Mission Statement

Opportunity Fund awards grants to small to midsize arts organizations, and  organizations and initiatives that advance social and economic justice.

At least 75% of our grants are awarded to projects that benefit the Greater Pittsburgh community.

Learn more about our Guiding Values here.

Funding Areas

Arts

• Performing Arts, with an emphasis on theatre, dance and music, especially classical chamber music and jazz, presented by small and mid-sized arts organizations
• Visual Arts, with an emphasis on craft and small to mid-sized organizations

Social & Economic Justice

with a focus on Racial Justice

• Black-Led Movement Work
• Civil Liberties
• Civil Rights, with special interest in Black and LGBTQ+ people, and other groups impacted by social injustice
• Human Rights
• Reproductive Freedom
• Safety Net Resources for people in need, including social services, economic independence, housing, tangible aid, transportation, healthcare

Online Application

Opportunity Fund uses an online application for all steps of the grant making process. We do not accept mailed letters or paper applications. Applicants can submit a short video (2-3 minutes) for the “narrative” portion of the LOI.

Deadlines

Opportunity Fund’s Board meets to review Full Applications twice a year.

Cycle 1: LOI (preliminary application) is due by January 15, 2025.
If invited, a Full Application is due on March 7 for award notification in May.

Cycle 2: LOI is due by July 15, 2025.
If invited, a Full Application is due September 5 for award notification in October.

Please see our FAQs page for more information about who and what we fund, fiscal sponsorship, and additional details for applicants.

Applicant Support

Watch an on-demand video info session (22 min)

View info session slides

Two-Step Process

We have a two-step application process. Use our online grant system to complete both steps. First, submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). An LOI, in this case, is basically a short application. Second, if approved, you will be invited to submit a longer Full Application.

Preliminary Application: Letter of Inquiry

Please visit the online application to create a user account or to return to an already-existing account where you can access the LOI form. If you are a previous grant partner and have not yet completed your final report, you will have the opportunity to do so in short section within the LOI. Once your LOI has been submitted, you will be notified of the timeline for next steps of your application. Applicants are urged to submit their LOI early. This tutorial provides step-by-step guidance on using the online application.

You may download a Word Doc of the LOI including all the questions in the online form. For the first time, we are requesting a budget within the LOI with the intention of awarding a limited number of grants early after review of all submissions.

Full Application

UPDATE FOR 2025 Cycle 2: Opportunity Fund is currently changing our grants management system. This will happen after the July 15, 2025 LOI deadline. Applicants invited to a full application will receive clear instructions and support for completing their full application in the new system.

Opportunity Fund is based in Pittsburgh, PA