We get a lot of questions about the process of applying to Awesome Pittsburgh, how we select proposals, and what happens next? We have answered many of the most common questions below, but if your question is not covered below, contact us at awesomepgh@gmail.com and we’ll respond as soon as we can.

Q: You give monthly awards. Does that mean if I apply on November 15 and win that I could potentially have $1,000 by the end of the month (Nov. 30)?

A: We take submissions on a rolling basis, which means you can apply for funding at any time. But we strive to keep our grant-making timeline on a schedule like this:

• FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH: Trustees receive applications from the previous month (and those that have carried over from the last two months) and score them
• SECOND WEEK OF THE MONTH: Compilation of scores
• THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH: Trustees meet to discuss results and choose a winner
• FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH: Winner contacted. (Please note: we like to announce the winner publicly within a few weeks of making a decision, but we sometimes delay for the sake of a project’s timeline.)

This means your application will be read on the first week of the month FOLLOWING the one in which you submit. If you submit on November 15, the trustees will see your application in the first week of December.  And, if your project is selected as the grant winner in the first month it is eligible, you will be contacted by the end of December.

PLEASE NOTE: A few times a year, we host “Live Pitch Parties.” This is your chance to get up in front of a crowd and pitch your idea to the community as well as the Trustees. So if your project begs to be heard instead of read, consider submitting your application in February, May, or September for a chance to share your idea with a big crowd (the parties will be held in March, June, and October)! 

Q: What do you mean when you say “My application will be carried over to the next month?”

A: In any given month, we receive a lot of awesome proposals. We often wish we could fund more than one of them. So, if your proposal was extra awesome, and it was highly popular with the trustees, it will be carried over to the next month to be considered again!

More than a few grant winners were selected in their second or third month in the running.

Q: Can I resubmit the same proposal?

A: Sure – but check out What Is Awesome? to see a list of characteristics that we consider awesome. Sometimes a few tweaks can turn a good proposal into an awesome one. 

You can also submit a brand new idea!

 Q: Do you fund projects outside of The City/Allegheny County?

A: We’re most interested in projects that make the Pittsburgh region more awesome. While we’re more likely to fund projects that have a direct impact locally, we do not have a strict geographic requirement. We’re interested in hearing your definition of what “The Region” is, and how you believe it can be a more awesome place for all of us!