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OPPORTUNITY FUND PROVIDES $1,112,500 IN GRANTS TO THE ARTS AND SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

OPPORTUNITY FUND PROVIDES $1,112,500 IN GRANTS TO THE ARTS AND SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

CONTACT: Jake Goodman, Executive Director, jgoodman [at] theopportunityfund.org

PITTSBURGH, PA, June 8, 2021 — The Opportunity Fund announces support totaling $1,112,500 in its seventh year of grantmaking. The increased amount awarded is a result of the Board of Directors’ decision to release funds at rate of 6% of its net assets annually, rather than the minimum of 5% that private foundations are required to payout.

The Board, along with two community panels, funded 70 out of 114 requests that were seeking a total of $1,807,926. A complete list of awarded grants can be found below.

Including this current grant cycle, the foundation has awarded 667 grants totaling over $8.7 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.

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We Are Letting This Moment Change Us

Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, ED of the Highlander Center often says, "Fund us like you want us to win."

To Our Community,

The thing about a moment is that it comes and goes. We have seen moments when the hope of racial justice seemed within reach and, every time, we have seen them go.

We are now in a precious moment of potential. The racism, white supremacy, and anti-Blackness that is baked and caked in/onto American life—and that results in an ever-evolving but systemic devaluation of Black life, meant to protect and grow the standing of white people—is, for growing masses of us, exposed. And vulnerable.

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Honoring Our Commitments to You

Honoring Our Commitments to You

To Our Community,

Just as we were beginning to get a sense of how profoundly COVID-19 would disrupt our lives, we wrote to you. We said, “This is a time for foundations to listen, to remove barriers, to increase support, and to act quickly.” We said we were accountable to you. We made commitments to you.

A month has passed. What have we done to honor our commitments?

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2020 COVID-19 RESPONSE GRANTS

2020 COVID-19 RESPONSE GRANTS

CONTACT: Jake Goodman, Executive Director, 412-362-1300, jgoodman [at] theopportunityfund.org

PITTSBURGH, PA; APRIL 30, 2020 — The Opportunity Fund announces support totaling $515,300 to-date as part of its strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, the Opportunity Fund signed a national pledge, publicized its commitments, and created a $500,000 COVID-19 Response Fund to provide (1) general operating support for small and mid-sized arts organizations and (2) flexible funds for grassroots entities organizing toward social/economic justice and emergency response.

“This is a time for foundations to step deeper into our roles as community partners by removing barriers, increasing support, and acting quickly,” said Jake Goodman, Executive Director of the Opportunity Fund.

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Opportunity Fund Awards Over $600,000 in Grants to Arts and Social & Economic Justice Efforts

Opportunity Fund Awards Over $600,000 in Grants to Arts and Social & Economic Justice Efforts

PITTSBURGH, PA, December 1, 2017—The Opportunity Fund announces support totaling $630,830 in its fourth cycle of funding. The Opportunity Fund is a Pittsburgh-based private foundation that awards grants to organizations and initiatives that advance the arts, and social and economic justice, with at least 75% of grants benefitting the greater Pittsburgh community. Including this current grant cycle, the foundation has awarded 166 grants totaling nearly $2.4M in the 2.5 years since its inception.

The Opportunity Fund was established in 2015 upon the death of community leader Gerri Kay to continue her life’s work. It seeks 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.

The Opportunity Fund’s grants are competitive. The Board of Directors funded 46 out of 88 requests that were seeking a total of $1,558,330. A complete list of awarded grants can be found below.

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