About Opportunity Fund

THE ARTS, AND SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Mission Statement

Opportunity Fund awards grants to small to midsize arts organizations, and  organizations and initiatives that advance social and economic justice.

At least 75% of our grants are awarded to projects that benefit the Greater Pittsburgh community.

Learn more about our Guiding Values here.

Funding Areas

Arts

  • Performing Arts, with an emphasis on theatre, dance and music, especially classical chamber music and jazz, presented by small and mid-sized arts organizations
  • Visual Arts, with an emphasis on craft and small to mid-sized organizations

Social & Economic Justice

with a focus on Racial Justice

  • Black-Led Movement Work
  • Civil Liberties
  • Civil Rights, with special interest in Black and LGBTQ+ people, and other groups impacted by social injustice
  • Human Rights
  • Reproductive Freedom
  • Safety Net Resources for people in need, including social services, economic independence, housing, tangible aid, transportation, healthcare
Arts Grants - $6,328,849 out of $15,239,679 42%
Social and Economic Justice Grants - $8,910,830 out of $15,239,679 58%
Portion of grants benefitting Pittsburgh initiatives - $14,029,879 out of $15,239,679 92

Information on applying for grants

For Applicants

Online Application

Opportunity Fund uses an online application for all steps of the grant making process. We do not accept mailed letters or paper applications. Applicants can submit a short video (2-3 minutes) for the “narrative” portion of the LOI.

Deadlines

Opportunity Fund’s Board meets to review Full Applications twice a year.

Cycle 1: LOI (preliminary application) is due by January 16, 2024.
If invited, a Full Application is due on March 7 for award notification in May.

Cycle 2: LOI is due by July 15, 2024.
If invited, a Full Application is due September 6 for award notification in November.

Please see our FAQs page for more information about who and what we fund, fiscal sponsorship, and additional details for applicants.

Applicant Support

Watch an on-demand video info session (22 min)

View info session slides

Two-Step Process

We have a two-step application process. Use our online grant system to complete both steps. First, submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). An LOI, in this case, is basically a short application. Second, if approved, you will be invited to submit a longer Full Application.

Preliminary Application: Letter of Inquiry

Please visit the online application to create a user account or to return to an already-existing account where you can access the LOI form. If you are a previous grantee and have not yet completed your final report, there is a short section in the LOI to share your results and lessons learned. Once your LOI has been submitted, you will be notified of the timeline for next steps of your application. Applicants are urged to submit their LOI early. This tutorial provides step-by-step guidance on using the online application.
(Download a PDF of LOI Questions or a Word doc of LOI Questions including all the questions in the online form.)

Full Application

You will receive a notification email from the Opportunity Fund to inform you if your project is invited to submit a Full Application at least one month before the deadline. You will also be able to log in and track the status of your application via your online account. (Download a Word doc of Full Application Questions including all the questions in the online application form.)

Grants
Jeremiah’s Place

Jeremiah’s Place

View Organization
Kinetic Theatre Company

Kinetic Theatre Company

View Organization
Center for Civic Arts

Center for Civic Arts

View Organization
National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh

National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh

View Organization
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh

View Organization
Off the Wall for Hiawatha Project

Off the Wall for Hiawatha Project

View Organization
ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania

ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania

View Organization
New Sun Rising for City of Play 

New Sun Rising for City of Play 

View Organization
Lown Institute for Right Care Pittsburgh

Lown Institute for Right Care Pittsburgh

View Organization
History

The Opportunity Fund was established upon the death of Gerri Kay to continue her life’s work. An advocate for civil rights, social justice and the arts, Gerri lived her life extending herself and opportunities to others. She lived her convictions with stunning purity.

Friends described her as “the most fierce, persistent and focused proponent of civil rights and racial justice I have ever met,” “essential to the flourishing of the arts in Pittsburgh, and “exceptionally passionate about supporting young or new artists.” “The depth and breadth of her knowledge was formidable.”

To learn more about Gerri’s life and career, click here.

The Opportunity Fund’s seemingly broad focus is simply a reflection of what Gerri cared about. We seek grantees who champion the liberties and rights of our communities’ diverse citizens, treasure the arts and support the lives of artists, pursue social and economic justice, and proactively provide safety net resources for those in need. They provide people the opportunity to live up to their fullest potential and who, in turn, offer their unique gifts to contribute to society’s constant betterment.

We, in turn, offer our partners the opportunity to take risks to more fully achieve their mission.

Opportunity Fund Team

Jake Goodman

Jake Goodman

View Bio
Tiffany “Ti” Wilhelm

Tiffany “Ti” Wilhelm

View Bio
yvette shipman

yvette shipman

View Bio

Dana Bishop-Root

Board Member

Idy Goodman

Board Chair

Jake Goodman

Board Member

Medina Jackson

Board Member

Marge Petruska

Board Member

Michael Tikili

Board Member

Alisha Wormsley

Board Member

Stuart Fisk

Advisory Board Member

Please contact us for more info on the Opportunity Fund and our activities.

Contact Us

Opportunity Fund

5126 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA  15224

(412) 362-1300

Opportunity Fund is based in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh

What does trust mean to us? Click to find out in our new Process Book, a fresh take on the annual report.

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