It’s been over four years since Catapult Greater Pittsburgh launched — and over a decade since our organization’s predecessor, Circles Greater Pittsburgh, was founded by East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI). In that time, we’ve grown from a small team of two with a $150,000 annual budget in 2018 to a thriving organization of 22 employees and a $3.5 million budget in 2025.
This rapid growth has allowed us to make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of Pittsburgh families through our trauma-informed approach to financial counseling, first-time homebuyer and homeowner education, and entrepreneurial support for minority-owned businesses.
Over the past four years, we’ve focused on strengthening our internal capacity. Now, 2025 marks a pivotal shift—harnessing that foundation to grow and connect with even more people through our programs. Read on to explore the key developments driving Catapult’s next exciting chapter.
From anti-poverty to economic justice: Catapult’s evolution
Before looking ahead, it’s important to reflect on where we started. In 2013, ELDI launched Circles Greater Pittsburgh, a local branch of the national anti-poverty program Circles USA. The program aimed to help families build economic mobility through education and social capital, with the goal of ensuring long-time East Liberty residents could remain in and benefit from the neighborhood’s redevelopment. Ted Melnyk, who at the time was ELDI’s family community and social equity coordinator, directed the program for five years until Tammy Thompson took over as executive director in 2018.
By 2018, the Circles model had expanded into Sharpsburg, Homewood, and McKeesport, thanks to seed funding from The Heinz Endowments, which remains one of Catapult’s strongest supporters. At the same time, the Circles team recognized that addressing racial and economic inequality in Pittsburgh required bigger, bolder action.
Under Thompson’s leadership, Circles Greater Pittsburgh relaunched as Catapult Greater Pittsburgh in 2021 — shifting our mission from poverty alleviation to economic justice.
Honoring Board President Ted Melnyk and welcoming new leadership
When Tammy stepped in as executive director, Ted Melnyk transitioned into the role of board president. Over the past 12 years, Ted, who is the current director of operations at ELDI, has been instrumental in ensuring Catapult’s financial stability and guiding our committed board of directors. He has been a dedicated advocate and unwavering supporter of both the Catapult mission and every member of our team.
As he steps down from his leadership role, longtime board member and current Board Vice President Ashley Comans will take the helm as Catapult’s new board president.
"Who knew that bumping into Tammy Thompson in a food line at the Kingsley Association more than a decade ago would be so life-changing for me and Catapult? Tammy has been a great educator, co-worker, and friend to me, as well as the families of Pittsburgh for over a decade,” shared Melnyk. “Being part of Catapult has unquestionably been the most satisfying and rewarding part of my work in the non-profit sector. If you would have told me in 2013 what Catapult would be doing in 2025, I simply could not have comprehended it!"
Meet Ashley Comans, Catapult’s new board president
With an extensive career in communications, marketing, and local government, Ashley Comans’ expertise has been integral to Catapult’s growth. Ashley currently serves as the political director of the Working Families Party and previously worked for Healthy Start, Inc. and the Alliance for Police Accountability.
Her breadth of experience gives her a well-rounded approach to leadership, and as a public servant, she is always keeping her ears to the ground to build with the community and move forward policy that supports families across the region.
Comans has been a Catapult board member since 2018 and vice president since 2021, providing invaluable insights on storytelling, outreach, and program impact.
"Since serving on the board from Circles to Catapult, it has been amazing to watch Tammy build an organization that is revolutionary and consistently exceeds goals,” said Comans. “Through the programming, staffing, and the responsibility of community impact, it has been an honor to support the work of this organization and the people who make it happen. Every day they are positively changing the lives of the people it serves from entrepreneurship to homeownership."
We are excited to see Catapult continue to thrive under Comans’ leadership as we push forward more innovative economic justice initiatives.
A new home for Catapult
With growth comes change, including the need for a larger, more dynamic space. We’ve outgrown our home at 100 North Sheridan Avenue in East Liberty and are thrilled to be moving into a new headquarters just around the corner.
This upgraded space will be named Catapult on the Square and is located in a prime area across from East Liberty’s Hotel Indigo. The new location will allow us to expand our programmatic reach with a dedicated educational space where we can host a broader range of workshops, classes, and training sessions.
The power of partnerships
At this exciting juncture, we are struck by all that we have been able to accomplish so far — and most importantly — the rewarding partnerships that have made it possible. From the early backing of ELDI under Maelene Myers’s visionary leadership to the many funders and collaborators who have championed our mission, Catapult’s impact is built on collective action.
As we embark on this next phase, we do so with gratitude and a renewed dedication to collaboration. Thank you for being part of our journey. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in 2025!
