A DECADE OF DIFFERENCE
2024 Impact Report
our impact
In 2024, we invested $5.5M into our neighborhoods and directly served over 9,300 residents. By connecting people to the resources they need to create positive change in their neighborhoods, we have seen real results—we are seeing the lives of Pittsburghers improving.
A Decade of Difference
2024 Impact Report
our impact
In 2024, we invested $5.5M into our neighborhoods and directly served over 9,300 residents. By connecting people to the resources they need to create positive change in their neighborhoods, we have seen real results—we are seeing the lives of Pittsburghers improving.
Invested into Equitable Development Activities
Invested in Minority/Women-owned Businesses or Organizations (MWBE)
Unique Minority/Women-Owned Vendors Funded
Invested in RISE HIGH Grantee-Partners
Invested in Mental Health Services for Black Residents
How We Fostered Economic Mobility in 2024
We served nearly 6,500 residents through our Economic Mobility initiatives in 2024, working to empower families and individuals to achieve long-term, sustained financial well-being and build generational wealth. We:
Supported 269 clients of the Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) in reaching significant positive financial outcomes, including building up $613,000 of savings and reducing debt by $2.46 million collectively. Plus, 139 clients improved their credit scores by 35 points or more.
Assisted folks in our programs in opening 83 new bank accounts through the FEC and our Bank On initiative, providing a safe and affordable way to save.
Helped over 600 new families enroll in Fund My Future PGH, a children’s savings program that encourages saving for the future.
Launched Mobile Digital Skills classes and provided 35 residents with basic digital skills to help them thrive in today’s online world.
Money Talks
In 2024, Money Talks saw over 125 participants register, reflecting the ongoing demand for meaningful, community-centered financial education. We were proud to be invited to share about our program with NASDAQ employees, a testament to the impact and innovation behind our work. In response to participant needs, we introduced summer support sessions and launched a Holiday Finances Survival series to help navigate the financial pressures of the winter season. These expansions reflect our commitment to meeting participants where they are and providing consistent, relevant support year-round.
This program has financially empowered me. I’m a financial space that I’ve never thought I could obtain. I’ve increased my credit score, combined my 401k, eliminated my credit card debt, and started consistently saving. Thank you to the ENTIRE Money Talks Team, instructors and participants.
How We Revitalized Neighborhoods in 2024
We continued advancing equitable and inclusive development activities in Black and Brown communities. We:
Invested $1.87 million and over 1,000 technical assistance hours into equitable real estate projects, leading to over $12.8 million in additional funding leveraged towards projects.
Supported 31 small businesses through our Get Online Grow Online program, helping them to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Led residents through over 128 community development workshops or presentations as a part of our Social Impact Design Program, which translates community visions and objectives into architectural design packages.
We supported the creation of affordable housing in Homewood. We invested $800,000 in the Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Corporation for the purchase of 69 units for renovation into affordable housing and continued partnering with WNT Daniels Development Group on a multi-phased project to bring 16 units to the area.
Continued building upon new and existing partnerships with clients to bring impactful real estate projects to life, including assisting 5 partners to secure over $800,000 in ARPA funding.
4 New Units of Affordable Housing In Homewood: Benedict Dwellings Holds Ribbon Cutting
In 2022, Tina Daniels, founder of Concrete Rose Construction, embarked on her first multi-unit, multi-phase redevelopment project – sixteen units of affordable housing in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Phase 1 of the project, called Benedict Dwellings, consists of four units and was completed in June 2024. Three of the four units are reserved for families earning at or below 50% area median income (AMI), while the fourth is leased to a family earning between 60% and 80% area median income (AMI). Neighborhood Allies was proud to provide $260,000 in direct investment, 80 hours of technical and legal assistance, and help in leveraging more than $500,000 in additional funding. Phase 2 of the project, which we are also partnering with Tina on, is now under construction!
How We Built Capacity in 2024
In 2024, we continued tackling problems from all angles by helping break down financial barriers; bringing together the right people and resources at the right time. We:
Joined forces with Omicelo Cares, another leading, Black-led nonprofit, taking our long-standing partnership to the next level by combining and integrating their successful programming into Neighborhood Allies’ portfolio of services. Most notably, we relaunched our co-created Real Estate Co-Powerment Series, reaching over 300 graduates from the course!
Continued supporting our Organization-in-Residence, Steel Smiling, by providing access to Neighborhood Allies’ internal services, policies, and organizational structure.
Completed work on the Public Art and Communities (PAC 2.0) Program and held a celebratory event. In all, PAC 2.0 supported 4 unique public art projects and served over 1,000 residents over the course of 3 years. Read all about the program in this publication.
Organized 123 community building events and increased the capacity of 85 organizations through our collaborative work.
Social Impact Design Services Lead to $1M in Funding Leveraged for the Brashear Association, Inc.
Neighborhood Allies’ Social Impact Design team invested nearly $15,000, engaged over 100 residents, and provided 140 hours of technical assistance, leading the Brashear Association to raise an additional $1,075,00 towards the project.
“Working with the Social Impact Design team has been an amazing experience. While working with our staff and the community, they were patient with the seniors, had fun engaging the kiddos and made this project come to life through effective community engagement.”
-Andrea Matthews, Executive Director, The Brashear Association, Inc.
How We Partnered for Greater Impact in 2024
We center our work and investments to foster a more just, fair, and inclusive society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We:
Invested $1.95M into 195 unique MWBE Vendors, totaling 58.64% of our spending.
Invested over $40,000 in mental health services for Black residents through our Organization-in-Residence, Steel Smiling.
Collectively, our staff engaged in over 1,000 hours of training and volunteer service in 2024 in areas such as mental health, equity, and community support. We held 3 all-staff trainings and participated in 1 community support days.
Began to explore government relations and formed an internal advocacy and public policy team.
In 2024, we invested 240,000 into 12 RISE HIGH Grantee-Partners.
All are working towards meaningful and measurable equity and inclusion results in the Pittsburgh area. All of them are MWBEs or are partnering with an MWBE.
$15,000 | Three Rivers Business Alliance Foundation
Three Rivers Business Alliance Foundation is the largest advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ people efforts in recruiting, supporting and certifying LGBTQ+ communities of color owned businesses as minority businesses (LGBTBE). This grant will allow them to conduct targeted outreach to local LGBTQ businesses, provide mentorship throughout the certification process, and provide opportunities for newly certified businesses to learn how they can maximize their certification.
$15,000 | The Promise Center of Homewood
The Promise Center of Homewood aims to achieve comprehensive outcomes in sexual health education, life skills development, and conflict resolution, fostering empowered and well-rounded individuals within their community through their “Find Beauty Within” program. This grant will support their programming and administration costs, including materials to conduct engaging workshops that empower students.
$15,000 | The Margaret Washington Literacy Center
The Early Excellent Project (EEP) at the Margaret Washington Literacy Center strives to narrow the opportunity gap and support early childcare centers in receiving resources and accreditations to enrich the learning of Black and Brown children. Located in the Hill District, EEP aims to support the strengthening of early childcare sites that serve low-income families in Allegheny County to ensure equity in inclusivity in education. RISE HIGH grant funds will be used to implement a high-impact tutoring program at Miller Elementary for one quarter. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the academic achievements of students through personalized and focused tutoring sessions.
$15,000 | The Senior Jazz Connection and Resource Fair
The Senior Jazz Connection and Resource Fair is a comprehensive initiative designed to enrich the cultural landscape of our community while offering valuable opportunities for artistic expression, skill development, and social interaction. Through a combination of workshops, performances, and outreach programs, they aspire to cultivate a deep appreciation for jazz music and its role in promoting understanding and unity. RISE HIGH funds will be used for planning, facility, and administration costs, fees for jazz bands, catered lunch for 40 seniors, and cost for health resources to seniors for distribution.
$15,000 | The Oakland Business Improvement District’s (OBID)
The Oakland Business Improvement District’s (OBID), through its Equitable Oakland program, will establish an inclusive small business support effort to open the doors to emerging entrepreneurs – especially BIPOC founders – ensuring that everyone benefits from exposure to the economic might of Pittsburgh’s most dynamic neighborhood. RISE HIGH funds will be used to retain and expand Argyle Studio 2.0, providing space and support for 3-6 entrepreneur residents on 6-month rotations, with technical assistance for up to 20 businesses. The target audience will be BIPOC, Latinx and immigrant residents.
$15,000 | The OJ Macklin Foundation
The OJ Macklin Foundation is a newly founded nonprofit organization centering the importance of fitness and holistic wellness for Black boys in Pittsburgh. Their mission is “to support, improve, and empower physical and mental wellness for youth and their families through education and mentorship.” The RISE HIGH grant will cover programming, administration, and facilities costs for their EmpowerFit program – an eight-week afterschool initiative offering fitness training, supplementary wellness-centered activities and education, and one-on-one mentorship for Black boys.
$15,000 | The Homeless Children's Education Fund
The Homeless Children’s Educational Fund (HCEF) is dedicated to tackling the urgent economic disparity affecting young people of color by addressing their quality of life. Recognizing the financial challenges children and youth experiencing homelessness face, especially when intersecting with another marginalized identity, HCEF aims to provide equity through education. The RISE HIGH grant supported workforce development and financial literacy training for students experiencing homelessness, personnel, supplies and administration costs, as well as transportation for students to and from the program.
$15,000 | Assemble
Assemble was founded in 2011 and has since empowered over 80,000 people in the Pittsburgh area. Through dedicated afterschool and weekend programs, Assemble provides an on ramp for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) education. RISE HIGH funds supported the ongoing development of Assemble’s Afrofuturism curriculum, designed to shift the lens typically used in current education programs toward the unheard and erased heroes bringing them to the forefront of math, science, art, and technology. The Afrofuturism STEAM Curriculum is a learning opportunity with the support to shift narratives.
$15,000 | Millvale Community Development Corporation
Millvale Community Development Corporation’s “Be Our Neighbor” program has a mission to support the growing immigrant and refugee population in Millvale. Their vision is to build lasting personal connections between neighbors, creating a community safety net for vulnerable new community members. By connecting immigrant/refugees with trained and vetted volunteers in their community, they will end many of the issues surrounding navigating basic systems in daily American life. The Be Our Neighbor program, using RISE HIGH funds to implement a pilot year of the program, offers direct family support with interpretation services, host cultural community events, and a neighbor match program.
$15,000 | Heirs Barber and Social Shop
Heirs Barber and Social Shop, through their Changing Lives and Communities programming, seeks to confront a nexus of critical issues within black and brown communities, aiming to dismantle stigma surrounding mental health, address deep-rooted trauma, foster economic empowerment, and cultivate a sense of community ownership among youth. By integrating therapy with barbering services, they provide a safe space where individuals can openly discuss and address their mental health concerns.
$15,000 | Reimagine Reentry
Reimagine Reentry, through their Multi-Craft Core Curriculum, aims to reduce recidivism in Allegheny County by providing opportunities, reducing barriers, and supporting returning citizens in a holistic way. Their work relies heavily on a strengths-based approach for those formerly incarcerated through reentry coaching, support, and job skill training to address the unique needs of returning citizens after they leave the corrections system. MC3 is a pre-apprenticeship training program that runs three cohorts per year, for six weeks each, offering a stipend and a host of trainers and topics directly relevant to returning citizens looking for work in the building trades.
$75,000 | Center of Life
Center of Life (COL) is dedicated to addressing the critical socioeconomic challenges in Hazelwood and beyond through a wide range of programs designed to mitigate the adverse effects of the Social Determinants of Health. Founded over two decades ago, COL has been at the forefront of efforts to empower Hazelwood residents and beyond through programs dedicated to education, the arts, life skills training, and physical and mental health. COL’s all-encompassing strategy tackles the immediate goals of boosting education and cutting down economic gaps while also building up long-term community strength and empowerment.
*Our programs are designed to advance equitable access to opportunity by addressing systemic disparities within the communities we serve. While our outreach and engagement strategies may emphasize historically underrepresented or underserved populations, participation in all programs is open to all eligible residents in our service areas – regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to serving the entire community with fairness, dignity, and inclusion.
Neighborhood Allies
429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.471.3727
www.neighborhoodallies.org info@neighborhoodallies.org