Back to Basic Needs
Mental Health
We aim to support the mental and physical health needs of residents by ensuring access to quality, affordable and culturally responsive services.
See Past Grantees Since 2023

Each year, one in five Americans will experience a mental illness. Despite advances in treatment, there is evidence that adults and youth experience barriers to care. We aim to support the mental health needs of residents by ensuring access to quality, affordable and culturally responsive mental health services, and both formal and informal community supports.
Specifically, we are interested in programs that:
- Connect people with formal helping systems, such as community based mental health centers or credentialed providers.
- Connect residents with informal peer and/or volunteer-led mental health supports.
- Minimize the stigma associated with mental illness.
- Reduce the need for crisis services.
- Support social/emotional well-being by reducing isolation and fostering supportive connections with peers.
- Address the social, financial, logistical and systemic barriers that prevent individuals and families from accessing care and lead to inequitable quality-of-life outcomes.
Application Deadlines
Foundation-Directed Grants | Application Deadlines* |
---|---|
Spring grant cycle | Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 by 5 p.m. (for funding decision after May 9) |
Fall grant cycle | Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by 5 p.m. (for funding decisions after Oct. 29) |
*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
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.

Contact
Sarah Byrne-Houser
Program Officer, Healthy Children and Adults
byrnehousers@pghfdn.org 412-391-5155
More Grantmaking Supporting Basic Needs
The Pittsburgh Foundation also offers the following funding opportunities to eligible applicants.
Food Access
We seek to support programs and services that assist low-income individuals and families to obtain enough food.
Education
We strive to ensure access to high-quality in-class education as well as culturally-responsive, out-of-school time programs.
Physical Health
We aim to support the mental and physical health needs of residents by ensuring access to quality, affordable and culturally responsive services.
Housing
We seek to support or fill gaps in a county-wide eviction prevention system, and help support those living in transitional housing and/or facing unexpected loss of housing.