FISA Foundation recently awarded $575,000 in grants to 11 organizations serving women, girls, and people with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania.
FISA is proud to support these impactful organizations that are working tirelessly to provide critical resources, services, and advocacy during a very challenging time for nonprofits. From promoting reproductive justice in an uncertain landscape to improving the financial stability of Black women to advancing the rights of the disability community, the October 2025 grantees are tackling critical issues in communities that have been systematically disenfranchised. Shani Lasin, Acting Executive Director and Senior Program Officer of FISA Foundation, shares, “These grants reflect FISA’s commitment to addressing many of the inequities that Black women and people with disabilities experience in our region. FISA Foundation is honored to support organizations that ensure women, girls, and people with disabilities have equitable access to education, healthcare, and housing.”
Full list of October 2025 grantees:
$35,000 to ACTION-Housing, Inc. to advance accessible, affordable housing opportunities for people with disabilities.
$20,000 to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation’s Centering Disability Equity and Caregiver Voice at Highland Detention Center initiative to improve disability recognition and systems improvement at Highland Detention Center.
$150,000 over 2 years in operating support to the Pennsylvania Health Law Project to provide education and advocacy for people with disabilities accessing Medicaid-funded services and supports, and for advancing and protecting their healthcare rights.
$50,000 to Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. for sexual and reproductive healthcare.
$35,000 in operating support to The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh for programs that build social connections and foster communities that include people with disabilities.
$25,000 to City Mission – Living Stones, Inc. to support the Women’s Emergency Shelter, which provides housing and services for women experiencing homelessness in Fayette County.
$130,000 over two years to the Education Law Center for advocacy to ensure that children with disabilities and Black girls have access to appropriate educational opportunities.
$45,000 to New Voices for Reproductive Justice to support community organizing and engagement efforts in southwestern Pennsylvania to advance reproductive justice for Black women.
$30,000 to Catapult Greater Pittsburgh for its strategic accessibility initiative to ensure that people with disabilities can equitably participate in and benefit from Catapult’s programs.
$30,000 to the Opportunity Fund’s Respite for Black Womxn Initiative (via fiscal sponsor YWCA Greater Pittsburgh) a program to advance economic stability, equity, and rest for Black women in Allegheny County.
$25,000 in operating support to Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy/Pittsburgh Center for Disability Justice (via fiscal sponsor Side Project) to advance equity and provide support to disabled people.