Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 giving included support for organizations addressing children’s needs, health, arts and culture, library services, riverfront trails, and legal services.
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation gave $37K across 67 grants in 2024 (avg $547.015), mostly in Pennsylvania. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $36,650
- -47.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 67
- +21.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $547
- -56.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125
- Total assets
- $119,432
- -12.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (42 of 67, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 600 Grant Street 44Th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 566-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Boys and Girls Club of Western PA ($6K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
281 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 281 grants of 281 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 6% to New Jersey, 3% to Connecticut, and 1% each to Tennessee and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 67 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 42 of 67 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $405; repeat grants $786. How we count
Medians: $88 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 22% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 626% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $37K (2024) to $121K (2020). In 2024 it made 67 grants totaling $37K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club of Western PA Pittsburgh, PA | To Provide Support to Kids | $6,000 |
| Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pittsburgh, PA | To Find a Cure for Blood Cancers | $5,000 |
| Pittsburgh Public Theater Pittsburgh, PA | To Support Public Theater in Pittsburgh | $2,500 |
| Dauphin County Library System Harrisburg, PA | To provide library services to the residents of Dauphin county | $2,000 |
| Children First Philadelphia, PA | To Help Vulnerable Children | $1,550 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | To Support the Religious Congregation | $1,000 |
| Friends of the Riverfront Pittsburgh, PA | To Maintain the Three Rivers Heritage Trail | $1,000 |
| Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Pittsburgh, PA | To Support Arts Education | $1,000 |
| Move a Mountain Missions Pittsburgh, PA | To help youth from the catholic diocese of pittsburgh | $1,000 |
| Neighbors for Neighbors Cranberry, PA | To Support Neighbors in Need | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $119,432 | $20,000 | $36,748 | $36,650 | 67 | $36,650 | $5,854 |
| 2023 | $136,180 | $75,000 | $69,550 | $69,550 | 55 | $69,550 | $4,507 |
| 2022 | $130,730 | $55,000 | $85,596 | $85,596 | 53 | $85,596 | $5,314 |
| 2021 | $161,326 | $125,770 | $118,182 | $117,991 | 53 | $117,991 | $5,575 |
| 2020 | $153,738 | $125,050 | $120,573 | $120,573 | 53 | — | $5,569 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Pittsburgh Public Theater describes its mission as providing artistically diverse theatrical experiences of the highest quality, while Dauphin County Library System says it builds community and transforms lives by connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. Friends of the Riverfront says it works to build and maintain safe, clean, accessible riverfront trails, and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank describes its mission as pursuing lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 67 grants totaling $36,650. Grants ranged from $50 to $6,000, with a median grant of $125. Among the largest were $6,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Western PA to provide support to kids; $5,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to find a cure for blood cancers; $2,500 to Pittsburgh Public Theater; $2,000 to Dauphin County Library System; and $1,550 to Children First. Other listed grants included $1,000 each to Catholic Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh, Friends of the Riverfront, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Move A Mountain Missions, Neighbors for Neighbors, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, and Pennsylvania Innocence Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Scott D Cessar, Dorothy A Davis, Timothy Q Hudak, and Christopher R Opalinski as members of the board of directors.
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher R. Opalinski
Member-Board of Directors
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dorothy A. Davis
Member-Board of Directors
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Timothy Q. Hudak
Member-Board of Directors
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Scott D. Cessar
Member-Board of Directors
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John R. McGinley Jr. (2020–2023) — Member-Board of Directors
- Former: Paul M. Yenerall (2020–2023) — Member-Board of Directors
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.
Frequently asked questions about Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation
How much does Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation give each year?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation gave $37K across 67 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $70K across 55 grants.
What is Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $125, and its average grant was $547, across 67 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation that year got $405 on average.
Where does Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation give grants?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (17 grants), Philadelphia, PA (5 grants), Harrisburg, PA (3 grants) and Cranberry, PA (2 grants).
Does Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 67 grants with a stated purpose on Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Fight Hunger" (10 grants).
Who are Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Boys and Girls Club of Western PA ($6,000), Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ($5,000) and Pittsburgh Public Theater ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation reported $119K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $37K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Eckert Seamans Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3603375. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Eckert Seamans Charitable 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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