned businesses and link entrepreneurship to market opportunities, resulting in job growth and wealth-building.Evidence-based initiatives that help families address the key barriers to self-sufficiency.Neighborhood initiatives that enhance community aesthetics and cultural vibrancy. Education McAuley Ministries supports initiatives that assist children residing in the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland to succeed in school, graduate from high school, successfully transition to and graduate from college, and/or successfully transition to work. Priority initiatives include: High-quality early childhood development.After-school programs with high-quality tutoring and enrichment activities.Initiatives to improve college readiness and the number of residents who graduate from college or other post-secondary education.Initiatives that address the social obstacles to academic achievement and college completion.Parent and community engagement to support educational equity and achievement. Capacity Building McAuley Ministries assists nonprofit organizations serving the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland to enhance their ability to fulfill their missions by strengthening nonprofit governance and leadership; strategic and business planning; program development; technology and information systems; management systems and practices; and financial resources. McAuley Ministries will also serve as a convener to encourage collaboration and strategic alliances for greater collective impact. Priority will be given to: Leadership development and growing the next generation of leaders.Strategic planning and program-specific planning to accelerate innovation.General operating support for mission-critical organizations that demonstrate the capacity to produce outcomes for residents and the community.Convenings that encourage strategic alliances and enhance collective impact; support for planning and operationalizing alliances.Limited capital funding for facilities and technology linked to programming and operational improvements that are consistent with our grantmaking priorities Outreach & Sustainability Grants Outreach and sustainability grants are awarded to local nonprofit organizations to assist with organizational or program needs that align with our grantmaking priorities. Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 and may be awarded for up to three years. Funding decisions are made three times per year

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Organizations must:Have a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirming exemption from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code or have an agreement with a nonprofit organization with a current IRS ruling who will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant.Comply with all requirements of McAuley Ministries as outlined in the grant agreement.For future consideration, organizations must have completed progress reports and requirements for current and past grants.Comply with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services and demonstrate consistency and alignment with McAuley Ministries’ mission and values.Specifically target the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, with a minimum of 25 percent of clients residing in those neighborhoods.Outreach Grants and Sustainability Grants are eligible for renewal applications.

Ineligibility

Proposals not funded by McAuley Ministries:Scholarships unrelated to nonprofit capacity building.Travel unrelated to nonprofit capacity building.Acute care/hospital services.Biomedical research.Endowments.Historic preservation.Existing financial obligations or debt liability.Political activities, including political campaigns and lobbying.Programs that are not directly targeted to the Hill District, Uptown, or West Oakland.