FundersPennsylvania

Fisa Foundation

Pittsburgh, PA · EIN 25-0965388. Reported 306 grants totalling $7,326,232 to 147 organizations across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$25,000median grant
$7,326,232granted, 2020-2024
147organizations funded
40%of grantees funded again the next year
$48.9Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Fisa Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $30,000; the smallest was $200 and the largest $125,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
8 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
33 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
48 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
57 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
123 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
33 grants
$100,000 and Up
4 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Disability LeadChicago, IL$280,000332024
Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (power)Pittsburgh, PA$261,200752024
Education Law CenterPittsburgh, PA$240,000442024
Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA$236,000752024
East End Cooperative MinistryPittsburgh, PA$175,000332023
Gwen's Girls IncPittsburgh, PA$165,200642024
United Way of Southwestern PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA$165,000432023
Autism Connection of PaPittsburgh, PA$155,562442024
Pennsylvania Health Law ProjectPittsburgh, PA$140,000332023
East Suburban Citizen AdvocacyMurrysville, PA$135,250652024
Keystone Progress Education FundPittsburgh, PA$132,000222024
Women's Center & Shelter of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$125,200432024
United Way of South Western PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA$125,000112021
Sisters Place IncPittsburgh, PA$123,000542024
Women's Law ProjectPhiladelphia, PA$123,000642024
Abolitionist Law CenterPittsburgh, PA$120,000332024
Disability Rights PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA$120,000552024
Standing Firm at Women's Center and Shelter of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$120,000222022
Duquesne University of the Holy SpiritPittsburgh, PA$110,000432023
The Friendship Circle of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$110,000442024
Autism Urban Connections IncPittsburgh, PA$100,000442024
Pittsburghers for Public TransitPittsburgh, PA$100,000442024
Evolve CoachingPittsburgh, PA$95,000332023
Sisters PghPittsburgh, PA$90,500742024
Hello NeighborPittsburgh, PA$90,000442024
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh FoundationPittsburgh, PA$87,582332022
412 JusticePittsburgh, PA$85,000322024
American Civil Liberties Foundation of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$85,000332024
AchievaPittsburgh, PA$83,092542024
CASA San JosePittsburgh, PA$80,000222024
The Midwife Center for Birth and Women's HealthPittsburgh, PA$80,000332024
New Voices for Reproductive JusticePittsburgh, PA$75,000222022
Social Good FundRichmond, CA$75,000222021
Black Women's Policy CenterMckeesport, PA$70,000222023
Strong Women Strong GirlsPittsburgh, PA$70,000332023
Pittsburgh Action Against RapePittsburgh, PA$65,400332022
Transitional Paths to Independent Living (trpil)Washington, PA$65,000322022
Blackburn CenterGreensburg, PA$60,000112020
Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$60,000222022
Center for Popular DemocracyBrooklyn, NY$60,000222022
Healthy Start IncPittsburgh, PA$60,000222024
Pennsylvania Prison SocietyPhiladelphia, PA$60,000222024
Sojourner HousePittsburgh, PA$60,000222024
Bender Leadership AcademyMoon Township, PA$55,000432023
PublicsourcePittsburgh, PA$55,000222024
Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA$52,500322022
1HOOD Media AcademyPittsburgh, PA$50,000222022
Adagio HealthPittsburgh, PA$50,000222024
Allegheny County Department of Human ServicesPittsburgh, PA$50,000112021
Center for Hearing & Deaf ServicesPittsburgh, PA$50,000222021
City Mission - Living Stones IncUniontown, PA$50,000222024
HearthGlenshaw, PA$50,000222023
Pittsburgh Parks ConservancyPittsburgh, PA$50,000112023
Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania IncPittsburgh, PA$50,000112022
Poise FoundationPittsburgh, PA$50,000222024
Side Project IncPittsburgh, PA$50,000222021
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Warner CenterPittsburgh, PA$50,000112022
Autism Employment NetworkMonroeville, PA$45,000222023
Maya OrganizationPittsburgh, PA$45,000222024
Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal RehabilitationPittsburgh, PA$45,000112024
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$41,000222024
Bethlehem HavenPittsburgh, PA$40,000112020
Court Approved Special Advocates of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA$40,000222021
Fayette County Community Action Agency IncUniontown, PA$40,000112020
KidsvoicePittsburgh, PA$40,000222024
Voices for IndependenceErie, PA$40,000112023
Urban League of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$36,000112020
Ruth's Way IncPenn Hills, PA$35,000222022
ClassPittsburgh, PA$33,500542024
Invision FoundationWexford, PA$31,231222024
Aac InstituteCarnegie, PA$30,000322023
Peal CenterPittsburgh, PA$28,866332023
Sphs Care CenterWashington, PA$25,755112021
The Pittsburgh Contingency IncPittsburgh, PA$25,500332023
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$25,200222021
Bhutanese Community Association of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$25,000222024
Carnegie Library of HomesteadMunhall, PA$25,000112022
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA$25,000112023
Depaul School for Hearing and SpeechPittsburgh, PA$25,000112024
Depaul School for Heraing and SpeechPittsburgh, PA$25,000112021
Disability Options NetworkNew Castle, PA$25,000112020
Film PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$25,000552024
Foundation of HopePittsburgh, PA$25,000112020
Girls Inc of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$25,000112024
Neighborhood Legal Services AssociationPittsburgh, PA$25,000112020
New Sun RisingMillvale, PA$25,000112022
Pennsylvania Women WorkPittsburgh, PA$25,000112023
The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family CenterPittsburgh, PA$25,000112020
University of Pittsburgh Division of Philanthropic and Alumni EngagementPittsburgh, PA$25,000112020
Veterans Place of Washington BoulevardPittsburgh, PA$25,000112020
Za'kiyah HousePittsburgh, PA$25,000112023
Jewish Family Amd Childrens ServicePittsburgh, PA$24,965112021
SteelwheelersPittsburgh, PA$23,500112021
Neighborhood AlliesPittsburgh, PA$22,500222021
Ruling Our Experiences IncColumbus, OH$22,500112021
Open UpSlippery Rock, PA$21,000112023
The Pittsburgh Cultural TrustPittsburgh, PA$21,000212022
Allegheny Health NetworkPittsburgh, PA$20,000112020
Allegheny West Penn Health SystemPittsburgh, PA$20,000112024
Christian Immigration Advocacy CenterPittsburgh, PA$20,000112023
Healthcare Council of Western PennsylvaniaWarrendale, PA$20,000112020
Mainstay Life ServicesPittsburgh, PA$20,000112021
Pennsylvania Health Access NetworkPhiladelphia, PA$20,000112024
Primary Health NetworkSharon, PA$20,000112024
Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA$20,000112021
University of Pittsburgh Office of Child DevelopmentPittsburgh, PA$20,000112020
Butler County Association for the BlindButler, PA$18,000112021
Latino Community CenterPittsburgh, PA$16,750222022
City of Asylum PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$16,000322021
University of Pittsburgh PhysiciansPittsburgh, PA$16,000112021
Greater Pittsburgh Arts CouncilPittsburgh, PA$15,000112022
Infinite Lifestyle SolutionsPittsburgh, PA$15,000332024
Jewish Healthcare FoundationPittsburgh, PA$15,000332023
Magee-Womens Research Institute and FoundationPittsburgh, PA$15,000112022
Three Rivers Business Alliance FoundationPittsburgh, PA$15,000112022
When She ThrivesPittsburgh, PA$15,000112022
Open FieldPittsburgh, PA$12,500332023
Disability Pride Philadelphia IncPhiladelphia, PA$10,000222024
Growing Together AquaponicsSlippery Rock, PA$10,000112022
Havin IncKittanning, PA$10,000112021
New Century CareersPittsburgh, PA$10,000112020
Pittsburgh PromisePittsburgh, PA$10,000112021
The Queens Gambit ChessPittsburgh, PA$10,000112022
Upmc Magee Womens HospitalPittsburgh, PA$10,000112020
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PaBrownsville, PA$9,000112021
Upmc Presbyterian ShadysidePittsburgh, PA$8,500332024
Best of the Batch FoundationMunhall, PA$5,000112020
City of AsylumPittsburgh, PA$5,000112024
Every Child IncPittsburgh, PA$5,000222024
First Step PartnershipAspinwall, PA$5,000112020
Global LinksPittsburgh, PA$5,000112020
Jewish Family and Childrens ServicesPittsburgh, PA$5,000112023
Kingsley AssociationPittsburgh, PA$5,000112020
Mangum FoundationPhiladelphia, PA$5,000112022
Pittsburgh Public TheaterPittsburgh, PA$5,000112021
Presbyterian Senior CareOakmont, PA$5,000112021
Rebuilding Together PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$5,000112020
Upmc Presbyterian Shadyside Western Behavioral HealthPittsburgh, PA$4,000112021
Standing Firm Women's Center and Shelter of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$3,234212021
Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (aryse)Pittsburgh, PA$2,500112021
Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (ayrse)Pittsburgh, PA$2,500112023
Dress for SuccessPittsburgh, PA$2,500112023
Frogang FoundationPittsburgh, PA$2,500112023
Center of LifePittsburgh, PA$1,500112023
Touch the Future IncAnderson, SC$1,125112024
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$1,120112021
YWCA Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$500112023

74 of 147 (50%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 40%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 221 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
68 grants
Civil Rights
27 grants
Education
23 grants
Health Care
18 grants
Arts & Culture
15 grants
Crime & Legal
12 grants
Youth Development
10 grants
Employment
8 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202064$1,426,432$25,000
202165$1,352,732$20,000
202267$1,579,362$25,000
202359$1,475,000$25,000
202451$1,492,706$25,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Already committed for future years

Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Fisa Foundation has 28 of them, worth $1,385,025. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.

OrganizationLocationApproved
Disability LeadChicago, IL$250,000
Gwen's Girls IncPittsburgh, PA$75,000
Pennsylvania Health Law ProjectPittsburgh, PA$75,000
Pennsylvania Health Law ProjectPittsburgh, PA$75,000
Education Law CenterPittsburgh, PA$60,000
Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (power)Pittsburgh, PA$60,000
Women's Center & Shelter of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$60,000
Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania IncPittsburgh, PA$50,000
Social Good FundRichmond, CA$50,000
Urban League of Greater PittsburghPiitsburgh, PA$50,000
Urban League of Greater PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$50,000
Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA$50,000
Autism Connection of PaPittsburgh, PA$47,740
Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (power)Pittsburgh, PA$45,000
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$40,000

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 94% of this one's giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Pennsylvania
$6.9M
Illinois
$280K
California
$75K
New York
$60K
Ohio
$22K
South Carolina
$1K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

The Pittsburgh Foundation85 shared recipientsHillman Family Foundations68 shared recipientsThe Heinz Endowments51 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc49 shared recipientsThe United Way of Southwestern45 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund44 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding human services in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding education in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Fisa Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 535 Smithfield Street 710, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 25-0965388 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.