What is the Public Service Grant?
Public Service Grants are federally-funded grants made to local nonprofit organizations serving Pittsburgh residents with low and moderate incomes. Awarded projects will provide direct services to vulnerable populations.
The Public Service grant has funded projects such as food pantries, youth programs, job training, career counseling, literacy programs, senior activity programs, and more.
2026 applications will be accepted March 2 - 31, 2026.
How To Apply
Starting in 2025, all Public Service Grant applications will be submitted via Bridgeway software. This system will require creating a free account. Technical assistance is available as needed.
Click here to access the Bridgeway homepage.
Applications can be saved and returned to for later completion in the Bridgeway software. If you would like a paper copy of the application to pre-write your responses, it is available here.
Application Overview Video
The Community Development team created a video to explaining the Public Service grant application process and program updates for 2025. For information on using the Bridgeway software, start the video at 8:12.
Click here to download the slides.
Q & A Sessions
Two virtual Q & A sessions will be held in March.
Click here to register for Tuesday, March 17, 5:00What organizations are eligible?
Organizations seeking Public Service funds must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with
- A Board of Directors
- Articles of Incorporation
- Written bylaws
- A mission that supports City of Pittsburgh residents
- Demonstrate financial management capacity
- Have filed an IRS Form 990 (990-N, 990-EZ, or 990) last year
- Have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and full registration at SAM.gov
- Additional information on navigating this process is available on the City's website
- Have no outstanding financial liabilities with the City of Pittsburgh, or demonstrate an approved payment plan
- Have current general liability insurance
- Have current worker's compensation insurance (only required if organization has paid staff)
What projects are eligible?
Public Service Grant funds are complimentary, not operational funds. These reimbursement grants should be used to augment existing programs by organizations doing work in one of the following eligible categories:
- Food Banks
- Senior Services or Programming
- Teen Services (ages 13-19)
- Children's Services (ages 0-12)
- Services for Severely Disabled Adults
- Employment Training
- Substance Abuse Services
- Physical Health Services
- Mental Health Services
- Intimate Partner Violence Services
- Services for Individuals with HIV/AIDS
- Housing Counseling
- Homelessness Prevention
- Tenant/Landlord Counseling
- Legal Services
- Crime Awareness/Prevention
Grant requests should be for at least $10,000 and applicants are unlikely to receive more than $50,000.
What expenses are eligible?
Public Service Grant funds are complimentary, not operational funds. These reimbursement grants have strict regulations on the types of allowable expenses. The most common budget line items are:
- Personnel (wages and benefits)
- Professional Services (any company or individual hired to perform a service assisting your program)
- Utilities (rent, gas, water, electric, etc. on space used for programming)
- Insurance (required General Liability, Worker's Compensation, or other program-related insurance)
- Program supplies (consumable supplies used by beneficiaries or directly for programming)
- Scholarships (costs directly covering a beneficiary's participation in programming)
Please note that the following line items are ineligible and may disqualify your application:
- One-time events
- Food, drinks, snacks for any project not specifically designated as a food distributor (food pantry, Meals on Wheels, etc)
- Political or religious activities
- Payments given directly to beneficiaries
- Honorariums or stipends
- "Swag" (tote bags, t-shirts, etc. not essential to the function of your organization)
What makes an application ineligible?
2025 Allocations
City Council and The Mayors Office awarded $550,000 to local nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income Pittsburgh residents. Below is a list of organizations, allocations, and project types:
| Organization | Allocation | Project Type |
| Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Community Empowerment Association, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Familylinks, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Grounded Strategies | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Jeremiah's Place | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Pittsburgh Community Services Inc | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| The Citizen Science Lab | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Domestic Violence Services |
| A+ Schools | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Abiding Missions | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| ACH Clear Pathways | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Arts Greenhouse, CMU | $15,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Assemble | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Bloomfield Development Corporation | $15,000.00 | Housing Resource Assistance |
| Brookline Meals on Wheels | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Brookline Teen Outreach | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Brothers and Sisters Emerging | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| Center of Life | $20,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Community Human Services | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Elizabeth Seton Center, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Elliott West End Athletic Association | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Friendship Community Presbyterian Church | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Jewish Association on Aging | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Larimer Consensus Group | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Lawrenceville United | $15,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Main ST | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Naomi's Place Transitional Housing | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| Oakland Planning and Development Corporation | $10,000.00 | Housing Resource Assistance |
| Peoples Oakland, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Pittsburgh Musical Theater | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| POORLAW | $20,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Ruth's Way, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Shepherd Wellness Community | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| T.H.A.W Inc | $10,000.00 | Health Services |
| The Brashear Association Inc | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| The Pittsburgh Project | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Tree of Life Open Bible Church | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Washington Heights Athletic Association | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - Allegheny | $25,000.00 | Children's Services |
| YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - Thelma Lovette | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
2024 Allocations
City Council and The Mayors Office awarded $550,000 to local nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income Pittsburgh residents. Below is a list of organizations, allocations, and project types:
| Organization | Allocation | Project Type |
| A+ Schools Pittsburgh’s Community Alliance for Public Education | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Angels' Place, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Brookline Meals On Wheels* | $2,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Dreams of Hope | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) | $10,000.00 | Domestic Violence Services |
| Pittsburgh Hires Veterans* | $5,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Shepherd Wellness Community | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| Sojourner House MOMS (Motivation, Opportunity, Mentoring, Spirituality) | $10,000.00 | Substance Abuse Services |
| Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Domestic Violence Services |
| 25 Carrick Ave Project | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| 31st Ward Community Action Group | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Abiding Missions | $13,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Amani Christian Community Development Corporation | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Assemble | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Bloomfield Development Corporation | $15,000.00 | Housing Counseling |
| Brookline Teen Outreach | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Brothers and Sisters Emerging | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Casa San Jose | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Community Human Services Corporation | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| Greenfield Baseball Association | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Greenfield K-8 PTO | $20,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Helping Ourselves Produce Excellence for Tomorrow, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Jasmine Nyree Home | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Jeremiah’s Place- Pittsburgh Relief Nursery | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Lawrenceville United | $15,000.00 | Food bank |
| Legacy Arts Project | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Neighborhood Community Development Fund - The Northside Chronicle | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Northside Youth Athletic Association | $20,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Oakland Planning and Development Corporation | $10,000.00 | Housing Counseling |
| Open Field | $20,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Pittsburgh Flag Football Corporation | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Pittsburgh Higher Ground Foundation | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation | $10,000.00 | Employment Training |
| Pittsburgh Musical Theater | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| POORLAW | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| Reading Is FUNdamental Pittsburgh | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| Refuge for Women Emergency Housing, LLC | $10,000.00 | Domestic Violence Services |
| Storehouse For Teachers dba The Education Partnership | $10,000.00 | Children's Services |
| The Brashear Association Inc | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| The Center that CARES | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, Inc. | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| The Promise Center of Homewood | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
| Tree of Life Open Bible Church | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| True T Pittsburgh* | $5,000.00 | Health Services |
| Vintage, Inc | $10,000.00 | Senior Services |
| YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - Allegheny | $10,000.00 | Homelessness Prevention |
| YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - Homewood Brushton | $10,000.00 | Food Bank |
| YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - Thelma Lovette | $10,000.00 | Teen Services |
*The awards in the table represent only Program Year 2024 funding. The $10,000 minimum was met for some groups by reallocating money from other Program Years, taken from groups which were unable to appropriately spend CDBG funds.
2023 Allocations
The Mayor's Office has awarded $100,000 to local nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income Pittsburgh residents. Below is a list of organizations, allocations, and project types:
| Organization | Allocation | Project |
| Brookline Teen Outreach | $10,000 | Teen Services |
| Center for Victims | $10,000 | Crisis Advocacy |
| Center of Life | $10,000 | Teen Services |
| Community Kitchen Pittsburgh | $10,000 | Employment Training |
| Elliot West End Athletic Association | $10,000 | Teen Services |
| Larimer Consensus Group | $10,000 | Senior Services |
| Lincoln Place Presbyterian Church | $10,000 | Senior Services |
| Sarah Heinz House | $10,000 | Senior Services |
| The Citizen Science Lab | $10,000 | Teen Services |
| The Promise Center of Homewood Inc. | $10,000 | Teen Services |
2022 Allocations
City Council and the Mayor's Office has awarded $475,000 to various nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income Pittsburgh residents. Below is a list of organizations, allocations, and project types:
| Organization | Amount |
| 31ST WARD COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP | $7,500.00 |
| ACH CLEAR PATHWAYS | $10,000.00 |
| AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE, INC. | $10,500.00 |
| ALLEGHENY YMCA | $15,000.00 |
| ALLIES FOR HEALTH | $5,000.00 |
| ASSEMBLE INC | $5,000.00 |
| BLOOMFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | $16,500.00 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | $5,000.00 |
| BROOKLINE TEEN OUTREACH | $10,000.00 |
| CATHOLIC YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH INC. | $4,500.00 |
| CENTER OF LIFE | $6,500.00 |
| COMMON THREADS | $15,000.00 |
| ELIZABETH SETON CENTER | $10,000.00 |
| ELLIOTT WEST END ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | $7,000.00 |
| FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY GROUP | $4,000.00 |
| GROUNDED STRATEGIES | $5,000.00 |
| HAZELWOOD INITIATIVE | $10,000.00 |
| HILL DISTRICT CONSENSUS GROUP | $10,000.00 |
| HUGH LANE WELLNESS FOUNDATION | $5,000.00 |
| JASMINE NYREE CAMPUS | $10,000.00 |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES - CAREER DEVELOPMENT | $5,000.00 |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES - FOOD PANTRY | $5,000.00 |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES - REFUGEE SERVICES | $5,000.00 |
| LAWRENCEVILLE UNITED | $20,000.00 |
| LEGACY ARTS PROJECT | $10,000.00 |
| MT. WASHINGTON RECREATION CENTER/ PITTSBURGH CONTINGENCY | $15,000.00 |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN | $13,500.00 |
| NORTHSIDE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE | $5,000.00 |
| NORTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT | $25,000.00 |
| OAKLAND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT/INNOVATEPGH PARTNERSHIP | $5,000.00 |
| People of Origin Rightfully Loved and Wanted P.O.O.R.L.A.W. | $40,000.00 |
| PERRY HILLTOP CITIZENS COUNCIL | $10,000.00 |
| PITTSBURGH HIGHER GROUND FOUNDATION | $12,000.00 |
| PREVENTION POINT | $5,000.00 |
| PROTECTING AND RESTORING THE ORDER OF MANKIND WITH THE INITIATIVE OF SERVING ELDERS (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.) | $5,000.00 |
| SAINT MARK'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH/BROOKLINE MEALS ON WHEELS | $13,000.00 |
| SHEPHERD WELLNESS | $5,000.00 |
| SOUTH SIDE SLOPES ASSOCIATION | $5,000.00 |
| STEEL CITY BOXING ASSOCIATION | $11,000.00 |
| STRONG WOMEN STRONG GIRLS | $10,000.00 |
| THE CITIZEN SCIENCE LAB | $8,000.00 |
| THE OPEN DOOR YOUTH OUTREACH | $10,000.00 |
| TREE OF LIFE DBA BROOKLINE CHRISTIAN FOOD PANTRY | $5,000.00 |
| TREE OF LIFE DBA BROOKLINE FREE CLOTHING ROOM | $3,000.00 |
| TREE OF LIFE DBA BROOKLINE SPROUTS AFTER SCHOOL | $4,000.00 |
| TROY HILL | $4,000.00 |
| VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | $5,000.00 |
| VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE | $10,000.00 |
| WEST SIDE MUSTANGS YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | $15,000.00 |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE | $10,000.00 |
| WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH | $5,000.00 |
