The Opportunity Fund awards grants to small and mid-sized arts organizations and initiatives focused on advancing social and economic justice. Inspired by the life and work of Gerri Kay, the Fund seeks to support organizations that champion civil rights, treasure the arts, promote social and economic equity, and provide safety net resources for those in need. A minimum of 75% of Opportunity Fund grants are dedicated to projects that directly benefit the Greater Pittsburgh community.
In the arts, funding focuses on performing arts (especially theatre, dance, classical chamber music, and jazz) and visual arts (especially craft-focused and small-to-mid-sized organizations). On the social and economic justice side, priorities include racial justice, Black-led movement work, civil liberties and rights (especially for Black and LGBTQ+ communities), reproductive freedom, human rights, and essential safety net services like housing, healthcare, transportation, and economic independence.
The application process involves two steps: submission of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) followed by an invitation to submit a full application if selected. Applicants can submit a short video for the LOI narrative if preferred. Deadlines are January 15, 2025, for Cycle 1 and July 15, 2025, for Cycle 2. Full applications for invited projects are due March 7 and September 8, respectively. Applications are accepted only through the online portal; no mailed or paper applications are permitted.
Funding decisions for Cycle 1 are announced in May and for Cycle 2 in November. The Opportunity Fund encourages risk-taking and innovation among its grantees and offers flexible support to help organizations advance their missions more fully.
