Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of
The Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, PA, dedicated to enhancing safety and health in the mining industry. The foundation supports research and development projects through funding to qualified academic institutions and other not-for-profit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-47.5% YoY
Grant Count
17
-34.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$89K
-19.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Improving mine safety and health through funding research and development projects by qualified academic institutions and other not-for-profit organizations.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Health and Safety Interventions
- Mine Escape, Rescue and Training
- Safety and Health Management and Training
- Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors
The foundation also supports initiatives in education, environment, health, public safety, and community development, with particular emphasis on mining and resource extraction sectors.
Grantmaking
Since beginning grantmaking activities in 2013, the Alpha Foundation has supported a portfolio of 114 projects awarded to 35 institutions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across the United States, with particular activity in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $4,626,090
- Total Giving (2024): $1,510,213
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Illinois ($245,274), University of Missouri ($149,331), University of Kentucky Research Fou ($118,114).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Tucson, AZ | AFCTG22r2-161 A Strong and Ductile High-Performance Pumpable Roof Support | $84,836 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | Analysis of the spectrum of Coal Mine Dust Lung Disease Through Life and Impact of COVID-19 Pand... | $64,619 |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES Golden, CO | 2AFC820-54 Lifting the Veil: Fusing RaDAR and Sound to Provide Enhanced Perception in Obscured En... | $92,844 |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES Golden, CO | AFC820-52 - Large Scale Testing and Modeling of Supported and Unsupported Pillar Analogs | $72,514 |
| VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND BLACKSBURG, VA | Evaluation of New Respirable Silica Monitoring Tools for the Aggregates Industry | $58,348 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOU LEXINGTON, KY | Development of a Stability Mapping Platform For Stone Mines | $118,114 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Salt Lake City, UT | AFC820-82 Development of a wireless borehole instrument device to measure 3D rock mass stress an... | $42,240 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | AFC820-59 - Elucidating the individual and combined toxicity of coal mine dust constituents and their contribution to disease in modern US coal miners | $112,500 |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES GOLDEN, CO | AFCRFP20-111 - Minimizing Rib Failure Hazard through Improvement of the Coal Pillar Rib Rating System, Development of Stability-Mapping Tool and Feasibility Demonstration for Low-Cost, High-Resolution Rib Monitoring | $20,738 |
| OAKLAND UNIVERSITY ROCHESTER, MI | AFC820-22 - Miniaturized and Low Cost Electrochemical Particulate Matter (PM) Sensor for Mine Dust Exposure Assessment | $111,859 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Executive Director: Thomas Barczak
- Directors: David H. Wegman, Keith Heasley, Michael Karmis
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID H WEGMAN | Director | 10 | $80,000 |
| KEITH HEASLEY | Director | 8 | $80,000 |
| MICHAEL KARMIS | Director | 12 | $80,000 |
| THOMAS BARCZAK | Executive Dir. | 20 | $85,636 |
Contact Information
Email: grants@alpha-foundation.org
Phone: 215-419-6000
Website: alpha-foundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of fund?
**Mission:** Improving mine safety and health through funding research and development projects by qualified academic institutions and other not-for-profit organizations. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Health and Safety Interventions • Mine Escape, Rescue and Training • Safety and Health Management and Training • Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors The foundation also supports initiatives in education, environment, health, public safety, and community development, with particular emphasis …
How do I apply for a grant from Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of?
Since beginning grantmaking activities in 2013, the Alpha Foundation has supported a portfolio of 114 projects awarded to 35 institutions. **Grant Information:** • Typical award range: $9,824–$338,961 • Total giving (2024): $1,510,213 • The foundation funds projects across various U.S. locations
Where does Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of make grants?
The foundation funds projects across the United States, with particular activity in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
What size grants does Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of award?
In 2024, Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of awarded 17 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $89K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of's EIN?
Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5152759. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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