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Youth Justice

We are interested in supporting intervention and prevention activities that support youth who have any involvement with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
See Past Grantees Since 2023
Richard Carrington Sr. (pictured in back of group, wearing dark gray jacket) leads Voices Against Violence, an organization whose mission is to proactively reduce interpersonal conflict among South Pittsburgh youth ages 4 to 24 through activities focused on prevention and diversion.
Richard Carrington Sr. (pictured in back of group, wearing dark gray jacket) leads Voices Against Violence, an organization whose mission is to proactively reduce interpersonal conflict among South Pittsburgh youth ages 4 to 24 through activities focused on prevention and diversion.

Young adults who are involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems are disproportionately low-income, Black and Brown, having a disability and/or unmet mental health needs. In Allegheny County, Black youth are six times more likely to be detained than their white counterparts, and Black girls are 10 times as likely than white girls to be referred to the juvenile justice system. Prevention, early intervention and pre-arrest diversion approaches must be adopted to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. 

The priorities for our youth justice grantmaking are the result of local community-guided research and the Foundation’s on-going collaboration with community, nonprofit leaders and Allegheny County providers that serve youth impacted by the justice system. Specifically, we are interested in supporting intervention and prevention activities that:

  • Support youth who have any involvement with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
  • Prevent and address disproportionate system-involvement of Black and Brown youth.
  • Support prevention and pre-arrest diversion initiatives.
  • Improve staff knowledge and skill related to best practices in intersectionality, trauma, conflict resolution and mediation skills.
  • Address a youth justice issue of emergent priority that prevents youth involvement with the criminal justice system.

Application Deadlines

Grant CycleApplication Deadlines
Spring grant cycleFeb. 26, 2024 by 5 p.m.
(for funding decision by June 6.)
Fall grant cycleJuly 11, 2024 by 5 p.m.
(for funding decision by Oct 30.)

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.
Michael Yonas, Vice President for Community Partnerships and Learning
Contact

Michael Yonas, DrPH

Vice President for Community Partnerships and Learning
412-394-2612

More Grantmaking Supporting Equity and Social Justice

The Pittsburgh Foundation also offers the following funding opportunities to eligible applicants.

Voter Engagement

We seek to support the ability of the nonprofit sector to engage historically underrepresented populations and communities that have documented low voter turnout.

Access to Information

We seek to support public media outlets and other platforms that produce professional, regionally focused, fact-based news coverage and information, especially those covering low-income and Black, Indignous and people of color (BIPOC) communities.

Protect Basic Needs

We seek to support grassroots organizations and resident-informed initiatives that utilize advocacy, community organizing, and other systems change strategies to address the barriers that prevent families from being able to meet their basic needs and thrive.

End Mass Incarceration

We seek to uplift and provide resources for community-led efforts to change policies and practices that result in over-incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal legal system.