Fisa Foundation
Accepts applications
Fisa Foundation is a private foundation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.7 million in 51 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $125,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$1.7 million
- Number of grants51
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$125,000
- Assets$48.9 million
- New grantees43%
Giving in 2024 was down from $1.9 million the year before.
43% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.9 million | 59 | $46.2 million |
| 2024 | $1.7 million | 51 | $48.9 million |
How to apply
| Contact | Kristy Trautmann Executive Director 535 Smithfield Street Suite 710, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (412) 456-5500 |
| What to submit, deadlines, restrictions | See attachment |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Fisa Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 3 states, the most to Pennsylvania.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 49 | $1.4 million |
| Illinois | 1 | $125,000 |
| South Carolina | 1 | $1,125 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Lead | Support for building a pipeline of leaders with disabilities in the southwest pa region | $125,000 |
| Gwen's Girls Inc | Support for advocacy and leadership development | $75,000 |
| Keystone Progress Education Fund | Support for civic engagement in the disability community | $66,000 |
| Education Law Center | Advocacy to ensure that children with disabilities in southwestern pa have access to public education | $60,000 |
| Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (Power) | General operating support for services to women in recovery | $60,000 |
| Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh | General operating support for the standing firm program | $60,000 |
| Abolitionist Law Center | Support for advocacy for incarcerated people with disabilities | $50,000 |
| Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania | For girl gov programming | $50,000 |
| Autism Connection of Pa | Advocacy for autistic people in the criminal legal system | $46,350 |
| Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation | To evaluate the spinal cord injury resource connector | $45,000 |
| 412 Justice | Advocacy for marginalized students in public schools | $40,000 |
| Casa San Jose | Support for the steps for autism family education program | $40,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Support for a research collaborative on reproductive health care | $40,000 |
| East Suburban Citizen Advocacy | General operating support for disability advocacy | $35,000 |
| Women's Law Project | To advocate for gender equity and justice | $35,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Foundation of Pennsylvania | To address the over-policing of students with disabilities in schools | $30,000 |
| Autism Urban Connections Inc | Support to serve marginalized families with autistic children | $30,000 |
| Healthy Start | To support advocacy for black maternal health | $30,000 |
| Hello Neighbor | Support for the smart start program for refugee mothers | $30,000 |
| Pennsylvania Prison Society | To advocate for disability rights in swpa jails | $30,000 |
| Publicsource | For reporting on gender, race and disability | $30,000 |
| Sisters Place Inc | General operating support for the supportive housing program | $30,000 |
| Sojourner House | Operating support for services to women in recovery from addiction | $30,000 |
| Achieva | Support for the disability healthcare initiative communications project | $25,000 |
| City Mission - Living Stones Inc | Support for women's emergency homeless shelter | $25,000 |
| Depaul School for Hearing and Speech | To train and mentor new teachers for deaf students | $25,000 |
| Girls Inc of Greater Pittsburgh | Support for empowerment and mentoring for girls | $25,000 |
| Kidsvoice | To provide legal advocacy for young adults with disabilities | $25,000 |
| Maya Organization | To address racial disparities in birth outcomes and experiences | $25,000 |
| Pittsburghers for Public Transit | Operating support to advocate for accessible public transit | $25,000 |
| Poise Foundation | Professional women's network's coaching & professional development | $25,000 |
| Sisters PGH | General operating support for project t, serving transgender women of color | $25,000 |
| The Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health | General operating support for reproductive health services | $25,000 |
| Adagio Health | Support to improve health care accessibility | $20,000 |
| Allegheny West Penn Health System | For adaptive equipment and training to serve people with disabilities | $20,000 |
| Disability Rights Pennsylvania | Empowering people with disabilities to advocate for high-quality healthcare | $20,000 |
| Pennsylvania Health Access Network | For education about the importance of medicaid to people with disabilities | $20,000 |
| Primary Health Network | Support for a compact wheelchair recliner for accessible dental care | $20,000 |
| The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh | Support for the youth health ambassadors program | $20,000 |
| Invision Foundation | For accessible medical equipment for residents with disabilities | $11,231 |
Officers and trustees
- Rachel Kallem Whitman
- Karen Farmer White
- Lynette R Lederman
- Chaton T Turner
- Paula Davis
- Linda Burke
- Blayre Holmes Davis
- Susan Davis
- Paula Garret
- Peggy Harris
- Liz Healey
- Ena Lebel
- Jennifer R Lundy
- Jordana Stephens
- Kristy Trautmann
Questions people ask
Does Fisa Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: See attachment.
How much does Fisa Foundation give?
$1.7 million in tax year 2024, across 51 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs Fisa Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Rachel Kallem Whitman (Board Member (Exited 4/2025)), Karen Farmer White (Board President), Lynette R Lederman (Immediate Past President) and Chaton T Turner (Vice President) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does Fisa Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly disability, education and youth programs.