SteelTree

Rebecca Gruener

SteelTree Fund Chair

Rafi Segal

SteelTree Fund Co-Chair

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SteelTree has an updated request for proposals for the 2026-2027 cycle. See below for more information!

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SteelTree’s Statement of Purpose  

Invest in innovative nonprofit programs that strengthen the vibrancy, endurance, and inclusiveness of the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community through the leadership of young adult Jewish donors.   

Request for Proposals  

The SteelTree Fund seeks applications for grants to support innovative programs that strengthen the vibrancy, endurance, and inclusiveness of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. A program is considered innovative if it does not currently exist in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community or if it addresses an unmet need or opportunity in our community.   

SteelTree offers grants of $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000 in two grant cycles per year. An existing 501c3 organization or an individual with access to a fiscal sponsor* are invited to apply for funding. Applicants may submit more than one grant within the same fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) but can only be funded once per year. Previously funded applicants can be considered as well.  

Our application process has two stages: an Idea Phase and a Presentation Phase. 

If you are interested in being considered for a grant, learn more about how to apply.

The SteelTree board is composed of young adult donors from our community who are passionate about making positive change in the Jewish community.   

*A fiscal sponsor is a 501c3 organization that has agreed to receive the funds on behalf of the grantee. If you want to apply for a SteelTree grant but do not have a fiscal sponsor, please contact Lily Wein at [email protected] to set up time to talk about your options. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Important Dates for 2026-2027: 

CYCLE 1 

• Letter of Intent Submission Period Opens: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
• Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2026
• Applicants Notified of Next Steps: Thursday, October 29, 2026
• Supplemental Materials Deadline: Friday, November 13, 2026
• Presentations: Wednesday, December 9, 2026
• Applicants Notified of Funding Decisions: Thursday, December 10, 2026

CYCLE 2

• Letter of Intent Submission Period Opens: Wednesday, January 6, 2027
• Letter of Intent Deadline: Wednesday, February 3, 2027
• Applicants Notified of Next Steps: Thursday, March 8, 2027
• Supplemental Materials Deadline: Thursday, April 1, 2027
• Presentations: Thursday, April, 15, 2027
• Applicants Notified of Funding Decisions: Friday, April 16, 2027

There are two stages to our new application process: the Idea Phase and the Presentation Phase. 

Idea Phase

The first step in the process is a Letter of Intent (LOI) submitted on our grant portal. To get started on the portal, take the eligibility quiz and select the SteelTree funding opportunity. Please follow these steps to access the eligibility quiz: 

• Click on the triangle next to your name in the top right corner and select "My Account." On the left side under Account Settings select "Eligibility." Then click the green box that says Update your eligibility profile.
• Select "SteelTree Fund" and enter “SteelTree2026-27” then "Next" followed by "Save my profile." 

We’re flexible about the format for the LOI – it can be a written response input into the web form, a letter, a 3 to 5-minute video, a PDF of a flyer – as long as it addresses the following: 

• Provides a one sentence description of the project.
• Provides a high-level description of program, and especially shows how the proposal is innovative according SteelTree’s definition from the RFP – the program does not currently exist in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community or it addresses an unmet need or opportunity in our community. 
• Shows the proposed program’s intended impact on the Pittsburgh Jewish community.
• Shows how the program will strengthen the vibrancy, endurance and inclusivity of Jewish Pittsburgh.
• Additional notes to include: 
  • Are you an existing 501c3 or will you require a fiscal sponsor? 
  • Are you seeking $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000 from SteelTree? 
  • How would you use SteelTree's funds to achieve your goals? 

Optionally, applicants can sign up for virtual “office hours” where they can meet with Federation staff and ask questions about the application process, RFP, etc. Office hours for the summer/fall cycle are Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Sign up for a virtual time slot. If you need assistance with scheduling, please email Lily Wein at [email protected].

The SteelTree board will review the LOIs and invite a select number of applicants to proceed to the Presentation Phase.

Presentation Phase

Those who are invited to continue to the Presentation Phase will be asked to prepare a structured presentation, up to seven minutes long, to take place at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh office, as well as submit supplemental materials a couple of weeks ahead of the funding meeting. 

The 7-minute presentation should address the following: 

• What is the community need or opportunity your project will address, and what is its significance? Please also elaborate on why and/or how the project is innovative if desired. 
• Describe your proposed program or project, including activities, strategies, staffing, etc. Explain how the design will enable you to address the problem or need. Clearly identify the demographics or groups served by the project, and the number of people impacted if known. Describe why your organization is well suited to implement the proposed program.  
• How will you know if your project is successful? How will you measure the outcomes and outputs of the program? Please describe short-term and long-term outcomes. What’s your fundraising strategy, especially if you want to continue this program beyond the grant term?
• What research, evidence or established best practice suggests that your project will be successful? If the approach is new, and therefore untested or unproven, why do you think it will be successful? What are the most significant possible risks and rewards associated with this project? 

Agencies invited to present are also asked to submit the following supplemental materials on the grant portal: 

• If the project involves other partners, list them and describe the role of each 
• Provide a project timeline, including beginning & ending dates  
• Upload project budget 
• Provide a Financial Summary that includes: 
  • Amount requested 
  • Total project budget  
  • Total budget for organization 
  • Explanation of how SteelTree funds would be used
  • Budget narrative 

Following the presentation, there will be Q&A in which the SteelTree committee members will ask questions about your presentation content and your supplemental materials. Funding decisions will be made that night and communicated to you the next business day.