Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Heinz Endowments consist of two private foundations, the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, and its monies originate from the Heinz family, founders of H. J. Heinz Company.

Its mission is "to help southwestern Pennsylvania thrive as a whole community—economically, ecologically, educationally, and culturally—while advancing the state of knowledge and practice in the fields in which we work."

The Heinz Endowments grant more than $60 million annually to nonprofit organizations.

Programs

The Endowments supports projects designed to improve the quality of life in their region and to address challenges it shares with communities across the United States. They focus on five disciplines represented by their grant-making program areas: Arts & Culture; Children, Youth & Families; Community & Economic Development; Education; and Environment. Their aim is to help make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center of quality learning and educational opportunity, and a region characterized by diversity and inclusion. As their efforts continue, they invite others to review and replicate those programs that have the potential to transform their communities for the better.

Arts & Culture

• Arts and culture play a central role in the education of children in Pittsburgh.
• Pittsburgh has a healthy arts and culture ecology.
• Pittsburgh’s arts and cultural resources advance broad community goals and are a major competitive advantage.
   

Children, Youth & Families

• Children as learners: Birth through 8.
• Adolescents as citizens.
• Family Health & Wellness.
   

Community & Economic Development

• Encourage significant economic development in specific geographic areas.
• Support innovative community and economic development across the region.
• Continue support to ecosystems that bolster innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship from technology to social ventures.
• Create a community where veterans and military families thrive socially and economically because they are welcomed, valued and understood.
   

Education

• Eliminate policy and structural barriers to education equity.
• Advance effective teaching.
• Empower youth as education reformers.

Sustainability & Environment

• Promote and support sustainable communities within a sustainable region.
• Prevent human health problems linked to environmental factors.
• Environmental education and engagement.