Sprout Seed Award

Sprout Seed Awards are modest financial awards that support community-based projects and strategic initiatives. Since September 2001, the Sprout Seed Award program has supported more than 200 projects, totaling more than $1.3 million of investment in the community. By seeding many small projects, Sprout supports, celebrates, and showcases the initiatives of young, creative, and civically-engaged people in the region with the cumulative power to create a critical mass of positive regional change.

Sprout supports projects that are designed to:

  • Engage young people in their communities
  • Raise awareness about projects, events, and activities important to young people
  • Provide opportunities for young people to assume leadership roles
  • Bridge the gap between young people and traditional regional stakeholders
  • Improve the perceptions that young people have of the image of the Pittsburgh region

Sprout is a non-traditional grantmaker and is organized to be responsive to the innovative initiatives of young people. In addition to the size ($500 to $10,000) and timing of its support (bi-monthly review of applications), one of the key differentiators between Sprout and a traditional foundation is that Sprout’s funding decisions are made by advisory committee members that are a part of the same demographic it serves—young people making decisions to support projects serving young people.

Recently Funded Projects

  • PA GreenGive, $9,000
  • This Is Who I Am (Windgap-Chartiers Athletic Association), $3,500
  • PittPoint (The Public Square Project), $9,500
  • Jewcy Film Series (Jewish-Israeli Film Festival), $5,000
  • Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods (Pittsburgh Playback Theatre), $2,500
  • Midnight Radio (Bricolage), $6,000
  • Pop Up Pittsburgh - Uptown on the Move! (Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc.), $5,000
  • Living Together is an Art (Consumer Health Coalition), $3,000
  • Renew Pittsburgh, $10,000
  • Bringing the Bioneers to the Three Rivers (Urban Ecology Collaborative), $10,000
  • Jonkanoo (Legacy Arts Project), $10,000
  • Burgh Bees, $8,000
  • Open Thread, $3,000
  • gravity + grace (Parkinson’s Foundation of Western PA), $5,225
  • Flamenco Pittsburgh, $5,000
  • Accordion Pool Party, $4,000
  • The Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival, $7,500
  • SponsorChange.org, $3,000
  • *2008 Root Award* Bike Friendly Employer Certification Program (Bike Pittsburgh), $25,000

Learn more about other funded projects or how to apply for a Seed Award for your own project idea.