POISE is celebrating 40 years of giving back to the community and we’d like you to join us.

POISE Foundation is one of the oldest Black Community Foundations in the United States, and our mission is to assist the Black community in achieving self-sustaining practices, through strategic leadership, collective giving, grantmaking and advocacy. Created in the format of a Community Foundation, POISE receives funds from a variety of donors. These funds may be unrestricted and used to support our grantmaking strategy, or donor-directed for specific charitable purposes.

Over the past 40 years, POISE Foundation has grown from an initial capitalization of $164K to a present value in excess of $11 million. During this same period, POISE has returned to the community that nurtured it more than $15.5 million in grants and scholarships to deserving organizations and families in the Pittsburgh area and throughout the United States. When you donate to POISE, you can be assured that your contribution is going to directly serve the Black Community.

2020 was a banner year for POISE. In addition to our regular grant and scholarship-making, we launched an important new fund called the Critical Community Needs Fund (CCNF) to support small to mid-sized Black-Led Organizations (BLOs) that are serving and sustaining the Black Community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far, we have raised more than $1.3 million for the CCNF and awarded more than $1 million to 100 local BLOs in the region.

Proudly Sponsored By:

• In December 1980, Bernard Jones founded the POISE Foundation with $170,000. POISE was incorporated as the first public foundation created and managed by Black people in the State of Pennsylvania. Jones served as the board president and two of his former Explorer Scouts served as trustees. This incorporation fulfilled an unspoken promise Jones made to his scouts to give back to the Black community and help create a Pittsburgh region where all residents are empowered and self-sufficient.

• In 1982, awarded first 5 grants for $18,000.

• POISE surpassed $1,000,000 in assets.

• Founder Bernard Jones retired from the Allegheny Conference and became the POISE Foundation’s first paid staff member.

• The POISE Foundation provided fiscal sponsorship services, which carved a pathway for causes in the Black community to attract donors even when they weren’t recognized as 501c3 organizations. This advanced racial equality.

• The POISE Foundation surpassed the $1,000,000 mark in grants and scholarships.

• On February 4, 2002, Founder, President and CEO Bernard Jones passed away, leaving behind a legacy of giving.

• POISE hired Mark Lewis as the second president to continue to advance the foundation’s mission.

• During this decade, POISE launched the Education Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship Program. These programs allow eligible businesses to donate to scholarship programs, like POISE, in exchange for PA tax credits.

• POISE expanded its staff to include an administrative assistant and vice president of programs.

• POISE surpassed $4.5 million in grants and scholarships, funding priority areas such as community and economic development, education, entrepreneurial activities, youth, and strengthening Black families.

• POISE team expansion occurred with the hiring of a development director, controller, program officer, and scholarship manager.

• POISE surpassed $15 million in grants to Pittsburgh’s Black community.

• POISE launched Strengthening Black Families and Strengthening Black Communities Initiatives

• POISE established the Greater Hill District Development Growth Fund.

• POISE contracted with NAACP to administer the scholarship process.

• POISE exceeded 200 funds under the foundation's management.

• POISE created the Human Equity and Justice Fund, which provides immediate financial support to organizations and movements on the frontlines of the social justice movement.

• POISE named National Destination for Black CharitableFunds.

• POISE featured among Philanthropy Unbound's list of 100 orgs making a difference in the world.

Your contribution today will help sustain POISE for the next 40 years and beyond.

In addition to Sponsorship Opportunities, you may donate using the following methods:

Donate Online

POISE can accept secure online donations using your Credit/Debit Card. For your protection, all transactions are processed through a secure server site. You will only need to enter your credit card number when you reach the donation portal.

You may elect to give a one-time donation or you may setup recurring donations to show your long term commitment to the Foundation. If you'd like to learn more about establishing a fund, click here.

NOTE: The POISE Foundation will provide an acknowledgement letter for the full amount of your gift. However, please note that a credit card processing fee of 2.9% will be taken against the fund to which you are making a contribution.

A copy of our official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

We also welcome checks that can be sent to:

POISE FOUNDATION

Two Gateway Center, Suite 1700
603 Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

December 16th, 2021
POISE and the Roots of Pittsburgh’s Black Community Foundation