Priority Areas
The foundation’s giving areas reflect both the legacy of our founders, as well as the current generation’s interest in areas of pressing social, economic, and environmental opportunities. Note that we do not accept unsolicited proposals.
Education
Our flagship Education initiative is Student Success – helping first-generation students access, afford, thrive in, and complete a college education. We are working to build a Student Success community of practice in Pittsburgh by funding new programs and hosting in-person convenings that spur collaboration. Elsewhere in the world, we invest in projects that ensure that vulnerable youth, especially those displaced by conflict or crisis, continue their formal education. We also invest in regional literacy programs along the continuum of early learners to lifelong learning for adults.
Environment
Are you going to eat that? The foundation’s major Environment initiative is in preventing food waste around the world. Once a niche issue, we are energized to see food waste solutions attracting new funders and rising to the top of the global climate change agenda. We focus on food waste prevention solutions that seek to understand and change consumer behavior, as well as innovative approaches to supply chain challenges. We also invest in climate resiliency, focusing on climate smart agriculture and landfill diversion. In Pittsburgh, we support local projects aligned with these goals.
Civil Society
As the world tilts toward authoritarianism, the foundation sees an urgent need in safeguarding a strong and engaged civil society in the United States. Initiatives in this program include supporting our immigrant and refugee neighbors, addressing the crisis in local and national journalism, reducing gun violence, and protecting voting rights. The foundation participates in several national funding collaboratives working in alignment toward these goals.
Global Initiatives
Have you seen Henry’s passport? Our Global Initiatives program reflects generations of personal and family business interests in the world beyond our shores. This program invests in visionary leaders and breakthrough ideas to address some of the most pressing global issues of our time. The foundation’s current partners are working to ensure dignity following mass refugee displacement, bringing new technologies to global public health challenges, building informed and empowered civil societies, and protecting the dignity and rights of migrants at the US/Mexico border.
Jewish Life
Building on the legacy of Henry Posner, Jr., the foundation continues to invest in specific global efforts to support Jewish populations and congregations, especially in the Former Soviet Union. The foundation recently began a new initiative to combat antisemitism through diverse and creative channels, such as film and disaster relief efforts. The foundation also supports youth education and experiential programs, as well specific efforts in historic preservation, archiving, and research.
Incubators
On occasion, trustees of the foundation signal interest in a new issue area. We call these our Incubators. Some past Incubator ideas evolved into major initiatives of the foundation. Other topics stay relatively small (but are still important). At present, we have Incubators in Historic Preservation and Transportation.
Education
Our flagship Education initiative is Student Success – helping first-generation students access, afford, thrive in, and complete a college education. We are working to build a Student Success community of practice in Pittsburgh by funding new programs and hosting in-person convenings that spur collaboration. Elsewhere in the world, we invest in projects that ensure that vulnerable youth, especially those displaced by conflict or crisis, continue their formal education. We also invest in regional literacy programs along the continuum of early learners to lifelong learning for adults.
Environment
Are you going to eat that? The foundation’s major Environment initiative is in preventing food waste around the world. Once a niche issue, we are energized to see food waste solutions attracting new funders and rising to the top of the global climate change agenda. We focus on food waste prevention solutions that seek to understand and change consumer behavior, as well as innovative approaches to supply chain challenges. We also invest in climate resiliency, focusing on climate smart agriculture and landfill diversion. In Pittsburgh, we support local projects aligned with these goals.
Civil Society
As the world tilts toward authoritarianism, the foundation sees an urgent need in safeguarding a strong and engaged civil society in the United States. Initiatives in this program include supporting our immigrant and refugee neighbors, addressing the crisis in local and national journalism, reducing gun violence, and protecting voting rights. The foundation participates in several national funding collaboratives working in alignment toward these goals.
Global Initiatives
Have you seen Henry’s passport? Our Global Initiatives program reflects generations of personal and family business interests in the world beyond our shores. This program invests in visionary leaders and breakthrough ideas to address some of the most pressing global issues of our time. The foundation’s current partners are working to ensure dignity following mass refugee displacement, bringing new technologies to global public health challenges, building informed and empowered civil societies, and protecting the dignity and rights of migrants at the US/Mexico border.
Jewish Life
Building on the legacy of Henry Posner, Jr., the foundation continues to invest in specific global efforts to support Jewish populations and congregations. The foundation recently began a new initiative to combat antisemitism through diverse and creative channels, such as film and disaster relief efforts. The foundation also supports youth education and experiential programs, as well as specific efforts in historic preservation, archiving, and research.
Incubators
On occasion, trustees of the foundation signal interest in a new issue area. We call these our Incubators. Some past Incubator ideas evolved into major initiatives of the foundation. Other topics stay relatively small (but are still important). Our grantmaking in supporting journalism and gun violence prevention began as Incubator interests.
Browse Spotlight Grants
We are proud to partner with organizations around the world and in our own backyard. We measure our progress through the results of their work. It is our honor to highlight some of our many exceptional partners.