Investment Categories

Champion Neighborhoods (Target Areas)

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PPND targets 75% of its investments within the following four areas: East End (Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, and Lawrenceville); Greater Uptown (Uptown and portions of Oakland and Hill District); Allegheny City (Allegheny West, Central Northside, East Allegheny/Historic Deutschtown); and South Hilltop neighborhoods.

The goal of this investment category is to provide substantial financial resources for a small number (4–5) of organizations to develop concentrated areas of expertise and deep staffing resources. These organizations will serve multiple neighborhoods in need of experienced staff for planning and implementing their revitalization strategies. These experts will provide technical expertise to more areas of the city that need it.
 

Community Investment Program (Outside Target Areas)

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PPND remains committed to the needs and opportunities of the communities outside the designated Champion Neighborhood geographies. In response to the commitment, PPND has tailored a grant program that enables us to best serve those areas and remain flexible and strategic in our investments throughout the City and Region. We have consolidated two previous funding programs into one fund: the Community Investment Program (CIP). There are two categories in the fund: (1) Targeted Investment Program and (2) Small & Simple Program. The following details information on this program and the application process.

The Community Investment Program (CIP) gives PPND the ability to respond to emerging needs and opportunities in capacity building, program development and projects in the city and selected first-ring suburbs. With this program, PPND will support community-based organizations to build capacity and develop strategies that will address their communities’ needs effectively.

Targeted Investment Program
The TIP is for flexible and catalytic awards that are focused on neighborhoods and their strategic opportunities. Eligible activities include capacity building, program development and projects including real estate projects. In addition to responding to strategic opportunity and need, the program will also provide a flexible option if any neighborhood opts out of our Champion Neighborhoods.

• Program areas/geographies: OUTSIDE Champion Neighborhood Geographies
  • Primary Focus: City of Pittsburgh
  • Secondary Focus: Targeted 1st ring suburbs as fundraising permits
• Project amounts can range from $25,000 - $50,000 per year but are highly competitive

Small & Simple Program
This program is for small, strategic, one-time-only awards for technical assistance or events. These awards may be small, but we expect great returns on the investments. Many times, projects are catalytic yet don’t fit into existing funding categories. There are few sources of funds for these types of activities, and organizations are hesitant to take even the most needed small project ideas to foundation partners. This program has funded projects of innovation and creativity that led to increased capacity and effectiveness.

• Program areas/geographies: INSIDE or OUTSIDE Champion Neighborhood Geographies
  • Primary Focus: City of Pittsburgh and 1st ring suburbs
  • Secondary Focus: Throughout Allegheny County
• Project amounts can be as large as $10,000 but are typically between $5,000 and $7,000