The Benter Foundation, established in 2007, aims to empower communities and individuals for success. It initially focused on enhancing Pittsburgh, concentrating on its urban core and downtown, to develop it into a more livable city. The Foundation extends its efforts globally, supporting peace-building and innovation to address large-scale challenges. It emphasizes smart transportation, the arts, sustaining open spaces, and fostering global connections and community engagement, ensuring everyone benefits from regional progress through strong partnerships.
The grant program of the Benter Foundation is designed to support projects that contribute to making Pittsburgh more livable, alongside broader global initiatives. In Pittsburgh, the focus is on improving transportation options to make mobility safer and more accessible, enriching the arts to foster a vibrant community, maintaining open spaces for public enjoyment, and establishing global connections to enhance global education. The Foundation seeks to ensure broader access to the benefits of Pittsburgh's development by supporting education and savings programs for youth, career preparation, and development for adults, and by enhancing community leadership and engagement in local problem-solving. Beyond Pittsburgh, the Foundation funds projects that generate new solutions for significant problems and support peace-building efforts worldwide. Grant proposals are by invitation, with the Foundation open to inquiries about promising ideas that align with these priorities.