Under its strategic plan, the Foundation strives to strengthen its focus on community and the positive impact achieved through its grantmaking.  Central to this plan is the Foundation's policy governing its unrestricted, or discretionary, grantmaking comprising three funding categories designed to capture all of the community's charitable programming needs.

These are:

Self Sufficient Individuals and Families;
Healthy Communities; and
A Vibrant Democracy

1) Self Sufficient Individuals and Families evidenced by

a) Quality pre-K through 12 Education- Increase Student Achievement for all children in all subject matter
areas, with special emphasis on acquiring foundational skills necessary to master reading and mathematics,
graduate from high school and transition to college or a meaningful career; improve the quality of out-of-school
programs; and develop educational leaders who support academic proficiency, social engagement, and the rights
of every student to learn.

b) Affordable Housing- Increase the supply of affordable housing for low and moderate-income families and
seniors and reduce the number of people who become homeless.

c) A Viable System of Public Transportation- Enhance access to entry-level jobs and needed services through
integrated transit systems; expand strategic alliances to increase transit ridership; and promote development of
healthy transportation alternatives (walking, biking, etc.)

d) Healthy Children and Adults- Improve community-based systems of care that support physicaland behavioral
health (i.e., physical, mental, and behavioral as well as addictive disease) of vulnerable populations in Allegheny
County.

e) Opportunities for Meaningful Work- Develop integrated systems to prepare, recruit, promote and retain entry
level workers in growth industries, particularly through industry partnerships and improve opportunities for
unemployed and low wage workers as well as youth to advance in the labor market and thereby increase their
earned income.

2) Healthy Communities evidenced by

a) Enhanced Ecological Awareness&Activism- Encourage community to assess and decrease their carbon
footprint.

b) Safe Communities- Create a community-based effort that increases the capacity of communities to work
together to eliminate violence; and develop comprehensive and integrated re-entry and diversion programs that
include case management, job development, human services, criminal justice linkages.

c) Respect and Value Diversity- Engage communities in activities that foster and advance the civil and
human rights of all citizens in the effort to eliminate discrimination against individuals based upon race/ethnicity,
disability, age, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation in education, employment, healthcare, income, housing and in achieving other basic needs.

d) Encourage Creativity- Develop and sustain a complex arts ecology composed of individual artists, arts
organizations, and arts service organizations with project, operating, technical assistance and capacity- building
grantmaking.

e) Encourage Excellence in Civic Design- Support projects that evidence excellence in civic design.

3) A Vibrant Democracy evidenced by

a) High Degree of Civic Engagement- Increase participation in civic dialogue leading to community organizing to
advance social change.

b) Research and Dissemination of Findings to Impact Policy- Create and disseminate research on critical
community issues designed to inform and shape public policy.

Find out more information on issues in the community.