Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is a private foundation established in 1944 as a memorial to Claude Worthington Benedum, the only child of Michael and Sarah Benedum, who died in 1918 while serving in World War I. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since March 1946. The foundation was created by Michael Benedum, a prominent oil and gas wildcatter and independent producer who ranked among the 100 wealthiest Americans during his lifetime.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$447.8M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.0M
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
198
+8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
-14.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To encourage human development in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania through strategically placed charitable resources.
The foundation's guiding principles emphasize:
- Projects that contribute to advancement in public policy
- Innovative practices demonstrating measurable and sustainable benefit
- Collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors
- Planning and programs that cross geographical and political boundaries
- Leadership development within served communities
- The Benedums' belief in "helping people help themselves"
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Economic Development
- Civic Engagement
- Community Development
- Health & Human Services
- Performing Arts (major organizations within Pittsburgh's cultural district in Southwestern Pennsylvania)
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $500,000 to $800,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic areas of interest are:
- West Virginia (primary focus)
- Southwestern Pennsylvania (particularly Pittsburgh)
- Kentucky (secondary focus area)
The foundation recognizes that economic regions do not follow political boundaries and encourages projects that cross state lines, particularly those benefiting the multi-state economy centered on Pittsburgh.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $447,825,666
- Total Revenue: $5,913,557
- Total Expenses: $18,126,456
- Net Income: -$12,212,899
- Total Liabilities: $2,900,000
Historical Giving: Since inception, the foundation has distributed in excess of $565,000,000 as of December 2022.
Staffing: The foundation employs 8 people.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $447,825,666 | $433,734,264 | $413,016,186 |
| Revenue | $5,913,557 | $5,453,349 | $9,095,416 |
| Expenses | $18,126,456 | $18,755,426 | $18,962,418 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $20,732,104 | $18,514,750 | $19,235,820 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,307,830 | $14,280,535 | $17,249,963 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,217,685 | $21,200,320 | $20,488,856 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Coalfield Development Corp ($274,000), Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit ($200,000), Allegheny Conference on Community Development ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS 304 INC SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | TO PROVIDE THERAPY SERVICES ON A FINANCIAL SLIDING SCALE TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT | $75,000 |
| ADVANTAGE VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHARLESTON, WV | FOR THE EXPANDING MARKETS PROGRAM, SUPPORTING GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION OF MANUFACTURERS AND BUSINESS SERVICES IN THE REGION BY FACILITATING EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING B2B CONNECTIONS, AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT (OVER THREE YEARS) | $70,000 |
| ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PITTSBURGH, PA | TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGHENY CONFERENCES 2024-2026 WORK PLAN, WHICH STRIVES TO ADVANCE A THRIVING, FUTURE-FOCUSED ECONOMY FOR SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | $175,000 |
| ALLEGHENY INTERMEDIATE UNIT HOMESTEAD, PA | TO SUPPORT CATALYTIC GRANTMAKING THAT ENABLES SCHOOLS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO TEST AUDACIOUS IDEAS AROUND REDESIGNING SCHOOL SYSTEMS, REENGINEERING INSTRUCTION, AND CO-AUTHORING PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS | $150,000 |
| ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | FOR THE NATURE ON WHEELS PROGRAM, A MOBILE CLASSROOM THAT WILL DEPLOY A PLACE-BASED LEARNING FRAMEWORK TO BRING SUSTAINED AND CONTINUOUS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES | $25,000 |
| ALLEGHENY PARTNERS FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME APOST INC PITTSBURGH, PA | TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME ORGANIZATIONS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY THROUGH ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING, AND QUALITY INITIATIVES | $125,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV | TO IMPLEMENT STATE POLICY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, TO FOSTER PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES IN NAVIGATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA, WHILE FOCUSING ON AGING IN PLACE | $90,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO SUPPORT A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ZION CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA | $110,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WEST VIRGINIA PITTSBURGH, PA | TO CATALYZE THE WEST VIRGINIA FOOD ECOSYSTEM BY EVALUATING AND STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF HEALTHY KIDS, INC. AND THEIR CENTRAL KITCHEN PROJECT (OVER TWO YEARS) | $150,000 |
| APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION CHRISTIANSBURG, VA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PREDEVELOPMENT, AND PROJECT DESIGN IN PLACES WHERE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE SCARCE (OVER TWO YEARS) | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel identified:
- Amy K Marsh — Member of the Investment Committee
- Brad R. Ballantine — Treasurer and Senior Accountant
- Rick Kraich — Member of the Investment Committee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY S BABE | TRUSTEE (1)(2) | 1.5 | $7,000 |
| THOMAS A HEYWOOD | TRUSTEE, CHAIRMAN (1)(2) | 3 | $24,000 |
| LLOYD JACKSON II | TRUSTEE (2)(3) | 0.5 | $12,000 |
| PARWEEN S MASCARI | TRUSTEE (1)(2) | 1.5 | $16,000 |
| ILLAH R NOURBAKSH | TRUSTEE (1)(2) | 1.5 | $16,000 |
| LARRY A RHODES | TRUSTEE (1)(2) | 1.5 | $16,000 |
| JANE N WERNER-RUTKOWSKI | TRUSTEE (1)(2) | 1.5 | $12,000 |
| RALPH J BEAN JR | TRUSTEE EMERITUS (5) | — | — |
| ESTHER L BARAZZONE | TRUSTEE EMERITUS (5) | — | — |
| G NICHOLAS BECKWITH | TRUSTEE EMERITUS (5) | — | — |
| WILLIAM P GETTY | TRUSTEE EMERITUS (5) | — | — |
| ROBERT B WALKER | SENIOR TRUSTEE (5) | 0.5 | — |
| G RANDOLPH WORLS | TRUSTEE EMERITUS (5) | — | — |
| GASTON CAPERTON | HONORARY TRUSTEE (5) | — | — |
| RICK KRAICH | MEMBER OF THE INV. COMMITTEE (7) | 1 | $8,000 |
| AMY K MARSH | MEMBER OF THE INV. COMMITTEE (7) | 1 | $7,000 |
| JENNIFER GIOVANNITTI | PRESIDENT (4)(6) | 40 | $428,206 |
| KIM TIEMAN | VICE PRESIDENT (4)(6) | 40 | $197,066 |
| BRAD R BALLANTINE | TREASURER & SENIOR ACCOUNTANT (4)(6) | 40 | $108,037 |
| SANDRA H HARVEY | SECRETARY (4)(6) 1/1/24 - 11/30/24 | 40 | $112,136 |
| BRITTNEY TYLER | SECRETARY (4)(6) 12/1/24 - 12/31/24 | 40 | $7,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant awards and initiatives include:
Support for West Virginia State Parks Foundation
West Virginia State Parks Foundation Receives Grant Claude Worthington BenedumGrant to West Virginia Service and Action Network (WVSAN) to improve after-school programming across West Virginia
West Virginia State Parks Foundation Receives Grant Claude Worthington BenedumFunding for CMI2 to promote STEM education opportunities through the ILLUME program
Benedum grant awarded to CMI2 to promote STEM education opportunities viaContinued support for the Center for Sustainable Shale Development
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation Renews Support for the Center for SustainableFrequently Asked Questions
What does Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To encourage human development in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania through strategically placed charitable resources. The foundation's guiding principles emphasize: • Projects that contribute to advancement in public policy • Innovative practices demonstrating measurable and sustainable benefit • Collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors • Planning and programs that cross geographical and political boundaries • Leadership development within served commun…
How do I apply for a grant from Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $500,000 to $800,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • West Virginia University Foundation: $348,000 for the Sparking Early Literacy Growth in West Virginia Next Phase Grant Program, supporting early literacy programs for children birth to age 8 in high-need areas • Coalfield Development Corporation: $274,000 to launch a climate change resiliency strategy for the coalfields region of West Virginia as part of the National Build Back Better Challenge …
Where does Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic areas of interest are: • West Virginia (primary focus) • Southwestern Pennsylvania (particularly Pittsburgh) • Kentucky (secondary focus area) The foundation recognizes that economic regions do not follow political boundaries and encourages projects that cross state lines, particularly those benefiting the multi-state economy centered on Pittsburgh.
What size grants does Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation award?
In 2024, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded 198 grants totaling $14.0M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation's EIN?
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1086799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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