The Peirce Family Foundation concentrates its giving in the Pittsburgh region, primarily supporting higher education institutions and major local cultural institutions. Most grants are sizable gifts to a small set of repeat recipients (particularly regional universities and arts organizations), suggesting a focus on institutional strengthening, capital support, and sustaining civic cultural assets. The mix of beneficiaries indicates a blend of education, history/cultural preservation, and public-facing environmental/green-space projects within Greater Pittsburgh.
Concentrated, large-dollar giving to a small number of repeat grantees; multiple multi-year or multi-grant commitments to regional universities and flagship cultural institutions rather than many small, diverse awards.
Notable grantees: Robert Morris University, Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc. gives at a scale that includes repeated six-figure support for regional institutions, with recent awards reaching $558,348 to Duquesne University School of Law in 2024 and $500,000 to Senator John Heinz History Center in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that uses charitable contributions to strengthen long-standing civic assets in Greater Pittsburgh rather than spreading smaller gifts broadly. Higher education is a major part of the foundation’s profile. Duquesne University School of Law appears multiple times in the recent grants list, alongside Robert Morris University and Carlow University, all in the Pittsburgh area. The same year-over-year giving pattern shows that the foundation returns to the same organizations more than once, including cultural and educational recipients. Its portfolio also includes public cultural and community institutions. Recent grants to Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and Pittsburgh New Church School for Children With Dyslexia show a mix of arts, green space, and specialized local education support. The foundation’s giving is regional and concentrated in Pennsylvania, with Pittsburgh-area organizations receiving the bulk of recent awards.
Regional higher education is one of the clearest themes in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $427,000 in 2025 to Duquesne University School of Law and $408,241 in 2025 to Robert Morris University, both in the Pittsburgh area. Carlow University also received $400,000 in 2025, along with additional support in 2024. Arts and cultural institutions are another recurring area. The foundation awarded $206,700 in 2024 to Pittsburgh Symphony and $201,500 in 2025 to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, continuing a 2024 pattern of support for that organization as well. Community-serving education and family support also appear in the grant list. Pittsburgh New Church School for Children With Dyslexia received multiple contributions in 2024, including $184,400, $165,000, and $150,000. Laughlin Childrens Center in Sewickley received four grants across 2024 and 2025, including $150,000 and $100,000 awards.
The Peirce Family Foundation Inc. makes grants that range from small awards to large institutional gifts. Its typical grant size sits at a $200 25th percentile, a $1,500 median, and a $25,000 75th percentile, but the recent grant list also shows many much larger contributions. The repeated awards to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025 indicate ongoing support rather than isolated one-off gifts. The foundation is structured as a family foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$2.4M
$18.8M
$1.3M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $200 and $25K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$200
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local to Pennsylvania, with 73% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. The top giving city is Pittsburgh, and nearby Moon Township and Sewickley also appear in the recent grants list. Outside Pennsylvania, the recipient distribution is still entirely U.S.-based in the data provided. Recent awards include multiple Pittsburgh recipients plus one Boston-based organization, Partners in Health - Liberia.
The recent grants list shows a strong tilt toward regional higher education and Pittsburgh cultural institutions. Recipients include Duquesne University School of Law, Robert Morris University, Carlow University, Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and Senator John Heinz History Center.
Yes. Several organizations appear multiple times across 2024 and 2025, including Duquesne University School of Law, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Laughlin Childrens Center, and Pittsburgh New Church School for Children With Dyslexia.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $200 at the 25th percentile, $1,500 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger gifts, such as $558,348 and $500,000.
Giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania: 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Pittsburgh is the main city in the recent grants list, with additional Pennsylvania recipients in Moon Township and Sewickley.
No. The recent grants show several fields, including higher education, arts and culture, green-space projects, and specialized local education support. Examples include university gifts, Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and Pittsburgh New Church School for Children With Dyslexia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $427,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY | MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | $408,241 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CARLOW UNIVERSITY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $400,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN | PITTSBURGH, PA | $205,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTIRBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST | PITTSBURGH, PA | $201,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LAUGHLIN CHILDRENS CENTER | SEWICKLEY, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| URBAN IMPACT FUND | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $43,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MANCHESTER BIDWELL | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MUSIC CLUB | PITTSBURGH, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FERN HOLLOW NATURE CENTER | SEWICKLEY, PA | $5,750 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HOPE FOR FAMILIES CENTER | VERO BEACH, FL | $5,600 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WINGS 4 VETS | BEAVER, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART | VERO BEACH, FL | $4,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| EXTRA MILE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CENTER FOR HOPE | AMBRIDGE, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| RIVERSIDE THEATER | VERO BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WQED | PITTSBURGH, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| OCEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | FREELAND, WA | $2,100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION | TULAS, OK | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| QUAKER VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SEWICKLEY, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| UNION AID SOCIETY | VERO BEACH, FL | $700 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| VNA & HOSPICE FDN | VERO BEACH, FL | $300 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LITERACY SERVICES OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY | VERO BEACH, FL | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LITTLE SEWICKLEY CREEK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | SEWICKLEY, PA | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SEWICKLEY COMMUNITY CENTER | SEWICKLEY, PA | $200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| QUAKER VALLEY AMBULANCE AUTHORITY | MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | $200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SAMARITAN COUNCELING CENTER | SEWICKLEY, PA | $125 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| TOYS FOR TOTS (MARINES) | TRIANGLE, VA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| OLD SEWICKLEY POST OFFICE | SEWICKLEY, PA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| INDIAN RIVER VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE | VERO BEACH, FL | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SEWICKLEY VALLEY COMMUNITY FUND | SEWICKLEY, PA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN | VERO BEACH, FL | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ALEPPO TOWNSHIP VFC INC | SEWICKLEY, PA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SEWICKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY | SEWICKLEY, PA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $558,348 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY | MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | $420,615 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY | MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | $360,450 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $348,257 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY | MOON TOWNSHIP, PA | $303,400 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $206,700 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST | PITTSBURGH, PA | $201,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST | PITTSBURGH, PA | $201,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN | PITTSBURGH, PA | $200,260 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTIRBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $184,400 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | PITTSBURGH, PA | $177,447 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CARLOW UNIVERITY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $175,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $165,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER
$500,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$427,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN
$205,000CHARITABLE CONTIRBUTION
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
$201,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LAUGHLIN CHILDRENS CENTER
$100,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
URBAN IMPACT FUND
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
MUSIC CLUB
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FERN HOLLOW NATURE CENTER
$5,750CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WINGS 4 VETS
$5,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CENTER FOR HOPE
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
RIVERSIDE THEATER
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WQED
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
OCEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
$2,100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$2,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
QUAKER VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
UNION AID SOCIETY
$700CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER
$500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LITTLE SEWICKLEY CREEK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
$250CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SEWICKLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
$200CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
QUAKER VALLEY AMBULANCE AUTHORITY
$200CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SAMARITAN COUNCELING CENTER
$125CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
TOYS FOR TOTS (MARINES)
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
OLD SEWICKLEY POST OFFICE
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
INDIAN RIVER VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SEWICKLEY VALLEY COMMUNITY FUND
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ALEPPO TOWNSHIP VFC INC
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SEWICKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$100CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$558,348CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$348,257CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
$201,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
$201,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN
$200,260CHARITABLE CONTIRBUTION
PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA
$184,400CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$177,447CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CARLOW UNIVERITY
$175,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA
$165,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION