Community foundations to merge
in “groundbreaking” agreement
Plan creates “enormous potential for transformative change”
in Westmoreland County

GREENSBURG, Pa., Wed. April 28, 2010 – The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County today announced plans to merge with The Pittsburgh Foundation in an initiative that is designed to strengthen its grantmaking impact, enhance services for its donors and increase support for its local nonprofit organizations.

Following unanimous approval by the boards of both foundations, proposals have been submitted for review to the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Final authorization for the venture is anticipated within approximately three months.

Under the merger agreement the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) will operate as part of The Pittsburgh Foundation while retaining its identity, staff and Greensburg offices, and its responsibilities for grantmaking in the region, community engagement, donor services and developing new funds.

The merger will provide CFWC with new and extensive administrative, operational and marketing resources provided by The Pittsburgh Foundation. Immediate benefits for the Westmoreland community will include:

• Lower administrative fees for donor funds. Fees will fall to an average of approximately one percent, in line with The Pittsburgh Foundation’s fees, from CFWC’s current average of approximately 1.5 percent.
• Increased funding and staff resources committed to maximizing grantmaking impact, support for nonprofit organizations and the engagement of existing and prospective donors.
• Active cultivation of regional partners to increase collaborative initiatives and expand available funding for addressing big and critical community issues.
• Enhanced efficiencies and cost-savings through The Pittsburgh Foundation’s broad back-office and support services, including finance and administration, development and donor services, grantmaking and marketing.
• Access for donors to The Pittsburgh Foundation’s more diverse and robust investment options for endowment funds.

“Our overarching objective is to create a strong and resourceful community foundation that is better placed to serve the families, individuals and organizations of Westmoreland County,” said Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr., Chairman of the CFWC’s Board of Directors. “We are honored and delighted to be joining with The Pittsburgh Foundation, an organization that is recognized regionally and nationally for its bold, inspiring leadership and its transformative philanthropic work.”

“Human, social and cultural needs do not cease at the county borders and this groundbreaking agreement will enable The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to develop a vigorous coordinated effort to the benefit of our region,” said Greg Curtis, Chairman of The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Our shared mission is, together, to build better communities.”

On completion of the merger process, CFWC’s activities will continue to be overseen by its current 17-member Board of Directors who will form an advisory board reporting to The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Board of Directors. CFWC’s Board Chairman, Mr. Quatrini, will join The Pittsburgh Foundation’s full Board.

CFWC’s employees – four full-time and one part-time – will integrate with The Pittsburgh Foundation’s staff and will continue to work from CFWC’s existing Greensburg offices.

Discussions between both foundations began in 2009, initiated by CFWC, concerned that its size may inhibit its abilities long-term to fulfill its ambitious goals as a community foundation for the Westmoreland region.  Established in 1995, CFWC currently has 363 donor endowment funds and assets in excess of $17 million. Its grantmaking in 2009 totaled $1.14 million, but of this, less than $150,000 was available to CFWC for discretionary funding. Since 2006, CFWC has almost doubled its assets and its number of donor funds.

“It is an issue of capacity and on our own, we lack the critical mass to continue to develop our organization at the pace we believe is required in order to provide the impact, engagement and resources that are so urgently needed in our community,” said Kirk Utzinger, CFWC’s President. “We embrace this exciting venture from a position of strength recognizing the enormous potential it has to generate positive change and benefit for our community. This is the right time and the right move for us and The Pittsburgh Foundation provides us with the perfect partnership.”

The Pittsburgh Foundation currently has more than 1,300 donor endowment funds, and grantmaking for the Foundation and its supporting organizations in 2009 was approximately $33.7 million. The organization has awarded more than $500 million in grants since it was established in 1945.

Benefits for the Westmoreland region resulting from the merger will continue to grow over time, said Grant Oliphant, The Pittsburgh Foundation’s President and CEO.

“Our guiding principles in our conversations with CFWC have been to give donors and nonprofit organizations in Westmoreland access to the very best in community philanthropy while preserving local identity and decision-making,” he said. “We will help CFWC to strengthen its presence, providing valuable resources and expertise. There are many critical issues that are common to both organizations and this merger will create a significant regional focus for creating positive, sustainable and transformative impact for our broad community.”

The Pittsburgh Foundation last year completed a major new strategic plan strengthening its focus on community and the positive impact it strives to achieve through its grantmaking, donor engagement and its convening and leadership activities, in collaboration with funding and civic partners. The Foundation has also developed a number of key initiatives as part of its mission to offer ‘go-to’ resources for philanthropy in the region.

The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the oldest and 14th largest of more than 700 community foundations in the United States.

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For further information contact:
John Ellis
Vice President of Communications
The Pittsburgh Foundation
412-394-2647
ellisj@pghfdn.org