Grant Requests
The DSF Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees acts on grant requests three times per year. Inquiries may be submitted at any time. The Foundation supports projects in health, human services, and education, primarily in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Foundation does not consider requests for support of individuals or contributions to endowments.
Initial inquiries should be in the form of a letter sent by e-mail or postal mail and signed by the applicant organization's executive director or authorized representative. Supporting material should not exceed five additional pages. The letter and supporting material should provide general programmatic and financial information on the applicant organization and should include a concise description of the project for which funds are being sought. Initial inquiries should be addressed to J. Nicholas Beldecos, Executive Director at:
or
DSF Charitable Foundation
5846 Ellsworth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
The Foundation will review the information submitted and make a preliminary determination of the potential for funding. Where there is potential for funding, the Foundation will advise the organization on subsequent steps in the consideration process.
We regret that, due to the large volume of requests we receive and the small size of our staff, we are unable to reply to all inquiries. If you have not received a reply from us within eight weeks of your inquiry submission, please assume that your request will not receive further consideration.
The Foundation accepts, but does not require, the Common Grant Application Format of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. Full proposals must include a narrative, project budget, the organization's current operating budget, and audited financial statements. Also required is a copy of the organization's current determination letter regarding tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the organization does not qualify as a statutory public charity under Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(i-v), a copy of the public-support-test calculation from the most recent tax return, Form 990, is required as well. All material may be submitted in electronic form (PDF preferred).
The Foundation generally requires that two years elapse between the end of one grant period and consideration of a new request from the same organization. The Foundation also generally requires that two years elapse between the time a funding request has been declined and a new one submitted by the same organization.