In The News

With Gravyty’s fundraiser enablement tools, powered by artificial intelligence, The Pittsburgh Foundation saw an opportunity to revolutionize how its donor services officers could meet donors. Read more about their choice to adopt AI.

Mayor Bill Peduto attended the United Nations Climate Summit as a representative of the nation’s mayors and met with New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio. This includes a key partnership with OnePGH, an initiative from the Mayor’s office started within the last few years. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), The University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University and the Pittsburgh Foundation, a local non-profit, have been considered leaders in regional sustainability projects.

Utopia or Oblivion, a new solo exhibition by local artist Kevin Clancy, is now on view at Bunker Projects and while light and color are main elements- the themes of the show are less than light and happy. Clancy is a recipient of an Investing in Professional Artists grant, a partnership of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.  

The Yung Mulatto Project launches at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on Sun., Oct. 13. With support from a grant from the Advancing Black Arts In Pittsburgh Program (a joint program between The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments), The Yung Mulatto project will promote "advocacy for mental health awareness in the Pittsburgh African American arts community with a collaborative art mural workshop and open discussion forum."

The Pittsburgh Foundation has announced that it is ramping up its convening power with respect to stakeholders, including thousands of donors who focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals in their giving.

A forum during the 74th United Nations General Assembly featured Ann E. Cudd, Pitt’s provost and senior vice chancellor, along with Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and other local leaders who highlighted regional accomplishments to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a more peaceful, prosperous planet with fair and inclusive societies. Provost Cudd and Mayor Peduto were joined by James Garrett, provost and chief academic officer of Carnegie Mellon University; David Finegold, president of Chatham University; and Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The Ford Foundation panel at the United National Climate Action Summit discussed about how Pittsburgh is advancing sustainable development goals. This story quotes panelist Lisa Schroeder: "We’re thrilled that community foundations such as ours, with their deep roots in the regions they serve and broad reach across interest groups, are being recognized as leaders in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level,” said Schroeder.

The “Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Symposium 2019: There is Black Art in the Future” was held Thursday and Friday at the new Museum Lab space on the North Side. The event was co-hosted by The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation and led by an advisory committee formed by Shaunda McDill and Celeste Smith, the arts and culture program officers at the foundations.

Homelessness is a complex issue that a variety of agencies, nonprofits and advocates have been working to address for decades, using a wide range of approaches that include prevention, rapid rehousing and a focus on each individual’s needs … “In a lot of ways, homelessness in particular is the final disaster in what is often a series of events and causes,” said Jeanne Pearlman, senior vice president for program and policy at the Pittsburgh Foundation, which has so far this year directed about $8 million toward initiatives directly or indirectly aimed at ending and preventing homelessness.

Despite that perceived uptick, city and county data show Downtown crime has remained steady for three years and is on pace to be lower in 2019 than 2018. Similarly, countywide point-in-time counts show homelessness has declined during the last three years, and the county’s street outreach teams are on track this year to serve either the same or slightly fewer people than in 2018.