ACCESS THE GRANTEE PORTAL

Thank you for your interest in working with The Heinz Endowments. 

Our core focus is to grow an exemplary, sustainable southwestern Pennsylvania where everyone prospers and belongs. In 2025, we awarded $95 million to 424 grantee organizations who share in this vision for the collective future of the Pittsburgh region.

We invite you to review the following four steps to evaluate your organization's eligibility for funding consideration. 

 

Step 1: Review our grantmaking strategies

 

We award grants to nonprofit organizations in six program areas: Arts & Culture; Civic Participation; Climate, Environment & Health; Community & Economic Development; Veterans; and Workforce. 

Prospective applicants should review the grantmaking strategy of the program before applying. Find more on our Strategies page.

A list of previously awarded grants here on our Grants Awarded page.

 

Step 2: Consider your eligibility

 

If your proposal addresses a focus area described in one or more of our grantmaking strategies, the next step is to determine your eligibility.

We concentrate our efforts and resources in southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA), which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Given our primarily regional focus, the foundation is generally unable to consider applications for funding outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, unless the proposal is expressly for the benefit of residents of the SWPA region or state.

The foundation funds organizations 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. Organizations and government entities that are federally tax-exempt may also apply. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding.

Please verify your organization’s status in Candid to make sure that it is properly listed.

 

Step 3: Submit a grant application or letter of inquiry (LOI)

 

Grant application: Grantseekers who have been in communication with Endowments staff and received positive feedback about their proposal should complete a general application. This application requires a descriptive narrative, information about the organization's annual or project budget, board of directors list, and audited financial statements. More details about what is involved in the application process are described below under Getting Started.

LOI: Grantseekers who have not been in contact with Endowments' staff should submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to enter the process for funding consideration. The LOI lets you signal your interest and outline your project or need in brief so that staff can gauge fit and interest before you invest time in a full application. We work to respond to all inquiries within 45 days. If approved, the organization will be invited to complete a general application based on the LOI.

 

     Getting started:

     Already have log-in credentials for the grantee portal?
     Start a Grant Application or LOI.

     Need to establish log-in credentials or find instructions for the grantee portal?
     Follow this Grantee Portal User Guide and navigate to the application process.

     Need tips for writing a grant proposal with goals that are meaningful, manageable and measurable? 
     Review An Applicant Guide to Grant Measures for help. 

     What else do you need to know?

• Application timing - Both general applications and LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis. You will receive an email confirmation acknowledging receipt of your submission.
• Use of AI assistance - Refer the the Endowments policy on AI use as you prepare your LOI or grant application. 

Step 4: We review your request

 

Our program team will review each application. If the proposal fits the goals of our grantmaking strategy, program officers will broaden their evaluation, which might involve site visits or in-person or virtual meetings.

Supported proposals will then move through the approval and funding process, which typically takes between 60 and 90 days. Our team will communicate along the way to ensure you understand the approval schedule.

If your application is approved, you will receive an award packet including a grant agreement and guidelines for follow-up reporting and communication. Payment will be made shortly after the signed grant agreement is returned.

 

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Need more information? Reach out to us at [email protected].