b'THE PITTSBURGHREPORT TO THE FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY Back in 1942, a life-long Clevelander, Aims Coney, came to his senses and moved to Pittsburgh to take a job asvice president of the Union Trust Co. Edith L. Shapira, M.D.He brought with him a lot of experienceChair, Board of Directorsin business and civic service, and he realized that Pittsburgh was missing out on one of Clevelands greatest inventionsa new type of organization known as a community foundation.Lisa Schroeder,President and CEOThe very idea of it was radical at the time. The concern among some groups that the foundation common understanding of philanthropywould serve the financial sector more than the then had it as an exclusive club for the ultra-community good. wealthymostly white menwhose founda- Mr. Coney had an answer for that: Whether tions carried their iconic family names. Most[the community foundation] functions only of them doled out grants according to whatas a charitable adjunct to banksor grows to they thought best for the community. Whatdo philanthropy of benefit to the community, Mr. Coney was proposing for Pittsburgh waswill depend on the character and ability of the a different cluba community movement,person who leads it.reallyopen to residents from a range ofSeven decades and nearly five years later, income levels and backgrounds.we present this report to the community as People of relatively modest means couldcontinuing testament to Mr. Coneys words. become philanthropists and give based onStrong and caring leaders on the Board and on first-hand knowledge of problems and oppor- staff, have guided The Pittsburgh Foundation to tunities in their communities.deliver on its philanthropic mission while also Mr. Coneys proposal was popular. Justsignificantly growing its asset base.three years after his arrival, The PittsburghToday, as the 14th largest community Foundation was established. But accordingfoundation in the country, we are by design, a to news accounts of the movement, there wasbig tent, under which people from a range of 1'