The William C. Comptaro Fund was established with a charitable gift from William C. Comptaro, who died in 1997 at the age of 60. He left his life savings to The Pittsburgh Foundation to create two funds. The William C. Comptaro Fund was to be “devoted to the support of the provision of housing for the poor, including repair or maintenance of housing units owned by the poor, or to assist the poor in being able to own a home, or to assist organizations which provide a home for the poor.” The fund has made grants around the Pittsburgh region to organizations such as the Mon Valley Initiative, the North Hills Affordable Housing Task Force Inc. and NeighborWorks.
Comptaro also created a second fund that awards scholarships to students who work.