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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 SustainableRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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