In June, FISA Foundation awarded $740,000 in grants to 17 organizations serving women, girls, and people with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“FISA is committed to supporting organizations that are working every day to remove barriers and expand opportunities,” said Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director of FISA Foundation. “These grants reflect urgent and unmet needs from across our region: access to healthcare, safe housing, education, and legal support remains out of reach for far too many women, girls, and people with disabilities. We are honored to partner with organizations that are responding to these challenges with care, creativity, and a deep commitment to community voice and leadership. We believe in investing in communities whose needs are often overlooked.”
FISA Foundation is proud to support many small and grassroots organizations. More than half of this funding was awarded to groups embedded in the communities they serve—organizations that bring critical insight into pressing needs and drive solutions grounded in lived experience.
Read the full list of grants awarded below.
Grants supporting people with disabilities:
- $35,000 to Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit for the Youth Advocacy Clinic, which provides legal aid to children and families with concerns related to special education, school discipline, and the juvenile justice system.
- $50,000 to Casa San Jose for the Steps for Autism Education (S.A.F.E.) Program, which provides culturally relevant support for Latino parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
- $35,000 in operating support to East Suburban Citizen Advocacy for advocacy with and for people with disabilities and to provide inclusive social opportunities.
- $40,000 to the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation to provide loans for assistive technology (AT) to people with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania.
- $55,000 to Greater Valley Community Services for the James Project, an initiative that utilizes virtual reality to train first responders and community providers about autism.
- $25,000 to The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh for the Child’s Way Program, an education and childcare center for children with disabilities and complex medical needs.
- $25,000 in operating support to Pittsburghers for Public Transit for organizing & advocacy for transit justice that centers disability justice.
- $25,000 to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Allegheny County to support its advocacy for children with disabilities and girls of color who have been abused or neglected.
Grants investing in women and girls:
- $30,000 to MAYA Organization for the Perinatal Empowerment Services program, which provides no-cost, culturally-responsive doula care, perinatal education, mentorship, and resource navigation for birthing people from underserved communities.
- $25,000 to Sisters Saving Ourselves Now (via fiscal sponsor The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc.) to support the Healing Hands, Empowered Voices project, a community-centered self-development training for female Community Health Workers in underserved communities.
- $30,000 to Proud Haven for the Step Into Stability Program, a short-term transitional housing program for young Trans and Queer women and femmes experiencing housing instability.
- $80,000 over two years to the Professional Women’s Network (via fiscal sponsor POISE Foundation) for the Young Leaders Internship Program, an internship program for high school girls from underserved Pittsburgh communities.
- $35,000 in operating support to The Midwife Center for Birth & Women’s Health to provide client-centered primary gynecological, pregnancy, and birthing care.
- $50,000 to Women and Girls Foundation to support GirlGov, a civic engagement and social justice advocacy program for middle and high school girls.
- $120,000 over two years in operating support to POWER for services to women in recovery.
- $30,000 to SisTers PGH for the Project T program, which provides transitional housing and services for transgender women of color.
- $50,000 in operating support to Women’s Law Project to defend and advance the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania.