Organizing for the purpose of learning and exchange is a long-established practice in our region. In the 1960s, Pittsburgh’s senior corporate leaders met regularly to discuss philanthropic interests; private foundation leaders held a similar discussion group. After meeting separately for some years, the two groups merged to form the Pittsburgh Contributions Group, GWP’s predecessor.
In the early 1980s, a group of local grantmakers decided to create a place where local grantmakers could exchange knowledge, learn together and collaborate for higher impact. A new nonprofit was established in 1985 with 35 charter members. Some 25 years later, that visionary group has become Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, a regional association representing 80+ grantmakers of all types and reflecting the special character of philanthropy in western Pennsylvania.
Today's GWP builds on a 25-year legacy of supporting a strong, vibrant philanthropic community. Since inception, we have worked to enhance the impact of philanthropy – as individual practitioners, as funding organizations and as a community of grantmakers – on behalf of serving the public good.
| Related Materials |
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 GWP Founding Organizations |
| GWP History 1985-2015 |