The Heinz Endowments — Sustainability Program

Pittsburgh-based foundation funding environmental sustainability work in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Sustainability Program supports clean air and water, climate, environmental health, and equitable green economic transition in the region.

The Heinz Endowments are one of the largest place-based philanthropies in the United States, with grant making focused almost exclusively on improving life in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Sustainability Program is the environmental funding arm and one of the most consistent foundation supporters of clean water, watershed restoration, environmental health, climate action, and equitable green economic transition in the region.The program funds nonprofits working on water quality monitoring and advocacy, watershed restoration, source water protection, AMD remediation, environmental justice in fenceline communities, climate adaptation, and policy advocacy in the SW PA airshed and watersheds. Heinz is unusual among large foundations in funding general operating support and multi-year commitments to organizations they trust, in addition to project-specific grants.Applications are by invitation rather than open call — but the program staff are accessible and often invite proposals after a meeting or letter of inquiry. For a watershed group based in or serving SW PA, the Heinz Endowments are a foundation worth investing time to build a relationship with. The Endowments also occasionally support regional intermediary organizations like H2O Network, which can sub-grant or coordinate work across member groups.