Our Legacy

In 1963, Henry Posner Sr. created the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh to support charitable causes in the Pittsburgh region. Later, his son, Henry Posner Jr. expanded the foundation’s work to a global sphere, especially in the Former Soviet Union.

More than 50 years after its founding, the foundation has grown its giving and expanded its lens on philanthropy while maintaining its commitment to those areas. Henry Posner III now serves as chairman.

In 2019, the foundation hired its first staff, created a mission statement, and launched formal priority areas. This marked the beginning of a new chapter that calls on our legacy while focusing our grantmaking on the social, economic, and environmental challenges of today.

In 2020, trustees of the foundation voted to begin a strategic 20-year sunset. By 2040, the Posner Foundation will significantly spend down its assets and end its formal operations. The sunset provides an opportunity for increased focus in our giving by investing in issues with timely opportunities for impact.