Request for Proposals — Pittsburgh Eco-Agriculture Leaders Initiative

The LOI process is now closed and will re-open towards the end of 2025.

During the 2024-2024 cycle, PEALI is seeking proposals from:

Organizations must be led by the global majority (Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other People of Color) with annual budgets of $250,000 or less. Special consideration will be given to organizations led by immigrants and migrants of the global majority, women farmers, intergenerational organizations, and organizations that are youth-focused or led.

Organizations that received funding from Sampson outside of PEALI are ineligible to apply.
Organizations must be located in Allegheny County, with particular interest in:
- City of Pittsburgh Neighborhoods:
  - East End (Homewood, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington, East Hills, Wilkinsburg)
  - Hill District
  - Marshall Shadeland, California-Kirkbride, Northview Heights
  - Southside (Beltzhoover, Allentown, Mt. Oliver, Arlington, St. Clair)
  - West End (Sheraden, McKees Rocks)
  - Hazelwood and Glen Hazel
- Mon Valley

How to Apply:

The committee is accepting letters of intent (LOI) for this grant process through an online grants management system. To submit a LOI:

Go to the online grant management system: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=thesampsonfoundation
If you have not applied to PEALI/Sampson Foundation in the past, please create an account. Select “Create New Account'' to enter your information. If you have applied in the past, please enter your email address and password (you can select “forgot your password” if needed).
Once logged in, please select “Apply” on the top of the screen to get started on the LOI under “2024-25 PEALI Grant Cycle.”
If you need technical assistance or translation services, please contact Vanessa at vanessa@intentionalphilanthropy.com or 301.761.4433 Ext. 522.
To review a list of the LOI questions, please visit this link.

If your LOI is accepted, organizations will be invited to submit an application for grant funding.

Timeline:

The LOI process opens on Wednesday, November 20. LOIs are due on Friday, December 20 at 11:59 pm.
An information session will be held on Monday, December 2 from 11 am to 12 pm on Google Meet.
- Link to Google Meet: meet.google.com/did-vgmi-ixn

Selected organizations will be notified around Friday, January 17 if invited to complete a formal application. The application will open mid-January and be due mid-February.

Grantmaking focus areas are:

For Non-Profit Organizations

Agriculture - Grant funding may be utilized to support efforts to improve our local food system. Examples include gardening, farming, and animal husbandry.
Food Solutions - Grant funding may be utilized to support efforts to improve our local food system. Examples include retail and distribution, policy advocacy, processing and manufacturing, transportation, equipment, and space/storage.
Business Development - Grant funding may be utilized to build capacity in new and existing food/agricultural nonprofits. Examples include business formation, legal assistance, and cooperative development.
Operations - Grant funding may be utilized to improve operations for new and existing food and agricultural entities. Examples include waste management, composting, and food safety training.
Community Development & Infrastructure - Grant funding may be utilized for land acquisition, land remediation, and equipment.
Community Education- Grant funding may be utilized for in-person or virtual community engagement/programming. Examples include educational workshops for residents, professional development for farmers or translators for multilingual residents.

For for-Profit Organizations

Agriculture - Grant funding may be utilized to support efforts to improve our local food system. Examples include gardening, farming, and animal husbandry.
Food Solutions - Grant funding may be utilized to support efforts to improve our local food system. Examples include retail and distribution, policy advocacy, processing and manufacturing, transportation, equipment, and space/storage.
Community Development & Infrastructure - Grant funding may be utilized for land remediation and equipment.

Community Education- Grant funding may be utilized for in-person or virtual community engagement/programming. Examples include educational workshops for residents, professional development for farmers, or translators for multilingual residents.

Contact: If you have questions on the Request for Proposals, please email us at vanessa@intentionalphilanthropy.com.