Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
McAuley Ministries
Our Grantmaking Priorities
McAuley Ministries will honor the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy by focusing its grantmaking on the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Mercy in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods traditionally served by the health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy: the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland.
Health and Wellness
Initiatives that address individual and community health, including physical, social, behavioral, and spiritual health. Our goal is to support community-based and public health initiatives that improve the overall health status of residents of the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland. Priority will be given to applications that provide:
- Safe, healthy, and affordable housing with a focus on rental housing for young families and seniors.
- Public education programs that help residents to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
- Urban agriculture and other initiatives that bring fresh and healthy food to the community.
- Parks, green spaces, and other initiatives that support family-friendly recreation and physical activity.
- Prevention and screening initiatives that lead to early detection of disease.
- The safety net for residents who lack access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and health care.
Community Development
Initiatives that assist individuals and families in the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland transition from poverty to self-sufficiency. Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- Support unemployed individuals to prepare for, secure, and maintain family-sustaining employment. Priority will be given to workforce development initiatives that have been developed in collaboration with employers and that link job training to actual employment.
- Support entrepreneurship and small business development. Priority will be given to initiatives that link business development to the specific purchasing needs of large, adjacent institutions.
- Address the availability of transportation for access to work, including advocacy initiatives surrounding public transportation and/or direct assistance to families in need of transportation to secure and maintain work.
Educational Success
Initiatives that assist African-American children to succeed in school, graduate high school, and successfully transition to college or work. Priority initiatives include:
- Early childhood programs that prepare children to succeed in school; support to increase the availability of Keystone Star top-rated programs in the community.
- After-school programs that both reinforce and strengthen academic skills and provide high-quality enrichment activities such as music, art, science, and sports. After-school programs must contact McAuley Ministries for additional information prior to submitting a grant request.
- Parent and community engagement and advocacy to achieve academic equity and close the achievement gap.
- Initiatives that address the social issues (e.g. hunger, behavioral health) that create obstacles for children to succeed in school.
Capacity Building
Assistance to nonprofit organizations serving the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland, to strengthen nonprofit governance and leadership, strategic and business planning, program development, technology and information systems, management systems and practices, and financial resources. Priority will be given to:
- Leadership development initiatives that support the next generation of community leaders.
- Program planning support to accelerate the development and implementation of catalytic projects.
- Advocacy initiatives that address public safety, prisoner re-entry, educational justice, and safety-net issues such as housing, hunger, and health care access.
- Convening community leaders to encourage collaboration and greater collective impact.
- Provision of capital support for facilities and infrastructure on a limited basis, and where such funding supports our grantmaking priorities.
Legacy Programs
Assistance to community outreach programs in Southwestern Pennsylvania sponsored by or associated with the Sisters of Mercy. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of these programs to increase their effectiveness and sustainability, and to support innovative projects that will enhance their service to the community.
