The Sprout Fund

Sprout was a force for change in Pittsburgh, and all change is driven by people. We are truly grateful to have worked with some extraordinary people on this journey. Thank you (yes, you!) for being a part of Sprout’s work—we couldn’t have done it without you.

Sprout was founded on the hunch that there was power in supporting grassroots community change. We're grateful to the more than 1,100 supported projects that proved the point. Most of all, to those who stood up to advocate for change and engage people in civic life.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for our Sprout Sunset party! It was a pleasure to honor our Sprout Legacy Awardees and to celebrate 17 years seeding change here in Pittsburgh.

Photos: Ryan Michael White and Nico Segall Tobon

Inclusivity was one of Sprout’s guiding beliefs. We’re thankful for each and every opportunity we had to support people who put these beliefs into action and have made diversity and inclusion more central to Pittsburgh’s story and its future.

We’re grateful for the people and organizations making the Pittsburgh region a great place to raise a family—efforts like Remake Learning, Kidsburgh, Rec2Tech, the Digital Corps, and Pittsburgh City of Learning.

Even small projects can say something big. We learned that over the years when people came to us with wild ideas. We’re grateful for the creativity and imagination of folks that make our city quirky, scrappy, and authentically Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh has changed a lot since 2001. Some of those changes are more visible (and physical) than others. We're grateful to have fueled hundreds of dedicated people leading efforts to improve the city's built environment while caring for its natural environment.

Artists are the weavers of our shared cultural fabric. We have gratitude for the hundreds of local artists who made their mark on Pittsburgh. It was our privilege to support a generation of painters, performers, poets, puppeteers, and more who shared their talent.

Public Art is a lasting part of Sprout’s legacy. We're thankful for the opportunities to foster creativity and build community by connecting artists with neighborhoods, commissioning original artwork accessible to everyone, and helping artists make a scene.

Catalyzing community change means much more than distributing grant dollars. When we asked people in Pittsburgh to come together, share ideas, and get involved, you showed up! We’re grateful for everyone who joined us to think big and make things happen together.

In Pittsburgh, it’s about the neighborhoods. Pride in our city manifests in the love we feel for its 446 bridges, 90 neighborhoods, and 3 rivers. Love for Pittsburgh’s places and spaces made Sprout’s work possible, and we’re thankful for the people and organizations we worked with to make our city’s places brighter, greener, more playful, and more inclusive.

We called on you to help us find people who embody Sprout’s ideals. You answered with more than 500 nominations for more than 300 incredible people. Today, we announce the 50 exceptional Pittsburghers who were selected to receive $1,000 Sprout Legacy Awards. Each has committed to carrying our vision forward by tackling the pressing challenges of today and tomorrow in their own communities, and inspiring others to do the same.

Visit www.sproutfund.org/ for a full list of the 50 Legacy Awardees.