Orris C&b Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Fd
The Orris C&B Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation is a private charitable trust and family foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in 1956 by The Electric Materials Company, the foundation was named in honor of Orris C. Hirtzel (founder of the Electric Materials Company) and his wife, Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel. The foundation was originally created to provide scholarships to high school graduates but has expanded significantly over the decades to include graduate scholarships, medical research grants, and community grants.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.4M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+47.4% YoY
Grant Count
52
+4.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+41.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission reflects the philanthropic objectives of Philip D. Hirtzel, who led the organization from its inception. The foundation supports three primary grant categories:
- Educational Scholarships: Undergraduate scholarships and graduate-level health care-related scholarships for qualified individuals
- Medical Grants: Support for 501(c)(3) organizations funding healthcare services and scientific and medical research at colleges, universities, hospitals, and similar facilities
- Community Grants: Support for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and municipalities for projects including public parks, libraries, social and public services, local government enhancement, public school districts, historical preservation, private colleges and universities, and volunteer fire companies
The foundation's annual distribution is structured as approximately 25% scholarships, 55% health care/research/equipment grants, and 20% community grants.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
. Interested applicants are advised to contact the foundation directly for current application procedures and requirements.
How to Apply
**: The foundation does not publicly specify application deadlines. Interested applicants are advised to contact the foundation directly for current application procedures and requirements.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves a defined geographic footprint:
Primary Resident Area (for scholarships and most grants):
- North East Borough, North East Township, Harborcreek Township, and Greenfield Township in Erie County, Pennsylvania
- Town of Ripley in Chautauqua County, New York
Extended Service Area (for medical research and healthcare grants):
- Western Pennsylvania
- Western New York
- Northern Ohio
Historical records also indicate support in California and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $25,363,730 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $1,296,679 (most recent reporting year)
Income: $10,470,256 (as of 2023)
The foundation is classified as an independent private foundation with EIN 25-6018933.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,363,730 | $25,608,787 | $25,130,725 |
| Revenue | $1,331,879 | $1,577,379 | $620,203 |
| Expenses | $1,538,260 | $1,114,290 | $1,533,844 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,410,392 | $983,456 | $1,359,137 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,211,597 | $1,473,778 | $513,159 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,425,499 | $1,264,601 | $1,294,802 |
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
233 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
Founder: Philip D. Hirtzel, who funded the foundation and served as its guiding force until his death. Philip was the son of Orris C. Hirtzel and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel.
The foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees composed of residents from the communities served. Board members are responsible for reviewing grant applications, approving scholarship grants, and awarding monies. A corporate trustee manages the foundation's investments but does not participate in grant review or award decisions.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA CALLAN | TRUSTEE AND CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| DOUG SCEIFORD | TRUSTEE AND SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ANN NECKERS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT JEFFERY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BNY MELLON N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $148,367 |
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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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