Who We Are
Created as a community foundation, we are focused on assisting the Pittsburgh Region’s Black community develop self-sustaining practices powered through collective giving and action. By convening thoughts, resources and actions, we believe our community can, through its own initiatives and with the help of others, overcome the historical and institutional barriers that have resulted in many of the disparities that exist in wealth, education, health, employment, and overall enjoyment of life.
To this degree, we believe the key to real growth in the Pittsburgh Region is directly correlated to eliminating racial disparities. Removing these disparities will then allow our region to move forward as one to address issues of poverty and lack of opportunity for the overall community.
Although philanthropy is often not the sole solution to the many issues and problems we face in society, it has historically been the initiator and convener of the ideas and responses that lead to comprehensive solutions. With this in mind, we believe that POISE Foundation is positioned to convene and cause appropriate collaborations that will focus on the root causes of many issues that have plagued Pittsburgh’s Black community.
Furthermore, we believe for our youth to have hope, we need to surround them with a strong community that focuses on providing the appropriate education, opportunities and resources needed to become successful. It is our fundamental belief that strong families are the foundation for strong communities. To this end, our efforts are most directed towards developing strong African American families.
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What We Do
Although POISE Foundation does not typically run programs, we fund many organizations that provide needed services to Pittsburgh’s African American community.
Our Strategy is to align with organizations and initiatives that focus their thoughts and actions on developing a strong African American community within the Pittsburgh Region.
Our Grantmaking focuses on creating exposure to opportunities that many African Americans in our community would not otherwise have the ability to experience. We provide small grants to various organizations as well as scholarships at most levels of education.
In addition to our grantmaking, POISE has been instrumental in the creation and/or development of the following current Initiatives – Greater Pittsburgh After School Consortium, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Sankofa Fund of Southwest PA (giving circle), African American Funders Group, and a visioning project for Pittsburgh’s Black community. We also act as fiscal agent for various projects in the community including the Hill District Golf Classic, African American Leadership Summit, and the Daniel B. Matthews Society.
Strategic Giving is essential to the long term sustainability of our community. The power of individual giving is multiplied when pooled with many other gifts. POISE can take your donation, invest it with its other gifts to create a pool of funding that can then be focused on critical issues and programs designed to strengthen the African American community. This way a small gift can be leveraged to make a large difference.
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What You Should Know
August 14 -15, 2010 – 6th annual Umoja African Arts in the Park
December 2010 – POISE Foundation 30th Anniversary Celebration. Details coming soon!
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