The Hear Foundation
The Hear Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes community leaders, public safety professionals, and residents to reduce gun violence, address trauma, and develop workforce pathways through grantmaking, CTE programming, and community events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Hear Foundation does
The Hear Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and headquartered at 445 Fort Pitt Boulevard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is described as the first and only nonprofit in Pittsburgh dedicated exclusively to fostering collaboration between community leaders, public safety professionals (law enforcement, firefighters, EMS), and residents to reduce gun violence and build safe communities. The foundation's work centers on three pillars: gun violence reduction, trauma-informed support, and workforce development.
The foundation delivers its mission through a portfolio of programs rather than a technology product. Core offerings include "Bridging the Badge," a Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathway housed at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School that prepares students for careers in emergency services; the Community Safety Innovation Fund and Impact Grant Program, which distribute microgrants (up to $40,000 per organization) to grassroots nonprofits; and convening programs such as Breaking Bread, Cops n' Corners, Ready FORE Work, and Refs and Rooks that pair youth with public safety officers through shared athletic or vocational activities. Fundraising is supported by signature events (LOUDER! Gala, Champions 4 Charity boxing event, The Weight of Forgiveness theater production) and merchandise including Leon Ford's memoir "An Unspeakable Hope."
The business model is grant-funded and donation-driven. Revenue streams include individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (Allegheny, Buhl, Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon, Heal America, McNulty, Staunton Farm, Segal Family), ticket and merchandise sales, and book sales. The foundation partners with Pittsburgh Public Schools, Duquesne University, NOBLE, Anne Frank Center USA, and Gwen's Girls, and operates with a small staff (1–10 employees) under a board that includes public safety leadership, corporate executives (Jones Day), and nonprofit directors. Notable supporters and grants include a $75,000 Heal America grant in 2022, a $20,000 McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund award in 2023, and the distribution of over $200,000 in microgrants to local nonprofits in 2023.
The Hear Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hear Foundation
- Legal name
- The Hear Foundation
- Website
- https://hearfoundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Hear Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes community leaders, public safety professionals, and residents to reduce gun violence, address trauma, and develop workforce pathways through grantmaking, CTE programming, and community events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hear Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Safety Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where The Hear Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Hear Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The foundation raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising campaigns including the Annual Fund and special events like the LOUDER! Gala.
- Book Sales: Sales of Leon Ford's memoir 'An Unspeakable Hope' through The Hear Foundation website, with donations of $50 or more receiving a signed copy.
- Event Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for signature events including the LOUDER! Gala and Champions 4 Charity boxing event.
- Grant Programs: The foundation receives grants from foundations and corporate partners to fund community programs and distributes these through impact grants to local nonprofits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission tickets for The Weight of Forgiveness event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VIP tickets for The Weight of Forgiveness event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Book donation with signed memoir |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Hear Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hear Foundation is a community-led nonprofit that convenes residents, public safety professionals, community groups, and national experts to build safe, thriving communities in Pittsburgh. It delivers this through a CTE public-safety career pathway (Bridging the Badge) embedded in Pittsburgh Public Schools, multi-pillar grantmaking to grassroots nonprofits, and signature fundraising events and convenings. The foundation's work is focused on three pillars: gun violence reduction, trauma and resilience, and workforce development.
Product overview
The Hear Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community-focused programs centered on building safe communities through collaboration between public safety professionals and residents. Its core offerings include Bridging the Badge (a CTE career pathway program in Pittsburgh Public Schools), the Community Safety Innovation Fund (a grassroots violence prevention grantmaking program), and The Hear Foundation Impact Grant Program. Additional programs include Cops n' Corners, Ready FORE Work, Refs and Rooks, and Breaking Bread convenings. The organization also hosts signature events including the annual LOUDER! Gala and Champions 4 Charity boxing event, plus theater productions like 'The Weight of Forgiveness.' Fundraising merchandise includes Leon Ford's memoir 'An Unspeakable Hope.'
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bridging the Badge: A full-scale public safety Career and Technical Education (CTE) pipeline embedded within Pittsburgh Public Schools and housed at Westinghouse High School, serving students from across the district as an integrated career pathway.
- Community Safety Innovation Fund
Products and services
- Bridging the Badge A full-scale public safety Career & Technical Education (CTE) pipeline embedded within Pittsburgh Public Schools and housed at Westinghouse High School. Serves students bused in from across the district as an integrated career pathway (not an after-school exposure program), preparing youth for careers in emergency services, firefighting, EMS, and law enforcement.
- The Hear Foundation Impact Grant Program Annual grant program providing funding (up to $40,000 per organization) to local nonprofit organizations working in trauma and resilience, workforce development, and gun violence prevention. The program prioritizes initiatives that incorporate collaboration between residents and public safety professionals.
- Community Safety Innovation Fund A grantmaking program designed to strengthen violence prevention across Pittsburgh by investing directly in community leaders and grassroots solutions. Provides flexible support, capacity-building workshops, and backs community-led projects advancing safety, healing, and resilience.
- Cops n' Corners A boxing program delivered in partnership with Team 412 Boxing that pairs local law enforcement officers as coaches for youth participants, building genuine connections and promoting gun violence reduction through shared athletic activities.
- Ready FORE Work A golf program in partnership with First Tee where youth and law enforcement play together to foster personal relationships; youth also learn to caddy, enhancing workforce skills.
- Refs and Rooks A youth mentoring and workforce development initiative in partnership with PUMP where public safety professionals, community leaders, and youth learn to referee basketball games, creating earning opportunities and fostering collaboration.
- Breaking Bread Convening Series A convening series, in partnership with Cafe Momentum, that brings together young people, community leaders, and law enforcement for meaningful discussions about gun violence, trauma, and workforce development to build trust and foster alternative paths for youth.
- LOUDER! Gala An annual black-tie fundraising event hosted by Leon Ford at Rivers Casino, featuring powerful storytelling, live performances, and recognition of Community Champions, with proceeds supporting The Hear Foundation's programming to interrupt cycles of violence and strengthen trust.
- Champions 4 Charity A boxing event that combines black-tie elegance with athletic competition, hosted by Leon Ford, designed as a fundraiser supporting The Hear Foundation's mission.
- The Weight of Forgiveness A benefit evening of theater presented by The Hear Foundation, featuring a two-person play written by Leon Ford and directed by Mark Clayton Southers, exploring accountability, forgiveness, and truth. Proceeds support the Community Safety Innovation Fund and Bridging the Badge program. Tickets are sold at $100 (General Admission) and $150 (VIP).
- An Unspeakable Hope (Memoir) A memoir by Leon Ford titled 'An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son,' available for purchase through The Hear Foundation. Donations of $50 or more include a signed copy, with proceeds supporting the foundation's work.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% graduation rate among students at Homewood Children's Village (THF 2025 Grantee)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hear Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Hear Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Hear Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and support.
- Café MomentummajorPartnership for Breaking Bread convening series that brings together young people, community leaders, and law enforcement for meaningful discussions about gun violence, trauma, and workforce development.
- Anne Frank Center USAmajorCo-hosted 'Voices for Change' program featuring actors performing as Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. to inspire youth through paired monologues about persecution, resilience, and hope.
- Gwen's GirlsmajorTHF's #ITSNEEDED Conference was part of Gwen's Girls weeklong celebration dedicated to empowering young women and promoting positive change.
- Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS)coreLeon Ford partnered with PPS Career and Technical Education Division to mentor students in the Emergency Response Technology (ERT) program at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School.
- Team 412 BoxingcoreReceived $30,000 Impact Grant for Cops n' Corners program pairing law enforcement officers as boxing coaches for local youth. Six athletes ranked in top ten nationally by USA Boxing.
- Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League IncsupportTHF sponsors Stuff-A-Store, annual toy drive organized by PAL bringing officers and volunteers together to distribute toys to local kids in need.
- NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives)majorTHF partners with NOBLE for mentorship program creating pipeline for youth interested in law enforcement careers. THF supported five students attending NOBLE Conference in New Orleans.
- Duquesne UniversitymajorPartner in Bridging the Badge mentorship program and host venue for #ITSNEEDED Conference.
- First TeesupportPartner for Ready FORE Work program where youth and law enforcement play golf together, fostering personal relationships while youth learn to caddy.
- PUMP (Partners for Urban Mutual Transformation)supportPartner for Refs and Rooks initiative where public safety professionals, community leaders, and youth learn to referee basketball games, creating earning opportunities.
- August Wilson African American Cultural CentermajorHost venue for THF launch event, Voices for Change program, and The Weight of Forgiveness theater event.
- CeaseFirePAsupportCo-host of A Safer Pennsylvania: Steel City Edition summit addressing gun violence.
- NextGen AmericasupportCo-host of A Safer Pennsylvania: Steel City Edition summit addressing gun violence.
Scale indicators9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Hear Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cities United: National initiative focused on reducing violence impacting Black men and boys, with a city-level membership model (Pittsburgh is one of its member cities); shares THF's target population, policy framing, and partnership-driven operating model.
- National Network for Safe Communities: John Jay College-affiliated initiative advancing group-violence-reduction and community-based violence intervention strategies nationally; directly comparable as a practice-and-policy hub for the same violence-prevention work THF leads in Pittsburgh.
- Cure Violence (formerly CeaseFire Chicago): National nonprofit that treats gun violence as a public-health issue using community-based violence interruption, the closest strategic analog to THF's gun-violence-reduction pillar operating in major U.S. cities.
- NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers): THF is an active partner of NOBLE for youth law-enforcement career pipelines; structurally comparable as a bridge-building organization between Black communities and law enforcement leadership.
Regional players
- CeaseFirePA: Pennsylvania-focused gun-violence-prevention advocacy organization; co-hosted THF's 'A Safer Pennsylvania: Steel City Edition' summit — directly comparable mission in state-level gun-violence policy and community organizing.
- Center for Victims: Pittsburgh-based trauma and victim-services nonprofit and a 2022 THF Summer of Healing grantee; adjacent work in trauma science and community-healing workshops that align with THF's trauma pillar.
- Focus on Renewal: Sto-Rox community nonprofit previously led by Cynthia Haines (now THF Senior Advisor) with a $4.4M operating budget; comparable as a Pittsburgh-based community-development nonprofit addressing similar neighborhood-level trauma and workforce gaps.
- Gwen's Girls: Pittsburgh-based youth-serving nonprofit and THF convening partner (#ITSNEEDED Conference); overlaps on gun-violence prevention for Pittsburgh youth but focuses on girls and young women specifically.
- Homewood Children's Village: Pittsburgh cradle-to-career pipeline serving Homewood youth (92% graduation rate among students) and a 2025 THF grantee; overlapping youth-workforce development work and a clear analog for THF's Bridging the Badge ambition.
Broad incumbents
- Pittsburgh Foundation: Large Pittsburgh community foundation and a likely funder across the same nonprofit ecosystem; comparable as a local grantmaking body but with broader civic scope beyond public-safety/community-healing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Hear Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hear Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hear Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Hear Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hear Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hear Foundation
What does The Hear Foundation do?
The Hear Foundation is a community-led nonprofit that convenes residents, public safety professionals, community groups, and national experts to build safe, thriving communities in Pittsburgh. It delivers this through a CTE public-safety career pathway (Bridging the Badge) embedded in Pittsburgh Public Schools, multi-pillar grantmaking to grassroots nonprofits, and signature fundraising events and convenings. The foundation's work is focused on three pillars: gun violence reduction, trauma and resilience, and workforce development.
Is The Hear Foundation a public or private company?
The Hear Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Hear Foundation founded?
The Hear Foundation was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hear Foundation based?
The Hear Foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Hear Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are book Sales, event Tickets and grant Programs.
Who are The Hear Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cities United, National Network for Safe Communities, Cure Violence (formerly CeaseFire Chicago) and NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers). Regional players are CeaseFirePA, Center for Victims, Focus on Renewal, Gwen's Girls and Homewood Children's Village. Pittsburgh Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Hear Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hear Foundation.
What industry is The Hear Foundation in?
The Hear Foundation's product category is Community Safety Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAM, Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.