Dietrich Foundation
The Dietrich Foundation is a Pennsylvania charitable trust based in Pittsburgh and a Form 990 (a public charity). Its primary mission is to benefit higher education, primarily in the Greater Pittsburgh area, and to support other charitable purposes in Western Pennsylvania. The foundation’s governing instrument limits grantmaking to charitable organizations it has predetermined as supported organizations; it does not invite grant proposals.
Dietrich Foundation at a glance
In short: Dietrich Foundation gave $45.4M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $3.5M), mostly in Pennsylvania. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $45,435,512
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,495,039
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $624,738
- Total assets
- $1,469,174,246
- -2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dietrich Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says grantmaking is limited to charitable supported organizations predetermined by its governing instrument and asks that grant requests not be submitted.
- Contact
Mailing address: Usx Tower 600 Grant St 5360, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 261-2766
Website: https://dietrichfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dietrich Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Carnegie Mellon University ($24.3M). Together the top 10 received $44.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 26 grants of 65 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that its higher education mission is focused primarily on the Greater Pittsburgh area and that it also supports charitable purposes in Western Pennsylvania. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 3% to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dietrich Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $454K; repeat grants $3.7M. How we count
Medians: $454K first-time, $880K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $28.4M (2020) to $51.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $45.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | STEM, Scholarships, Science Programs, Faculty Needs | $24,307,999 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Entrepreneur Program and Graduate and Undergraduate Student Support | $11,358,878 |
| Thiel College Greenville, PA | Honors College Curriculum | $2,271,776 |
| The Pittsburgh Foundation Community Fund Pittsburgh, PA | Community Support Generation | $1,647,038 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | Scholarships/Economics | $1,363,065 |
| Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA | Deanship of School of Osteopathic Medicine | $1,135,888 |
| United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA | Children & Youth Programs | $624,738 |
| Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA | Faculty Development | $454,355 |
| Carnegie Institute Pittsburgh, PA | Technology Initiatives | $454,355 |
| Scouting America Laurel Highlands Council Pittsburgh, PA | STEM Scouting Program | $454,355 |
Ready to take the next step with Dietrich Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,469,174,246 | $107,295,535 | $56,375,570 | $45,435,512 | 13 | $107,295,535 |
| 2023 | $1,498,770,520 | $94,341,341 | $61,779,708 | $51,781,317 | 13 | $94,341,341 |
| 2022 | $1,517,931,296 | $82,615,692 | $51,473,742 | $42,583,863 | 13 | $82,615,692 |
| 2021 | $1,731,016,647 | $166,962,550 | $41,458,936 | $32,247,078 | 13 | $166,962,550 |
| 2020 | $1,425,693,584 | $93,476,192 | $36,308,487 | $28,355,942 | 13 | $93,476,192 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated primary mission is to provide ongoing and increasing financial support to Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Thiel College, Princeton University, Duquesne University, and Chatham University. It also supports other organizations for charitable purposes in Western Pennsylvania.
Its 2024 grants show support for higher education, community programs, cultural organizations, and youth initiatives. For example, Carnegie Mellon University describes its mission as providing a transformative educational experience and cultivating a collaborative university community. The University of Pittsburgh describes itself as a public research university serving its home region and beyond through education, research, and community partnership. Thiel College says it prepares students for meaningful careers and lives through an inclusive learning environment. The Pittsburgh Symphony says its mission is to engage, enrich, and inspire through live musical experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $45,435,512. Grant amounts ranged from $454,355 to $24,307,999, with a median grant of $624,738.
The largest reported grants included $24,307,999 to Carnegie Mellon University for STEM, scholarships, science programs, and faculty needs; $11,358,878 to the University of Pittsburgh for an entrepreneur program and graduate and undergraduate student support; and $2,271,776 to Thiel College for its honors college curriculum. Other listed grants included $1,647,038 to The Pittsburgh Foundation Community Fund for community support generation, $1,363,065 to Princeton University for scholarships and economics, and $1,135,888 to Duquesne University for the deanship of its School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The foundation’s filing says it distributes annually, or more frequently, an amount equal to substantially all of its annual net income, with a minimum of 85% under the trust’s terms. If distributions under that requirement consistently fall below 3%, the annual distribution is to approximate 3% of the fair value of its assets, net of acquisition indebtedness. The filing states that in May 2024 the foundation made its annual distribution equal to 3.0% of net assets calculated as of January 1, 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edward J. Grefenstette as a community trustee; Joan Gabel, Eric C. Johnson, Farnam Jahanian, Susan Traverso, Jeanne Cunicelli, and Louis Cestello as educational trustees; Eva Blum and McCall Cravens as community trustees; and Ryan L. Vaccaro as managing director.
The filing states that the foundation is administered by nine trustees: five educational-institution trustees appointed by Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Thiel College, and four community trustees. It also states that Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Thiel College collectively have the power to appoint a majority of the foundation’s board.
Dietrich Foundation is led by Edward J. Grefenstette, Community Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; all 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward J. Grefenstette
Community Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$1.6M (2020) → $2.1M (2024)
Eric C. Johnson
Educational Trustee & Chairman
Educational Trustee → Educational Trustee & Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Lee S. Tilghman
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$415K (2020) → $843K (2024)
Ryan L. Vaccaro
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$502K (2020) → $880K (2024)
Matthew E. Cunningham
Managing Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$278K (2022) → $696K (2024)
Eva Blum
Community Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $13K (2024)
Farnam Jahanian
Educational Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Susan Traverso
Educational Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Jeanne Cunicelli
Educational Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $25K (2024)
Joan Gabel
Educational Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $25K (2024)
McCall Cravens
Community Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$25K (2023) → $25K (2024)
Louis Cestello
Educational Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$13K (2024)
Nancy A. Watson
Vice President of Finance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$240K (2020) → $365K (2024)
Mariah S. Smith
Operations Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$155K (2024)
Former officers (7)
- Former: James E. Rohr (2020–2023) — Educational Trustee
- Former: Patrick Gallagher (2020–2023) — Educational Trustee
- Former: Mariah Salas (2023) — Operations Manager
- Former: Anne Dietrich Diemer (2020–2022) — Community Trustee
- Former: Mark J. Laskow (2020–2022) — Community Trustee & Chairman
- Former: Matthew W. Rozyczka (2020–2022) — Managing Director
- Former: G. Nicholas Beckwith III (2020) — Community Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2.1M, to Edward J Grefenstette (Community Trustee, Preside). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dietrich Foundation
How much does Dietrich Foundation give each year?
Dietrich Foundation gave $45.4M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $51.8M across 13 grants.
What is Dietrich Foundation's typical grant size?
Dietrich Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $624,738, and its average grant was $3,495,039, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dietrich Foundation that year got $454K on average.
Where does Dietrich Foundation give grants?
Dietrich Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (11 grants).
Does Dietrich Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Dietrich Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Dietrich Foundation's largest grantees?
Dietrich Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Carnegie Mellon University ($24,307,999), University of Pittsburgh ($11,358,878) and Thiel College ($2,271,776), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dietrich Foundation?
Dietrich Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $107.3M.
What does Dietrich Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated primary mission is to provide ongoing and increasing financial support to Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Thiel College, Princeton University, Duquesne University, and Chatham University. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dietrich Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dietrich Foundation's EIN?
Dietrich Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4711746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Dietrich Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dietrich Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dietrich-foundation-morg_aea0531c6edd4d2bb6fa891c10fa1e7a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364711746_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dietrich Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dietrich-foundation-morg_aea0531c6edd4d2bb6fa891c10fa1e7a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Dietrich Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Dietrich Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?