Pittsburgh Eco-Agriculture Leaders Initiative (PEALI)

Request for Proposals (RFP) 2026-2027

During the 2026-2027 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 $350,000 (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

      • Manchester

      • Penn Hills

    • 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

  • To log in:

    • 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 “2026-27 PEALI Grant Cycle.”

If you need technical assistance or translation services, please contact Linda Tusiime at linda@intentionalphilanthropy.com.

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

Timeline:

  • The LOI process opens on Wednesday, November 18. LOIs are due on Wednesday, December 16 at 11:59 pm.

    An information session will be held on Friday, December 4 from 11 am to 12 pm on Zoom.

    Link to Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81383884686

  • Selected organizations will be notified around Monday, January 18 if invited to complete a formal application. The application will open mid-January and be due mid-February.

Funding Tiers are:

  • $5,000 - $25,000 for individual organizations,

  • $5,000 - $50,000 for collaborative efforts.

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, cooperative development, and strategic planning. 

  • 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.