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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of on Grantable?
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