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Career Advancement

We are interested in supporting organizations that offer technology training with career potential. 
See Past Grantees Since 2023
Army veteran Terrance Cook works in the crating department at TAKTL in Turtle Creek. When Terrance needed a second job to support his family, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans located a nearby employer and made the connection.
Army veteran Terrance Cook works in the crating department at TAKTL in Turtle Creek. When Terrance needed a second job to support his family, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans located a nearby employer and made the connection.

A 2018 report by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development predicted a potential worker shortfall of 80,000 by 2025 due to retirements and slow job creation. These projections intensify the need to focus on systemic changes in career preparation in the K-12 educational system, and to target training opportunities to incumbent and  Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) workers who have persistently lower median yearly earnings and higher levels of unemployment. Technology is reshaping virtually every occupation at a rapid rate, changing the skills students must have and driving the need for continuous upskilling of incumbent workers. Additionally, all workers will need to increase their digital fluency and acquire "soft" skills such as communications, problem-solving and customer service.

We are specifically interested in activities that:

  • Offer entry-level and advanced technology training with career potential for women and BIPOC individuals.
  • Support partnerships where employers have helped develop training curriculum and industry recognized credentials, are invested in and committed to training and hiring diverse talent for a variety of occupations, and provide career advancement support and opportunity.    
  • Support collaboration between the public workforce system, industry partners and school districts to update and implement state mandated K-12 career readiness standards and curriculum.

Application Deadlines

GRANT CYCLEAPPLICATION DEADLINE
Spring grant cycleFeb. 3, 2025 by 5 p.m.
(for funding decision by May 9.)
Fall grant cycleTBD

Grant Guidelines

See eligibility criteria, our funding priorities, grant types, duration and award amount ranges.

How to Apply for Grants

Learn how to apply for funding through the Foundation's online grant application portal.
Joshua Devine
Contact

Joshua Devine

Economic Mobility Officer

More Grantmaking Supporting Economic Mobility

The Pittsburgh Foundation also offers the following funding opportunities to eligible applicants.

Access to Post-Secondary Education

We seek to support programs that enable students to earn college credit while in high school; admissions navigation support and academic and financial counseling; re-engagement strategies for students who have stopped attending school; and supports for non-traditional students.

Entrepreneurship

We are interested in efforts to increase Black entrepreneurship.

Homeownership

In 2025, applications for the Homeownership focus area will be by invitation only. We are specifically interested in funding programs that include personalized financial and home purchasing education; advocacy for mortgage assistance initiatives for Black women; and other programs that include collective ownership options.