Entrepreneurship
PLEASE NOTE: For 2026, applications in this area will be accepted by invitation-only. If you are not a current grantee but are interested in funding under our Economic Mobility/Entrepreneurship focus area, please complete this form. You will be contacted by a member of our team if your organization is invited to participate in an informational meeting and/or apply for support.
Business ownership is one pathway to build wealth more quickly than traditional employment, create jobs for others in the community and build assets that can be transferred within or passed down to a generation. Sole proprietorships whose owners are primarily self-employed often have difficulty in accessing lines of credit, working capital or venture capital. Utilizing e-commerce, crowd sourcing and social media reduces immediate need for capital, but those tools are not widely utilized.
Because this is an emergent area of work for our Foundation, we do not have additional eligibility criteria at this time. Our grantmaking in this area will be responsive for the next several years.
If you are interested in funding to support an effort to increase entrepreneurship, please complete this form:
Submit Interest Form
Application Deadlines
| Foundation-Directed Grants | Application Deadlines* |
|---|---|
| Spring grant cycle | Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 by 5 p.m. (for funding decision after May 13) |
| Fall grant cycle | Wednesday, July 15, 2026 by 5 p.m. (for funding decisions after Oct. 28) |
*Dates above apply to most grant programs. If dates differ, they will be listed on the program page. Dates may be subject to change. The Foundation may adjust the timing of grants in consideration for funding.
Grant Guidelines
How to Apply for Grants
More Grantmaking Supporting Economic Mobility
The Pittsburgh Foundation also offers the following funding opportunities to eligible applicants.
Access to Post-Secondary Education
Career Advancement
