Company’s Community Impact Grants program awarding grants of up to $10,000 to support public art, green spaces and more
The deadline to submit an application is Friday, Oct. 29.
PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has announced the next cycle of its Community Impact Grants (CIG) program to continue supporting diverse, grassroot community organizations in Allegheny and Beaver counties. The program, which launched this past April as DLC’s new signature charitable giving initiative, awards eligible nonprofits with grants of up to $10,000 to fund projects and programs that benefit the Pittsburgh region.
Qualified organizations can apply for funding in one of four areas:
- Public art: Murals, installations and local community art events
- Green spaces: Community gardens, park upgrades and restorations
- Community safety and energy efficiency: Energy-efficient equipment purchases and community safety enhancements
- Connectivity and technology: Access or increased access to technology, as well as equipment purchases to aid in educational programming or capacity building
“We were overwhelmed by the positive response from the initial grant cycle, where we received applications from more than 130 deserving organizations across our service territory and awarded $100,000 in grants to 22 of them,” said Sam Hartzman, DLC’s community relations manager. “We strongly encourage new organizations to apply, and those that weren’t selected the first time to reapply. We also greatly welcome applications from female, BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ leadership. The goal is for this to be a long-term program that enables us to support many organizations and their beneficiaries over the coming years.”
In this brief testimonial video, several CIG recipients from this past spring share how the grants are benefiting their organizations.
“The CIG program is representative of DLC’s long history of compassion and stewardship in our community,” added Dave Johnson, DLC’s chief customer officer. “Through these grants, organizations can get critical resources to grow their mission and continue helping the Pittsburgh region thrive.”
To be considered for a grant, organizations must:
- Be a 501c3 nonprofit or state equivalent, or an organization receiving fiscal sponsorship from a registered 501c3 or state equivalent
- Meet DLC’s Charitable Giving program guidelines listed in the program’s FAQs
- Serve residents in Allegheny and/or Beaver counties
- Have an annual operating budget equal to or less than $500,000 and/or a specific targeted project
- Organizations with larger budgets that are not applying on behalf of a smaller organization or community group will not be considered.
Funding should not be used for capital campaigns or overhead expenses.
Application Process and Grant Distribution
The CIG program has two yearly cycles: one in late winter/early spring, and the other in late summer/early fall.
Interested organizations can apply online for the fall 2021 cycle. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, Oct. 29.
All applications are reviewed by a committee of DLC employees. Applicants will receive a final decision via email within six weeks after the application period closes. Organizations that are awarded a grant will be listed on DLC’s website and promoted on social media.
More information about the program and application process can be found at DuquesneLight.com/CIG.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next-generation energy company, DLC’s 1,700-plus employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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