The Birmingham Foundation concentrates its funding on local, seasonal basic-needs programs, directing substantial support to a single neighborhood service provider in Pittsburgh. Nearly all of its recent grants fund holiday assistance and other direct relief delivered by the Brashear Association, indicating a focus on immediate family support in that community.
The Birmingham Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by South Pittsburgh children and families, with a clear emphasis on early care, maternal and child health, and parent wellbeing. A recurring pattern in the grants shows support for neighborhood organizations that deliver direct services, especially capacity building for local providers and family-facing programs. The largest recent awards include $130,000 to Brashear Association Incorporated for holiday assistance in Pittsburgh and $90,000 to Voices Against Violence for the "Little Richie Summer Experience" in 2023, showing both seasonal relief and summer enrichment as part of its work. The foundation also backs organizations that strengthen the service ecosystem around young children. It awarded $70,000 to The Early Excellence Project for child care stabilization and $50,000 to Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania for a home-based child care business hub pilot. These grants sit alongside support for literacy, child care licensing, family interpretation, and neighborhood-based operating support, indicating a funder that combines direct aid with organizational resilience. Most of its grants go to Pennsylvania recipients, and the recent record is heavily concentrated in Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods.
Within early care and education, The Birmingham Foundation funded The Early Excellence Project with $70,000 for child care stabilization as a catalyst for economic recovery, and it also gave $50,000 for CDA portfolio completion, child care licensing, and professional development. Those grants point to an interest in strengthening the child care workforce and provider infrastructure. For family and literacy support, the foundation awarded Literacy Pittsburgh multiple $50,000 grants tied to South Pittsburgh Hilltop families, including "South Pittsburgh Hilltop Family Literacy Partner Expansion" and "Reaching + Teaching More South Pittsburgh Hilltop Families." It also backed Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh with $45,000 for children’s literacy programming in South Pittsburgh. The foundation has also supported access and navigation services. A $50,000 grant to Hello Neighbor funded a language interpretation pilot, while Allies for Children received $50,000 to increase WIC access and retention through co-location services and improved system referrals.
$1.1M
$25M
$1.3M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $15K and $40K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants all to a single repeat grantee, focused on short-term/seasonal program support rather than diversified or long-term multi-sector commitments.
Notable grantees: Brashear Association, Inc. (repeat recipient for holiday assistance)
Typical awards cluster around a mid-five-figure level: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $40,000. That sits below some of the larger recent program and operating grants, which reach $130,000. The pattern across the recent record shows repeated support for the same organizations over multiple years, especially Brashear Association, Lighthouse Memorial Christian Center, Voices Against Violence, Literacy Pittsburgh, Hello Neighbor, A Schools, and Hilltop Community Children’s Center. The foundation is a mixed community foundation, and its grantmaking includes both competitive cycles and invitation-only cycles. Some cycles accept unsolicited LOIs, while others are invitation only.
The Birmingham Foundation gives overwhelmingly in Pennsylvania: 96% of its grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grants land mainly in Pittsburgh, including South Pittsburgh, Hilltop, Allentown, Arlington, Mount Washington, and North Huntingdon. Pittsburgh is the clear center of activity, with many awards going to neighborhood-based organizations serving the city’s south and hilltop communities. Outside the city, McKees Rocks appears in the recent record through a child care licensing grant.
It funds nonprofit organizations serving young children from birth to age 8 and their families in South Pittsburgh. Recent grants also show support for neighborhood service providers, literacy organizations, child care capacity builders, and family wellbeing programs tied to maternal and child health, early care and education, and parent wellbeing.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the mid-five figures: p25 is $15,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $40,000. Recent awards can be larger, including grants of $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $125,000, and $130,000.
Yes. The recent grant record includes repeated support for Brashear Association, Voices Against Violence, Lighthouse Memorial Christian Center, The Early Excellence Project, Literacy Pittsburgh, Hello Neighbor, A Schools, and Hilltop Community Children’s Center, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Its active grant cycles emphasize maternal and child health from prenatal to age 3, early care and education from birth to age 8, parent and family wellbeing, and, in some strategies, capacity building and organizational resilience. Recent grant purposes also include holiday assistance, summer experiences, literacy, interpretation, WIC access, and child care stabilization.
Nearly all recent grants go to Pennsylvania recipients, and 96% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state. The activity is concentrated in Pittsburgh and nearby places such as South Pittsburgh, Hilltop, Allentown, Arlington, Mount Washington, North Huntingdon, and McKees Rocks.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Birmingham Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations serving South Pittsburgh communities whose services align with one or more of the Foundation's three grant focus areas.
Deadline: LOIs open March 8, 2027 and close March 22, 2027. Full grant applications open April 9, 2027 and close April 19, 2027.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRASHEAR ASSOCIATION INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $130,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE |
| BRASHEAR ASSOCIATION INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE |
| VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $85,000 | 2025 | VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE 29TH ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP: WAVY'S WORLD OF LOVE AND FUN 2024 SUMMER CAMP |
| LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $76,500 | 2025 | LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER |
| THE EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT | PITTSBURGH, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | CHILD CARE STABILIZATION AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY |
| SHADOW STUDENT ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | PITTSBURGH, PA | $68,000 | 2025 | CAMP F.U.N. (FAMILIES UNITE NEIGHBORHOODS) |
| VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | WAVY'S WORLD SUMMER EXPERIENCE - PD TO HILLTOP ALLIANCE |
| LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | 2025 SPRING PROGRAM GRANT |
| LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER |
| LITERACY PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | AN INVESTMENT IN S PGH HILLTOP FAMILIES |
| ALLIES FOR CHILDREN | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | INCREASING WIC ACCESS & RETENTION BY LEVERAGING CO-LOCATION SERVICES AND IMPROVING SYSTEM REFERRALS |
| LITERACY PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | REACHING + TEACHING MORE SOUTH PITTSBURGH HILLTOP FAMILIES |
| HELLO NEIGHBOR | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 GRANT - SMART START |
| A SCHOOLS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIRCLE OUR SCHOOLS |
| GRANTMAKERS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOME-BASED CHILD CARE BUSINESS HUB PILOT |
| PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROMOTING NATURE FOCUSED LEARNING & WELLNESS |
| HELLO NEIGHBOR | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERMENT GIVING - LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION PILOT |
| HILLTOP COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON COMMUNITY DEV CORP | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | PERMANENT HOMES: COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AND AFFORDABLE LIVING |
| A SCHOOLS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIRCLE OUR SCHOOLS IN SOUTH PITTSBURGH |
| HILLTOP COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | OFF-CYCLE GRANT |
| THE EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT | MCKEES ROCKS, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CDA PORTFOLIO COMPLETION & CHILDCARE LICENSING & PROF DEVELOPMENT |
| READING IS FUNDAMENTAL PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $45,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 GRANT - CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAMMING - SOUTH PGH |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | CARING & CONNECTING FAMILIES IN HILLTOP COMMUNITIES |
| MAYA ORGANIZATION | SWISSVALE, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 GRANT - PERINATAL SUPPORT SERVICES |
| MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | BLDG BRIDGES QUALITY EARLY CARE & EDUCATION FOR PGH SOUTH |
| LEVEL EQUITY BUILDING | PITTSBURGH, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | LEVEL: EQUITY BUILDING AND MT. OLIVER HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM |
| SISTERS PLACE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING 15210 CHILD DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION (ACDE 15210) |
| BEVERLY'S BIRTHDAYS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | CELEBRATING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES IN THE BIRMINGHAM SERVICE AREA |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION | NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | CARING FOR AND CONNECTING FAMILIES IN HILLTOP COMMUNITIES (UPMC CHILDREN'S MT. OLIVER FCC) |
| NURTUREPA | MCMURRAY, PA | $38,000 | 2025 | GROWING AT RISK PARENTS WITH THE NURTURE PROGRAM |
| THE WATSON INSTITUTE | SEWICKLEY, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 GRANT - ENHANCING SEL SUPPORTS IN SS EARLY CARE CENTERS |
| BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $34,000 | 2025 | BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION |
| MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | BRIDGE GRANT |
| VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE | SEWICKLEY, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | ACTIVATING & UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN S PGH PARKS |
| MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | PLAYFUL ROOTS |
| STRONG WOMEN STRONG GIRLS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS |
| READING READY PITTSBURGH | HOMESTEAD, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | FALL 2024 GRANT - RAISING READERS IN SOUTH PGH |
| MT WASHINGTON REAMS COMMUNITY CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | 2025 SPRING - STARS ON THE MOUNT |
| STO-ROX NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH COUNCIL INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | HILLTOP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER - PEDIATRIC SERVICES |
| THE EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | LITTLE EXPLORERS CHILD CARE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT |
| MT WASHINGTON REAMS COMMUNITY CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,500 | 2025 | STARS ON THE MOUNT |
| PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE WAYFINDERS PROGRAM PILOT - SOUTH |
| A GIVING HEART | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | BRIDGE GRANT - UNANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS |
| PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | PROMOTING PARK ACCESS FOR HILLTOP PRESCHOOLERS |
| BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUMMER PROGRAM SS BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOC |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | BIG BOOK DROP ON THE HILLTOP |
| STRONG WOMEN STRONG GIRLS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | GIRLS INC. ELEMENTARY PROGRAM |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | BIG BOOK DROP ON THE HILLTOP |
VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE
$85,000VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE 29TH ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP: WAVY'S WORLD OF LOVE AND FUN 2024 SUMMER CAMP
LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER
$76,500LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER
CHILD CARE STABILIZATION AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
SHADOW STUDENT ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
$68,000CAMP F.U.N. (FAMILIES UNITE NEIGHBORHOODS)
VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE
$60,000WAVY'S WORLD SUMMER EXPERIENCE - PD TO HILLTOP ALLIANCE
LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER
$60,0002025 SPRING PROGRAM GRANT
LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER
$50,000LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CENTER
INCREASING WIC ACCESS & RETENTION BY LEVERAGING CO-LOCATION SERVICES AND IMPROVING SYSTEM REFERRALS
REACHING + TEACHING MORE SOUTH PITTSBURGH HILLTOP FAMILIES
A SCHOOLS
$50,000CIRCLE OUR SCHOOLS
GRANTMAKERS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
$50,000ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOME-BASED CHILD CARE BUSINESS HUB PILOT
PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY
$50,000PROMOTING NATURE FOCUSED LEARNING & WELLNESS
HILLTOP COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S CENTER
$50,000OPERATING GRANT
MOUNT WASHINGTON COMMUNITY DEV CORP
$50,000PERMANENT HOMES: COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AND AFFORDABLE LIVING
A SCHOOLS
$50,000CIRCLE OUR SCHOOLS IN SOUTH PITTSBURGH
HILLTOP COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S CENTER
$50,000OFF-CYCLE GRANT
THE EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT
$50,000CDA PORTFOLIO COMPLETION & CHILDCARE LICENSING & PROF DEVELOPMENT
FALL 2024 GRANT - CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAMMING - SOUTH PGH
CARING & CONNECTING FAMILIES IN HILLTOP COMMUNITIES
MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION
$40,000BLDG BRIDGES QUALITY EARLY CARE & EDUCATION FOR PGH SOUTH
LEVEL EQUITY BUILDING
$40,000LEVEL: EQUITY BUILDING AND MT. OLIVER HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM
SISTERS PLACE
$40,000ADVANCING 15210 CHILD DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION (ACDE 15210)
BEVERLY'S BIRTHDAYS
$40,000CELEBRATING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES IN THE BIRMINGHAM SERVICE AREA
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION
$40,000CARING FOR AND CONNECTING FAMILIES IN HILLTOP COMMUNITIES (UPMC CHILDREN'S MT. OLIVER FCC)
NURTUREPA
$38,000GROWING AT RISK PARENTS WITH THE NURTURE PROGRAM
FALL 2024 GRANT - ENHANCING SEL SUPPORTS IN SS EARLY CARE CENTERS
BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
$34,000BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION
$30,000BRIDGE GRANT
VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY
$30,000ACTIVATING & UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN S PGH PARKS
MOMMY'S IMAGINATION STATION
$30,000PLAYFUL ROOTS
MT WASHINGTON REAMS COMMUNITY CENTER
$30,0002025 SPRING - STARS ON THE MOUNT
STO-ROX NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH COUNCIL INC
$30,000HILLTOP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER - PEDIATRIC SERVICES
LITTLE EXPLORERS CHILD CARE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT
MT WASHINGTON REAMS COMMUNITY CENTER
$25,500STARS ON THE MOUNT
PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE
$25,000PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE WAYFINDERS PROGRAM PILOT - SOUTH
A GIVING HEART
$25,000BRIDGE GRANT - UNANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS
PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY
$25,000PROMOTING PARK ACCESS FOR HILLTOP PRESCHOOLERS
BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
$25,000SUMMER PROGRAM SS BEARS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOC
UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PA
$20,000BIG BOOK DROP ON THE HILLTOP
