The words philanthropy and Pittsburgh are often linked. Traditional images of philanthropy connect wealthy families with the charitable institutions they left as legacies. Contrary to popular belief, industrial titans did not invent philanthropy in Pittsburgh.
Rather, they joined an already existing tradition of individuals, congregations and whole communities who used their often far more precious, personal resources to help their neighbors in need. In Pittsburgh, women, African Americans, newcomers, religious congregations from every faith tradition, neighborhood and social strata organized distinctive forms of philanthropy. Until now, they, and most of their life changing stories, remained unknown.
A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh, brings these philanthropic threads together.
In Conversation Series
Authors convened to discuss their chapters via a podcast series and virtual convenings.
12 Chapters, 12 Stories
Learn more about each of the 12 chapters and the authors, who together weave the threads of the stories of how philanthropy shaped Pittsburgh
Kathleen W. Buechel, editor
A Gift of Belief is edited by Kathleen W. Buechel, executive director of the Benter Foundation and senior lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh
“Each of us wants to believe that good things will happen. A Gift of Belief reminds us that they do, sometimes by grand design but more typically by generous and often unremembered efforts among neighbors, donors, and caring citizens. The authors’ reflections amount to a story about how goodness happened in a place that rather unexpectedly (to the rest of the world) became a hub of modern American philanthropy.”
– Gregg Behr, executive director, the Grable Foundation and author of When You Wonder, You’re Learning
“Kathy Buechel has deftly combined a solid history of the institutional philanthropy created from the legacies of wealthy and well-known Pittsburghers with compelling stories of “regular people” who practiced personal giving in everyday life. The two forces have combined to accomplish amazing quality-of-life improvement in southwestern Pennsylvania.”
– Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO, The Pittsburgh Foundation
“Offering many stories of philanthropic initiatives over the course of Pittsburgh’s history, this book provides a usable past that will serve both leaders and students of the city’s institutions. Many of the stories are notable for their focus on the close relations between exceedingly wealthy donors and the professional urban planners, university leaders, researchers, teachers, doctors, and both Black and white religious leaders who did the institutions’ work.”