Jefferson Regional Foundation is a network of more than 100 organizations located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that focuses on grantmaking in the Pittsburgh area. ^{1 2}

The foundation’s strategic priorities include the left-of-center concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{3 1}

History and Leadership

In 2013, Jefferson Regional Foundation was launched after Jefferson Hospital became an affiliate of Allegheny Health Network. Terms of the deal stipulated that the Allegheny Health Network set aside $75 million for the foundation to focus on grants for areas near the hospital. ^{4 5}

Trisha Gadson has been the chief executive officer of Jefferson Regional Foundation since 2022. Gadson has expressed strong support for the far-left concept of racial equity and has worked in the critical race theory-influenced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space. She has been recognized as a “diversity and inclusion facilitator” and won an equity and leadership award from the African American Strategic Partnership. ⁶

Mary Phan-Gruber was the CEO of Jefferson Regional Foundation from 2013 to 2022. ⁷

In May 2024, Jefferson Regional Foundation community engagement manager Daniel Vereb participated in a Council on Foundations panel regarding civic engagement and democracy that was presented by the Funders Committee for Civic Participation and the left-of-center Philanthropy for Voter Engagement. Other speakers at the event were representatives from the Funders Committee for Civic Participation, Council on Foundations, and Philanthropy for Voter Engagement project Nonprofit VOTE. ⁸

Activities and Funding

Jefferson Regional Foundation has a network of more than 100 organizations in the area surrounding Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Foundation hosts annual conferences, ⁹ holds quarterly meetings of its members, and focuses much of its work on community activism and healthcare-related causes and organizations. ^{1 2}

The foundation’s strategic priorities include the far-left concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); health and wellness; capacity building; civic engagement and policy development; early childhood development; and workforce and economic opportunity. ^{10 1}

In April 2023, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (D) spoke at an event celebrating Jefferson Regional Foundation’s tenth anniversary. ⁴

Jefferson Regional Foundation hosts and fully staffs the Jefferson Collaborative. ¹¹ The collaborative supports the far-left concept of diversity, equity, and racial justice. It champions left-of-center conceptions of racial justice and has operated trainings on “implicit bias” for organizations in Western Pennsylvania. ¹²

Grantmaking

Since its founding in 2013, Jefferson Regional Foundation has made more than $17 million in grants to 120 different organizations. ¹ The foundation’s grantmaking is required to support organizations in the South Hills and Lower Mon Valley region south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ¹³

In 2022, Jefferson Regional Foundation made $2,630,250 in grants. Recipients included the American National Red Cross, Black Women’s Policy Center, Citizen Science Lab, Latino Community Center, The Mon Valley Initiative, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and When She Thrives. ¹⁴

Funding

Jefferson Regional Foundation received $75 million when the organization was founded in 2013 after Jefferson Hospital became an affiliate of Allegheny Health Network. ^{15 5} As of 2022, Jefferson Regional Foundation’s revenue comes from investment income. ¹⁶

In 2022, the foundation reported revenue of $4,200,971 and expenses of $3,940,147. In 2021, Jefferson Regional Foundation reported revenue of $8,684,501 and expenses of $3,970,339. ¹⁷

1. “About Us.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/about/.
2. “Home.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/.
3. “Jefferson Regional Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Schedule A. https://jeffersonrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jefferson-Regional-Foundation-IPPC-Client-Copy-2022.pdf.
4. Cannon, Joyce. “Jefferson Regional Foundation marks a decade of service.” Next Pittsburgh. April 26, 20243. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://nextpittsburgh.com/pittsburgh-for-all/ceo-of-jefferson-regional-foundation-marks-a-decade-of-service/.
5. Tascarella, Patty. “Jefferson Regional Foundation sets new priorities guiding grants, initiatives.” Pittsburgh Business Times. February 10, 2021. Accessed via Web Archive May 15, 2024. https://archive.ph/wbha2#selection-1183.238-1190.0.
6. “Staff.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/about/staff-list/.
7. “Trisha Gadson named CEO of Jefferson Regional Foundation.” Pittsburgh Tribune Live. August 16, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://triblive.com/business/trisha-gadson-named-ceo-of-jefferson-regional-foundation/.
8. “Philanthropy’s Role Supporting Civic Engagement.” Council on Foundations. May 15, 2024. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://cof.org/event/philanthropys-role-supporting-civic-engagement.
9. “2022 Forum.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/2022-forum/.
10. ^[1] “Jefferson Regional Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Schedule A. https://jeffersonrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jefferson-Regional-Foundation-IPPC-Client-Copy-2022.pdf.
11. “Home.” Jefferson Community Collaborative. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersoncollaborative.org/.
12.  “DEI Resource Bank.” Jefferson Community Collaborative. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersoncollaborative.org/our-resources/dei-resource-bank/.
13. “FAQs.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/resources/faqs/.
14. “Jefferson Regional Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Schedule I. https://jeffersonrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jefferson-Regional-Foundation-IPPC-Client-Copy-2022.pdf.
15. ^[1] Cannon, Joyce. “Jefferson Regional Foundation marks a decade of service.” Next Pittsburgh. April 26, 20243. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://nextpittsburgh.com/pittsburgh-for-all/ceo-of-jefferson-regional-foundation-marks-a-decade-of-service/.
16. “Financials.” Jefferson Regional Foundation. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://jeffersonrf.org/about/financials/.
17.  “Jefferson Regional Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://jeffersonrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jefferson-Regional-Foundation-IPPC-Client-Copy-2022.pdf.