Eligibility Criteria

Prior to starting an application, we encourage you to review the Small and Mighty basic needs criteria, eligibility, funding priorities and frequently asked questions below.
Eligibility
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Organizations must be located within Allegheny County and deliver direct service basic needs programming as defined by the criteria below.
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Designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. If your organization does not have 501(c)(3) status, you may apply utilizing a fiscal sponsor. Learn about our fiscal sponsorship guidelines and if your fiscal sponsor meets our criteria.
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Operating budget must be less than $600,000.
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Organizations can apply for either Project/Program or General Operating Support.
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Project/Program Support: Funds are used to develop and/or implement a specific set of programmatic activities. These grants are usually time-bound and aimed at achieving specific goals and milestones.
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General Operating Support: Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its mission. This means that the grant award can be used to cover day-to-day activities or ongoing expenses such as administrative salaries, rent and office supplies, etc., as well as for program costs, software and hardware purchases, and professional development. Learn more about General Operating Support eligibility.
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Funding Priorities
We will prioritize funding for organizations that reflect one or more of the following:
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Are representative of the communities they serve.
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Intentionally serve Black, Indigenous, Latino and people of color communities.
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Address the intersection of race with other groups that experience marginalization (i.e., LGBTQIA, disability, women, age, immigration status, etc.).
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Have a mission and/or programs that seek to advance racial justice (Review our definition).
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Have an established history in the communities in which it works.
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Primarily serve communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.
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Have received limited philanthropic support to-date.
Small and Mighty Grants
The Small and Mighty Grants Program aims to help small, neighborhood-based nonprofits that work to better our region.
More than Money: Beyond Grantmaking
The Small and Mighty program is more than writing checks. Discover some of the resources and tools available for nonprofits.