Pittsburgh offering grants to city groups working on violence prevention

Pittsburgh organizations have until July 5 to apply for city grants to use for violence prevention programs, according to Mayor Ed Gainey’s office.

Applicants can request grants ranging from $15,000 to more than $90,000 through the city’s STOP the Violence Office, officials said.

“It’s time to address violence as a public health crisis that is treatable and preventable,” Gainey said. “We know that no single organization can effectively eliminate violence on its own, which is why my administration is focused on community partnerships.”

Jay Gilmer, coordinator of the STOP the Violence Office, said the city is looking to partner with “organizations in our city that are already connected to our high-risk populations and are doing all they can to prevent violence.”

The city said eligible projects include academic, arts or sports programs for high-risk people; family-strengthening activities; parent or guardian support; mentoring for young people or adults; development of support groups for traumatized individuals and their families; and culturally sensitive mental health counseling for high-risk people.

Expenses such as fundraising for an individual or annual fundraising events are not eligible. The grants also can’t be used for lobbying or advocacy.

The city is partnering with the POISE Foundation to administer the grants. Applicants must take a brief eligibility quiz on POISE’s online application portal to determine whether they qualify. If they do, the portal will direct them to the application.

Grant recipients are expected to receive their money in early September, officials said.

Additional information on the program is available through the POISE Foundation’s website.