CONTACT: Jake Goodman, Executive Director, jgoodman [at] theopportunityfund.org
PITTSBURGH, PA, December 13, 2021 — The Opportunity Fund announces support totaling $1,478,750, the largest cycle ever in its seventh year of grantmaking. The Board of Directors, along with two community panels, funded 81 out of 142 requests that were seeking a total of $2,516,525. A complete list of awarded grants can be found below.
Including this current grant cycle, the foundation has awarded 752 grants totaling over $10.3 million since its inception in 2015. Grant cycles take place twice a year. Letter of Inquiry deadlines are January 15 and July 15 each year. Full information about applying for grants is available in the “For Applicants” area of our website.
Grant Partner List:
1Hood Media ($22,500) to support the Alliance for Police Accountability and other partners in the Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety. The Coalition works to implement a community-led approach to public safety by creating models of intervention and prevention to reduce incarceration and police contacts in Black and Brown communities throughout Allegheny County.
Abolitionist Law Center ($15,000) to support the Prisoner Justice & Whistleblower Support Campaign (PJWSC). PJWSC assists and supports prisoners in solitary confinement and those who are experiencing human rights violations during incarceration, while expanding the organizing base in Pittsburgh and southwest PA. PJWSC also supports and protects jailhouse lawyers and prisoner whistle-blowers while they expose and litigate to make change inside the prisons.
ACTION-Housing, Inc. ($15,000), acting as fiscal sponsor to support the work of the Strength in Numbers Project (SIN) with emergency funding to staff front-line workers with lived experiences of homelessness for the McKeesport Downtown Housing’s Low-Barrier Year-Round Shelter. SIN also provides service navigation and advocacy using a person-first approach which prioritizes a person’s own choice of next steps.
ACTION-Housing, Inc. ($15,000), acting as fiscal sponsor to support the work of RentHelpPGH in stabilizing households and preventing evictions in Allegheny County by providing flexible funding to bolster regular operations and technology costs. RentHelpPGH supports vulnerable residents by providing enhanced resource navigation services from a Help Desk, community based organization partners, and independent resource navigators.
Alia Musica Pittsburgh ($20,000 over 2 years) to support Afro Yaqui Music Collective, including the development of a pan-African jazz opera and an animated anti-racist graphic novel, and advancing the radical pedagogical practice of the Afro Yaqui. Afro Yaqui Music Collective is a postcolonial big band committed to a decolonized music and theater practice.
Alumni Theater Company (ATC) ($15,000) to support general operations and ATC’s Season 14 programming. ATC creates bold theatrical work that gives fresh voice to the experience of young Black artists and highlight their rich contribution to our community.
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) ($15,000) to support global human rights work, including research, mobilization, and advocacy. AIUSA is a membership-based movement and grassroots organization demanding human rights for every person, tackling the most pressing challenges to human rights across the world.
Assemble ($5,000) to support general operations, including the support of artists in their Unblurred Gallery Program and Saturday Crafternoons that provide engaging creative experiences connecting artists with youth. Assemble envisions diverse neighborhoods of empowered people who create, connect, learn, and transform together.
Autism Urban Connections Inc. (AUC) ($15,000) to support general operations and new programming that supports African American members in the Autism and disability community to gain knowledge and skills around self-defense and safety. AUC provides supports, education, advocacy, and empowerment, with an emphasis on self-care to families of those with Autism, with priority placed in the African American, minority, and economically disadvantaged communities.
Awaken Pittsburgh ($15,000) to support general operations. Awaken Pittsburgh brings mindfulness-based social and emotional regulation skills and practices to individuals and communities that would not otherwise have affordable or accommodating access.
Axiom Advancement Corporation ($35,000 over two years) to support general operations to help cultivate additional strategic community partnerships and develop long-term stability. Axiom provides financial services to small businesses that need access to capital from a non-traditional source.
Bard College – Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities ($10,000) to support the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Audiobook of curated stories gathered about the October 27th, 2018 synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Thirty-six stories that share the voices of a diverse group of Pittsburghers will address antisemitism, racism, healing, allyship, bridge-building, and related themes in the context of life stories.
Bethany Church of God in Christ ($5,000) to support structural repairs for the church building in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. The repairs will enable Bethany Church’s continued work to provide clothing, food, and other resources for community members who need assistance.
Beverly’s Birthdays ($8,500) to support the Beverly’s Babies program. Through baby showers, pop-up distribution days, newborn care packages, and an infant care resource bank, Beverly’s Babies supports new parents and their babies at one of the most critical developmental stages.
Brew House Association ($10,000) to support general operations, including artistic development programs that provide space and mentorship to regional emerging artists and curators, Brew House exhibition programming, and the Creativity Cluster at the Brew House. The Brew House Association provides creative space and support for people to connect and expand their relationship with the arts.
CASA of Allegheny County ($5,000) to support general operations. CASA ensures that every child has a safe, supportive, and permanent home by providing skilled, culturally responsive volunteer advocacy for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the child welfare system.
Center for Community Stewardship ($15,000) to support general operations of the Tiyuv Initiative which serves the Jewish community engaged in racial justice and equity work in Milwaukee and nationally. The Tiyuv Initiative is an effort to establish a model and a hub for Jews of Color-led, culturally responsive evaluation of Jewish community racial justice programs.
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) ($7,500) to support its program in Pittsburgh. CEO provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. It also works with local employers to create pathways for justice-impacted job seekers to achieve social and economic mobility.
Chamber Music Pittsburgh ($30,000 over two years) to support the MainStage concert series at Carnegie Music Hall. The series features a wide range of chamber ensembles of the highest caliber, exposing the Pittsburgh community to superb performances.
City Theatre Company ($12,500) to support general operations of Pittsburgh’s home for contemporary plays, in its 47th season of new works. City Theatre will produce six plays and feature collaborations with local and national theater companies, community partners, and first-time and returning artists.
Community Foundation of the Alleghenies ($15,000) to support the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) in implementing the region’s first food action plan through a collective impact model. PFPC builds a food system that benefits our communities, economy, and environment in ways that are just, equitable and sustainable. PFPC seeks policies that promote local food growing, sustainable agriculture, equitable development, and access to healthy food, particularly in low-income communities.
CORNINGWORKS ($45,000 over three years) to support general operations. Each year, funds will support the creation and presentation of three original full evening length productions.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Inc. (CERF+) ($10,000) to support craft artists and help them safeguard their studios, protect their careers, and prepare for and recover from emergencies. CERF+ serves artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers.
Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) ($15,000 over 3 years) to support MSF teams across the globe in providing essential health care, running hospitals and clinics, performing surgery, battling epidemics, carrying out vaccination campaigns, operating feeding centers for malnourished children, responding to COVID-19, and offering mental health care.
Dreams of Hope ($10,000) to support general operations. Through the power of the arts, Dreams of Hope provides the region’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, and allied (LGBTQA+) youth a welcoming environment to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders.
Eden’s Farm ($30,000 over 2 years) to support general operations, including capacity building and programmatic expenses. Eden’s Farm exists to provide a safe place, trauma-informed holistic care, education and outreach, and resources to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
FashionAFRICANA ($15,000) to support the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project (BNTOP). BNTOP is a platform for underserved public school students in the Pittsburgh region to gain access to theatre arts and work with seasoned professionals within the field. BNTOP annually hosts the August Wilson Monologue Competition for high school students, the winners of which advance to the national competition in New York City.
Grounded Strategies ($5,000) to support general operations. Grounded works to increase vacant land ownership rates amongst residents living in lower-income communities of color in Allegheny County to ultimately improve the social, economic, and environmental health of communities by building capacity to reclaim vacant and underutilized land.
Hill Community Development Corporation ($15,000) to support the second year of the Nafasi on Centre Artists-in Residence Program. Nafasi provides space where artists can grow creatively and develop skills as business professionals to turn their passions into viable careers.
Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) ($45,000 over 3 years) to support general operations. HDAT provides professional level training in Black Dance traditions, history, culture, and aesthetics that engages and empowers students to pursue careers in Black dance.
Hill District Consensus Group ($15,000) to support the launch of the Black Power Artist Union of Western PA, which aims to increase the tangible power of Black artists and cultural workers to determine wages and visibility. This grant provides resources for the Black Power Artists Union to scale and frame their work.
Hill District Consensus Group ($7,500) to support Penn Plaza Support & Action Coalition (PPSA), which works to support the efforts to halt displacement and create and implement a “right to return” for all displaced Pittsburghers, especially Black Pittsburghers. PPSA is committed to change the way that housing is developed for low-to-moderate-income residents of our region.
Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation ($10,000) to support TransYOUniting’s work with the at-risk trans and wider LGBTQ community of Pittsburgh. TransYOUniting provides essential housing, health access, mentorship, mutual aid, and food distribution services, and is working to create safer and more accessible networks of support for trans folks, focusing on Black trans women.
Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation ($40,000 over two years) to support the capacity and general operations of True T PGH, which celebrates queer people of color through creative art, community health, and social activism.
Jeremiah’s Place ($10,000) to support general operations of the 24-hour crisis nursery. Jeremiah’s Place protects children and strengthens families by providing a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children when their families are experiencing a critical need for childcare.
Jewish Assistance Fund ($30,000 over 3 years) to support general operations so the Jewish Assistance Fund can provide financial assistance, without repayment, to the Western Pennsylvania Jewish community for emergency and pressing expenses.
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh ($45,000 over three years) to support the health and human service needs of thousands of low-income families, vulnerable individuals, and seniors across the region through two specific programs: AgeWell Pittsburgh and the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry.
Kente Arts Alliance ($15,000) to support the implementation of a leadership transition strategy to insure growth and sustainability. Kente Arts Alliance is an African American arts organization whose mission is to present high-quality art of the African Diaspora.
Latino Community Center ($45,000 over three years) to support general operations that will allow Latino Community Center to enhance and expand critical family and educational supportive services for Latinos in Allegheny County.
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)($8,000) to support El Fondo Solidario de Pittsburgh (in English, the Solidarity Fund of Pittsburgh), a fund for bail bond loans to families with loved ones detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). El Fondo will also assist immigrant workers enforcing work-place protections such as workers’ compensation due to work-related injury.
Let’s Get Free: The Women and Trans Prisoner Defense Committee ($30,000 over 2 years) to support general operations including work to end perpetual punishment with a focus on Death by Incarceration (DBI), build pathways out of the prisons back to communities through commutation reform, support possibilities for people formerly and currently incarcerated, and shift to a culture of transformative justice. Let’s Get Free’s work is guided by people in prison and prioritizes working with women and trans prisoners.
Macedonia FACE ($10,000) to support general operations. Macedonia FACE’s adult engagement programs address economic and food insecurity needs of seniors and adults, individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, and individuals who are transitioning from incarceration to community. Family engagement programs include early literacy, school attendance and success, strengthening family relationships, and housing support.
Mon Valley Initiative ($10,000) to support the Workforce Development & Financial Coaching Program which seeks to increase the income levels and economic independence of local residents by delivering effective career development services, income supports and financial coaching, targeted to the unemployed and under-employed in the Mon Valley region.
Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs ($9,750) to support general operations and to assist a primarily Latino population by coordinating services for healthcare, school enrollment, housing, employment, food access, interpreting and translating documents for non-English speakers, and navigating service delivery from partner and other organizations.
Mwanakuche Farm ($10,000) to support general operations for programs and services that include an organic vegetable farm, language translation and interpretation, community based events, career placement training, women’s empowerment programs, a youth cultural seminar, and a community garden project. Mwanakuche Farm offers reliable, healthy, culturally-appropriate foods and land-based educational experiences to the Somali Bantu community in Western PA.
NAT 28 ($7,500) to support the Pittsburgh Composers’ Project, a concert program highlighting the music of both established and emerging composers from the Pittsburgh region. NAT 28 strives to champion the works that will shape the next phase of musical and artistic evolution.
Neighborhood Allies ($30,000 over 2 years) to support general operations of Steel Smiling as they undergo a capacity building effort to scale to an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Steel Smiling is a community-based mental health entity creating access to culturally-specific resources through trainings, education, advocacy, referrals, and support for Southwestern PA’s Black community so that they can explore equitable pathways to individual healing and careers in the mental health field.
New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts ($20,000) to support general operations as the New Hazlett provides a safe, accessible, and affordable mid-size venue for Pittsburgh’s performing arts community and audiences. The New Hazlett provides a nurturing, collaborative environment for artists, leveraging people, space and technology to create and present challenging and dynamic art.
New Horizon Theater ($15,000) to support general operations and the 30th Anniversary 2021/2022 Season with five live stage performances. New Horizon Theater brings consistent, high-quality cultural events, reflecting the African-American points of view, and provides an ongoing venue for ethnic writers and performers to further their professional development.
New Sun Rising ($5,000) to support Tabitha’s Daughters as they bring health equity and health justice to the women of Pittsburgh, and in particular to impact the lives of African-American women throughout the city of Pittsburgh.
New Sun Rising ($7,500) to support Pittonkatonk, a unique musical festival, free and open to all, that connects the dots between community, organizers, and euphoric musical experiences. Pittonkatonk features Balkan Brass, Cumbia, Hip-Hop, Big Band, community music making, youth performance opportunities, and more in a celebration that bridges cultural divides and creates space that is inclusive, both culturally and economically.
Off the Wall Productions ($15,000) to support general operations and the production of shows written, directed, designed and performed by marginalized voices in the theater industry, including women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with disabilities, both visible and invisible. Off the Wall strives to create challenging and thought-provoking theater to encourage critical thinking and community discourse.
PearlArts Studios ($60,000 over 3 years) to support general operations for this dance-focused arts organization that also provides music and media arts programming. PearlArts offers artistic experiences through creative residencies, innovative collaborations, and a broad range of dance and sound education and outreach opportunities.
Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition ($15,000) to support Driving PA Forward, a broad immigrant-led coalition of organizations and community leaders across the state seeking systemic and transformative change with a goal enabling access to a standard driver’s license with strict privacy and data protections for all PA regardless of immigration status.
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) ($10,000) to support general operations including additional therapists, advocates and other essential staff due to the large increase in service demand. PAAR works to respond, educate, and advocate to end sexual violence.
Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc. (PCSI) ($15,000) to support additional capacity to lead a regional effort to support reentrants through legal pardons and to create opportunities for this population to secure fulfilling, sustainable work. PCSI reduces the impact of poverty in Pittsburgh through direct service, advocacy, mobilization of resources, sustainable economic empowerment, and effective institutional change.
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company (PPTCO) ($60,000 over three years) to support general operations including a season of plays, the Ground Up Theatre training program, and educational programming. PPTCO is rooted in the African American community, produces the works of local racially and culturally diverse playwrights, provides a nurturing environment for all who work on and off the stage, and builds a culturally diverse audience.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid (PRWA)($7,500) to support general operations of the PRWA Distribution Center, including rent, utilities, insurance and permitting, outreach, and the purchase of goods not acquired by in-kind donations. PRWA provides resources and community support to restaurant and hospitality workers who are struggling to maintain financial, housing, food, and healthcare security.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) ($60,000 over 3 years) to support general operations and advocacy for affordable, equitable, and expanded public transit. PPT is a grassroots, member-driven organization of transit riders and operators advocating for an accessible, affordable and sustainable mass transit in Allegheny County. PPT operates from the belief that transit and mobility is a human right, and is guided by a Transit Bill of Rights.
POORLAW ($15,000) to support general operations and administrative staff working to enforce programs and policies that address racial and ethnic disparities and build diversity, equity, and inclusion regarding social and economic development in the Greater Hazelwood community. POORLAW encourages community, leadership, ownership, friendship, an invested interest in Greater Hazelwood‘s growth into a thriving, safe, and enjoyable place to live and raise families.
Prevention Point Pittsburgh (PPP) ($15,000) to support the operation of PPP’s weekly harm reduction service locations by purchasing the materials that are distributed to facilitate safer substance use. PPP promotes and advocates for the reduction of harms associated with injection and other forms of drug use, and to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, other blood borne infections, and overdose.
Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE) ($15,000) to support operating expenses which undergird programming including: Intensive Services Program, Strategic Action Planning Program, Executive Coaching, Inclusive Voices, Education and Advocacy, and Information and Referral. PACE advances a more equitable community by increasing the capacity of individuals, groups, and organizations that challenge injustice.
Quantum Theatre ($50,000 over 2 years) to support the Artistic Legacy Fund. The Fund is a board-designated reserve, free from the inflexible regulations of an endowment but meant to grow principal with thoughtful investment and for use of up to 5% annually for ambitious artistic projects. Quantum Theatre is a company of progressive, professional artists dedicated to producing intimate and sophisticated theatrical experiences in uncommon settings, exploring universal themes of truth, beauty, and human relationships in unexpected ways.
RealTimeInterventions ($5,000) to support general operations of this community-fueled, performance-based arts company that creates theatrical experiences and public events that celebrate real stories of real people and real places. RealTime seeks to generate connection, curiosity and wonder, and help audiences see the world around them in new and unexpected ways.
Reimagine Reentry, Inc. ($15,000) to support operating activities, including support for training programs and addressing any barriers that arise for returning citizens. Reimagine Reentry works to reduce recidivism in Allegheny County by providing opportunities, reducing barriers, and supporting formerly incarcerated people in a holistic way. Their work has four main service areas: cooperative, intensive reentry coaching; job skill training; family reunification education; and, housing assistance planning.
Serenity Living Transitional Home (SLTH) ($25,000) to support renovations of a new building in order to expand SLTH’s housing program for homeless people identifying as women. SLTH educates, equips, and inspires at-risk youth and young adults with the tools to overcome life’s obstacles to success.
Shared Interest ($30,000 over three years) to support general operations and the organization’s continued contribution to Southern Africa’s recovery from the economic devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, through the provision of loan guarantees to Black-owned small businesses and cooperatives. Shared Interest mobilizes the resources for Southern Africa’s economically disenfranchised communities to sustain themselves and build equitable nations.
Silver Eye Center for Photography ($10,000) to support the exhibitions program including artist fees, travel, and exhibition production. Silver Eye promotes the power of contemporary photography as a fine art medium by creating original exhibitions, unique educational programing, and a space for artists to learn, create, and connect through a digital lab. The programs are dedicated to supporting the work of emerging, mid-career, and under-recognized artists and sharing that work with diverse audiences in engaging and meaningful ways.
sisTers PGH ($40,000 over 2 years) to support general operations and long-term sustainability, focused on two major areas: sustainable staffing and capacity building. SisTers PGH is a trans-led organization that provides supportive services, shelter, and housing for trans and nonbinary people, with a particular focus on Black Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities of Pittsburgh. SisTers PGH also offers outreach, trans-inclusion training, advocacy, and People’s Pride.
Social Good Fund ($10,000), acting as fiscal sponsor to support the work of the Pittsburgh cohort of PeoplesHub’s Access and Disability for Movement Organizations. PeoplesHub intends to support organizations to implement accessible frameworks and integrate an analysis of ableism into their work to ensure disabled people aren’t excluded from movements, and that social and racial justice campaigns in Pittsburgh include the needs of disabled people.
Take Action Mon Valley (TAMV) ($15,000) to support general operations. TAMV’s programming is designed to promote social change as well as Black liberation in smaller communities and advocate for social justice issues. TAMV works to combat ALL forms of community violence through activism and organizing.
Texture Contemporary Ballet ($10,000) to support general operations and three main stage dance shows, one choreography project, and two school performances. Texture inspires an appreciation of dance through dynamic and captivating performances, creative choreography, shared passion, and exceptional dance training.
The Allignment Chapter Corporation ($7,500) to support general operations and programs that help mothers with emergency items and financial literacy. The Allignment Chapter was created to provide same-day emergency support to low income mothers in need.
The Pittsburgh Contingency ($15,000) to support The Wellness Collective’s general operations and staffing costs so that the organization can continue to bring neighbors together to restore and maintain communities’ power and interdependence. The Wellness Collective reimagines what is possible when society places its people at the center.
The Pittsburgh Contingency ($7,500) to support Ifetayo Artwear Healing Through Beading Circles in hosting four beading circles for 60 women of African descent in which each woman makes one waistbead. The beading circles will be spaces where women engage in the transformative work of centering their voices through guided and intentional discussions about the power of being Black and female while engaging in the healing and meditative practice of beading.
Touchstone Center for Crafts ($12,500) to support general operations through the 50th Anniversary Campaign that will target operations, programming, and capital needs. Touchstone advances excellence in the arts and crafts by educating and encouraging individuals to develop technical skills, good design, and innovative expression.
Unique Projects, Inc. ($10,000) to support slowdanger’s research and development phase of a new multidisciplinary evening-length performance work, SUPERCELL, that explores the anthropological connections of climate change and systemic oppression. slowdanger is a project based multi-disciplinary performance entity creating works at the intersection of movement, sound, and technology.
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) ($15,000) to support UAEM’s efforts to mobilize Black and brown young leaders to join and lead the access to medicines movement, equipping them with skills and resources to demand equitable access to essential medicines during COVID-19 and beyond. UAEM is a global movement of university students organizing on their campuses and beyond to ensure that publicly funded medicines and medical innovations, especially those that address neglected health needs, are affordable and accessible to the people who need them.
West End POWER ($12,500) to support the Level Up Program, an educational community civic series specifically for men, women, and families with people who are formerly and currently incarcerated/caught up in the criminal injustice system. The program seeks to educate people of the power of the civic rights, including providing voting information to every person who is in the Allegheny County Jail.
When She Thrives ($10,000) to support the expansion of S.O.A.R. [Successfully Overcoming Adversity with Resilience program]. SOAR takes a multigenerational approach to helping single mothers and their children understand the intersection of social justice and self-care. Participants learn to advocate for themselves at home, in school, the community and society at large and causes effecting single moms
Za’kiyah House Housing ($15,000) to support general operations including hiring and paying staff, thereby expanding the organization’s level of services for residents and education, support and outreach programs. Za’kiyah House provides support services to persons experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, and re-entry in Pittsburgh.
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