Heinz Endowments President Grant Oliphant stepping down to lead San Diego foundation

Grant Oliphant is stepping down as president of The Heinz Endowments, spurring a nationwide search for the next leader to helm Western Pennsylvania’s second-largest grant-making foundation.

Oliphant — who has headed The Heinz Endowments for the past eight years — is leaving to become CEO of the San Diego-based Conrad Prebys Foundation in March, foundation officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

“This is truly a rare opportunity to apply my skills and experience to building a new organization almost from the ground up and to create a template for meaningful community philanthropy at a scale not seen before in San Diego,” Oliphant said in a statement.

“I am forever in the Heinz family’s debt for the amazing opportunities they have given me to learn and grow alongside them in the practice of philanthropy as a true and disciplined craft,” Oliphant added. “What I believe about the power and responsibility of this work to contribute to a community’s growth, I learned here — from them and from Pittsburgh — and I look forward to applying those lessons now in a new context and in a place where the story of philanthropy’s potential is only beginning to be written.”

Earlier in his philanthropic career spanning three decades, Oliphant worked as communications director and vice president of programs for the Heinz Endowments. He served as president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation from 2008 until 2014.

The private family foundation boasts assets of more than $2 billion and doles out more than $90 million a year in grants across a wide range of programs — including the environment, education, the arts, basic needs, veterans support and issues around equity and social justice.

Oliphant was the former press secretary for the late U.S. Sen. John Heinz, from 1988 until the senator’s death in 1991.

“We will miss Grant terribly, but we also wish him well and can’t wait to learn how this next chapter in his life will blossom,” André Heinz, chairman of The Heinz Endowments, said in a statement. “Meanwhile, the work of the Endowments continues, including initiating a national search for a new leader, which we will undertake very soon.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called Oliphant “a true leader of the rebirth of Pittsburgh.”

“Grant helped to create the needed cohesion between corporate, foundation, and institutions along with labor and public officials that has allowed us to create real change in Pittsburgh these past 10 years.” Peduto said. “I’m grateful for his leadership and friendship and wish him all the best as he pursues this new opportunity.”