PNC FOUNDATION

Contact information:
1 PNC Plaza
249 5th Ave., 20th Fl.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1119
Phone: 412-762-2748
Fax: 412-705-3584

Website: www.pncsites.com/pncfoundation/index.html

Type of foundation: Company-sponsored

Types of grants: Building/renovation, capital, general operating, matching/challenge support, program-related investments, program development.

Description: The PNC Foundation makes grants in the areas of:

• Education: The Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early education initiatives that serve low-and moderate-income children (birth through age five), their teachers and families. Priority is given to programs that focus on the areas of math, science, the arts or financial education and include one or some combination of the following:
  • Direct services for children in their classroom or community.
  • Professional development for teachers.
  • Family engagement in the early education of children being served by grants.
  • Volunteer opportunities for PNC employees.

  PNC developed PNC Grow Up Great, a 10-year, $100 million initiative to help improve the school readiness of millions of children from birth to age five. As part of this initiative, the PNC Foundation has earmarked funds for grants to nonprofit organizations which work to directly improve children's school readiness by providing support in one of the following key areas: math, science, and the arts.

• Economic development: Priority is given to community development initiatives that promote the growth of targeted low- and moderate-income communities and/or provide services to these communities. Grants are made to organizations working in the areas of:
  • Affordable Housing: Grants go to nonprofit organizations that give counseling and services to help low- and moderate-income individuals maintain their housing stock; offer transitional housing units and programs; and/or offer credit counseling assistance to individuals, helping them to prepare for homeownership.

  • Community Development: Grants support nonprofit organizations that offer technical assistance to, or loan programs for, small businesses located in low-and moderate-income areas. Grants also support small businesses that employ low-and moderate-income individuals.

  • Community Services:
 The Foundation supports job training programs and organizations that provide essential services for their families. PNC provides support for early learning and educational enrichment programs for children in low-and moderate-income families as well as for the construction of community facilities that benefit low-and moderate-income communities. 

  • Revitalization and Stabilization of Low-and Moderate-Income Areas:
 Support is given to organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight and attract and retain businesses and residents to the community.

  • Arts and Culture:
 Support is given for cultural enrichment programs benefiting the community.

Sample grants:

• $2,665,000 to Sesame Workshop to promote Math Is Everywhere (2010).
• $1,000,000 to Sesame Workshop for general support and Math Is Everywhere (2009).
• $750,000 to Sesame Workshop for general support and on-air underwriting (2009).
• $190,550 to Franklin Institute Science Museum (Philadelphia, PA) for general support (2010).
• $100,000 to Commonwealth Fund for KET (Lexington, KY) for general support (2010).
• $55,000 to WHYY (Philadelphia, PA) for general support (2010).
• $50,000 to Commonwealth Fund for KET (Lexington, KY) for general support (2010).
• $47,000 to Cape May New Jersey State Film Festival (2009).
• $45,000 to Ideastream (Cleveland, OH) for general support (2010).
• $40,000 to Appel Farm Arts and Music Center (Elmer, NJ) (2009).
• $35,000 to Caucus Educational Corporation (Montclair, NJ) (2010).
• $35,000 to Ideastream (Cleveland, OH) for general support (2009).
• $35,000 to Group Motion Multi Media Dance Theater (Philadelphia, PA) for general support (2009).
• $35,000 to Caucus Educational Corporation for general support (2009).
• $35,000 to Caucus Educational Corporation for general support (2008).
• $35,000 to Caucus Educational Corporation for general support (2007).
• $25,000 to WHYY (Philadelphia, PA) for general support (2010).
• $25,000 to Ideastream (Cleveland, OH) for general support (2010).
• $25,000 to Grand Rapids Symphony (Grand Rapids, MI) (2010).
• $25,000 to New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Newark, NJ) for general support (2010).
• $25,000 to Pittsburgh Public Theater for general support (2010).
• $25,000 to Northern Kentucky Education Council for general support (2010).
• $20,000 to Kentucky Center for the Arts (Louisville, KY) for general support (2010).
• $20,000 to Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation for general support (2007).
• $15,000 to Ideastream (Cleveland, OH) for general support (2010).
• $15,000 to Milwaukee Film (Milwaukee, WI) (2010).
• $15,000 to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (Newark, NJ) (2010).
• $11,050 to Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association - WVIA for general support (2008).
• $6,050 to Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association - WVIA for general support (2010).
• $5,000 to Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation (Peoria, IL) for general support (2010).
• $5,000 to Newark Performing Arts Corporation for general support (2010).
• $5,000 to Newark Public Radio for general support (2010).
• $5,000 to Newark Public Radio for general support (2009).
• $5,000 to Newark Public Radio for general support (2008).
• $4,000 to WITF-TV/FM South Central Educational Broadcasting Council (Harrisburg, PA) for general support (2010).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation is a potential fit for stations serving communities in areas of company operation. Most of the past grants to public media were for general support, though the Foundation does make other types of grants (building/renovation, capital). The Foundation may be a particular fit for stations that work in the areas of early education, STEM education and school readiness; and/or that connect local economic development to their work as a community-based arts organization.

Eligibility: Giving primarily in areas of company operations in Washington, DC; Delaware; Florida; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Maryland; Michigan; Missouri; New Jersey; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; Virginia and Wisconsin. Emphasis is given to Pennsylvania organizations. No grants are made for endowments.

Deadline: None (Board meets quarterly).

How to apply: The Foundation conducts all grantmaking regionally. Applicants should address all inquiries to the appropriate regional contact person. To identify the contact person, use the interactive map available on this page. Application guidelines are available here.

Giving range: Grants range widely, but most fall between $5,000 and $50,000.

Assets: $129,211,775 (year ending 12/31/2010).

Total giving: $48,885,359 (year ending 12/31/2010).