The Pinkerton Foundation gives to economically disadvantaged children, youth, and families; support also for severely learning-disabled children and adults of borderline intelligence. The foundation is also interested in endeavors that strengthen youth programming in poor communities; and programs that develop an individual's competencies, instill values, and increase opportunities to participate in society. The foundation has identified the following four program areas:
- After-school and Summer Learning: ?The Foundation supports community-based programs that combine engaging activities, mentoring by caring adults and academic training.
- Career Readiness: To enhance job prospects for disadvantaged youth, we support a wide range of employment training, career internship and skills-certification programs.
- Education: The Foundation support GED and life-skills training, college access programs and initiatives for low-income single mothers and young people aging out of foster care.
- Youth and Family Justice: The Foundation assists programs for young people entangled in the justice system that offer opportunities for education, employment training and personal growth.
The Foundation favors programs that can make substantial progress toward their goals in a period of three years or less. Grants are awarded to organizations whose mission and programs are consistent with the foundation's interests, which include providing engaging cultural enrichment, recreation, work experience and continuing education programs for young people, as well as inter-generational programs and programs that engage young people in high-quality science, technology, engineering and math activities. The foundation favors programs that offer hands-on learning, creative role models and career exploration.
The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or provide emergency assistance, nor do they support medical research, the direct provision of health care or religious education. The Foundation rarely makes grants to support conferences, publications or media.