Grant Eligibility and Priorities Current Grant Priorities The Foundation currently has three priorities for grantmaking. Health & Wellness Basic needs including food, housing, and transportation Physical, mental, behavioral, and environmental health Education, Workforce, & Economic Opportunity Early childhood/literacy Youth development Training Youth, adult, and community education Community Engagement & Policy Work Advocacy Civic engagement Organizing Grant Eligibility Criteria There are four criteria for initial eligibility for grant funding: The initiative aligns with at least one of the three priorities for grantmaking listed above. Community-based organizations must have a current IRS tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) status or have a relationship with a currently tax-exempt organization serving as the fiscal agent. An initiative must primarily serve the Jefferson service area south of Pittsburgh, PA, which encompasses 26 municipalities in the South Hills and lower Mon Valley in Allegheny County (see FAQs below). If applying for the Mon Valley Clean Air Fund, please ensure alignment with the communities listed on the Mon Valley Clean Air Fund page. The initiative does not compete with any activities of Jefferson Hospital or the Allegheny Health Network. Funding Categories Types of strategies the Foundation will consider funding that support increased health and well-being: New and innovative initiatives (includes pilot or planning grants) Ongoing initiatives General operating support for organizations operating within the Foundation’s service area Capacity-building funds (strategic planning, technical assistance) Capital funds (equipment, facilities) Note: This category is limited and requires extensive discussion with Foundation staff. It is generally reserved for grantees that have a direct and immediate community impact in the Foundation service area. Types of requests we will not fund: Organizations without a charitable, tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor Initiatives targeted outside of our geographic area Political campaigns or lobbying Religious organizations for religious purposes Medical research Individuals (also individual scholarships or fellowships) Routine fundraising events Endowment funds FAQs from Grant Seekers When can I apply for a grant? Jefferson Regional Foundation encourages and accepts Letters of Intent online at any time during the year. The staff will work with the applicant organization to determine whether the request is appropriate or ready to be developed into a full proposal that might be considered in one of three grant cycles a year. What size grants will the Foundation fund, and for what period of time? JRF grants will vary in size depending on the scope of your request and other resources that you plan to use. Grant awards to date range from $1,000 to $1,000,000 (for 4 years). The Foundation’s average grant size is $60,000. The strongest requests demonstrate the ability to uplift community voice and meet community needs identified by residents. Most grants will be for 1-year projects; however, the Foundation will consider multi-year projects. What is the Jefferson Service Area? The communities served are Baldwin, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Clairton, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Forward, Glassport, Homestead, Jefferson Hills, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, Munhall, Pleasant Hills, Port Vue, South Park, South Versailles, Versailles, West Elizabeth, West Homestead, West Mifflin, Whitaker, and Whitehall. Learn more about these communities on our Community Snapshots page. The Mon Valley Clean Air Fund has a unique service area that differs somewhat from the list above – learn more here. The service area of the Jefferson Regional Foundation
