Heinz Endowments
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About Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments is making concentrated, large-scale investments in Pittsburgh’s civic and cultural infrastructure and in university-led community equity work. The foundation prioritizes downtown and riverfront place-making and major capital renovations of theaters and public parks, alongside funding for academic partnerships that address local economic and racial disparities. Their giving is highly local and project-focused, aimed at visible built-environment and community prosperity outcomes.
Focus Areas
Capital renovation of Pittsburgh cultural venues (e.g., Byham Theater)Downtown and riverfront public space improvements (Allegheny Riverfront Park, Katz Plaza)University–community partnerships addressing local equity and shared prosperity (Carnegie Mellon Center for Shared Prosperity)
Who They Fund
Pittsburgh neighborhoods and residents (including Hill District, Homewood, Northside)K–12 students and school districts in Western Pennsylvania (including Pittsburgh Public Schools)young children / early childhood populationspeople experiencing homelessness / unhoused individuals
About Heinz Endowments
A defining feature of The Heinz Endowments is the scale of its place-based capital giving in Pittsburgh: a $6,043,000 grant to Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources supported renovations to Allegheny Riverfront Park, Katz Plaza, Byham Theater, and other properties as needed. That kind of investment sits alongside other large commitments to city institutions and neighborhood infrastructure, showing a funder that backs visible physical change as well as local capacity. The foundation’s recent grants also include a $5,000,000 award to Carnegie Mellon University to launch the Center for Shared Prosperity, a university-community partnership focused on barriers to equality in Pittsburgh, and a $2,000,000 grant to the City of Pittsburgh for Homewood Park construction. Across its recent giving, the Endowments combine cultural preservation, public space, and community-equity work with substantial operating and capital support. The portfolio also reaches into education, early childhood coordination, renewable energy financing for school districts, and services for people experiencing homelessness, but the common thread is local improvement in Southwestern Pennsylvania. With Pittsburgh as the center of gravity, the foundation funds both long-horizon institutions and collaborative initiatives aimed at neighborhood-level outcomes.
What Heinz Endowments Funds
In arts and culture, The Heinz Endowments backed the Pittsburgh Cultural Treasures Initiative with a $3,000,000 grant to the Poise Foundation, linking cultural preservation to community identity. The foundation also supported the Pittsburgh Symphony Inc. with $1,000,000 for pension obligations, and gave $1,000,000 to Carnegie Institute for Carnegie Museums’ comprehensive campaign, including the Warhol Museum and the President’s Momentum Fund. In youth and education work, it awarded $1,500,000 to Sarah Heinz House Association to grow outreach at area schools, expand free STEAM programs, and establish a licensed early learning child care program. The same organization later received $1,200,000 for continued operating support and expanded school outreach. For systems change in early childhood, the Endowments gave $1,300,000 to The Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania to create the Early Childhood Funders Alliance. Climate and school energy also appear in the portfolio through a $1,500,000 grant to Energy Development Authority for solar projects at school districts in Western Pennsylvania.
How Heinz Endowments Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$400.1M
Total Assets
$2.2B
Total Revenue
$105.1M
Total Expenses
$93M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $30K and $150K, with a median of $55K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$55K
75th Percentile
$150K
Geographic Reach
Regional25 states funded
About 79% of grants go to recipients in PA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
CHRISTOPHER DECARDY
PRESIDENT
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Heinz Endowments Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Heinz Endowments.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 2,965 | $444.7M | 99.9% |
| 2 | Netherlands | 3 | $750K |
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