Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation
The Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with listed grant purposes primarily identified as education.
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation gave $690K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $46K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $690,000
- +238.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,000
- +125.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $45,352,865
- +131.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (6 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (66% 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 Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. No special form is required, and the filing lists no deadline. The stated restriction is that an organization must be a public charity.
- Contact
Application contact: Donna B Johnson
Mailing address: 223 Fourth Avenue Suite 1500, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1717
Phone: (412) 288-0280
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Shady Side Academy ($135K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $620K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 55 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (66%), Rhode Island (14%), Florida (14%), and West Virginia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 14 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $67K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 240% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 77% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $203K (2020) to $690K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $690K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brown University Providence, RI | Education | $100,000 |
| Carnegie Institue-Museums Pittsburgh, PA | Education | $100,000 |
| Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh, PA | Education | $100,000 |
| YMCA of Collier Country-Naples FL Marco Island, FL | Education | $100,000 |
| Valley School of Ligonier - Nature Playground & Trout Program Ligonier, PA | Education | $50,000 |
| Pittsburgh Urban Christian School Pittsburgh, PA | Education | $35,000 |
| Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh, PA | Education | $35,000 |
| The Kiski School Saltsburg, PA | Education | $30,000 |
| Crossroads Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | General | $25,000 |
| Linsly School Wheeling, WV | Education | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,352,865 | $26,633,136 | $1,188,644 | $690,000 | 15 | $1,006,476 | $1,452,372 | $1,314,194 |
| 2023 | $19,567,155 | $476,520 | $276,557 | $204,000 | 10 | $231,695 | $431,658 | $413,989 |
| 2022 | $3,413,580 | $446,881 | $256,014 | $203,070 | 10 | $226,963 | $416,311 | $201,274 |
| 2021 | $3,235,399 | $443,710 | $256,424 | $203,070 | 10 | $227,343 | $414,210 | $212,144 |
| 2020 | $3,048,113 | $154,491 | $262,873 | $203,000 | 10 | — | $121,783 | $183,212 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M 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 foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for schools and other charitable organizations; most of the listed grant purposes are education, with one identified as general.
Grantee missions illustrate the range of supported educational work. Shady Side Academy describes its mission as providing a pre-K through 12th-grade academic and balanced educational experience. Pittsburgh Urban Christian School says it provides education in an urban setting for a racially and economically diverse group of children. The Kiski School says it prepares students to succeed in college and in life. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $690,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $30,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $100,000 each to Brown University, Carnegie Institute-Museums, Shady Side Academy, and YMCA of Collier County-Naples FL, all listed for education. Other listed grants included $50,000 to Valley School of Ligonier for a nature playground and trout program; $35,000 each to Pittsburgh Urban Christian School and Shady Side Academy; and $30,000 to The Kiski School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Henry A Bergstrom Jr, Donna B Johnson, Thomas L Myron Jr, John C Harmon, Edwin F Scheetz Jr, Michael S Higgins, Richard B Meyer, and Lance A Whiteman as trustees. Johnson is listed as secretary, treasurer, and trustee; Myron as assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, and trustee; Harmon as president and trustee; Higgins as vice president and trustee; and Meyer as chief investment officer and trustee.
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation is led by John C. Harmon, President & Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John C. Harmon
President & Trustee
Vice President & Trustee → President & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna B. Johnson
Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$21K (2024)
Edwin F. Scheetz Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry A. Bergstrom Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael S. Higgins
Vice President & Trustee
Trustee → Vice President & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard B. Meyer
Chief Inv Officer & Trustee
Trustee → Chief Inv Officer & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas L. Myron Jr.
Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer & Trustee
Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lance A. Whiteman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Paul G. Benedum Jr. (2020–2023) — Chairman & Trustee
- Former: Richard F. Bumer (2020–2023) — Chief Inv Officer & Trustee
- Former: Paul G. Benedum Jr Estate (2023) — Chairman & 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 $21K, to Donna B Johnson (Secretary/Treasurer/Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation
How much does Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation give each year?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation gave $690K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $204K across 10 grants.
What is Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $46,000, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation that year got $67K on average.
Where does Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation give grants?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Rhode Island (14%) and Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (6 grants), Ligonier, PA (2 grants) and Wheeling, WV (2 grants).
Does Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (14 grants).
Who are Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Shady Side Academy ($135,000 across 2 grants), Brown University ($100,000) and Carnegie Institue-Museums ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation reported $45.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for schools and other charitable organizations; most of the listed grant purposes are education, with one identified as general. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's EIN?
Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2887993. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Paul G Benedum Jr 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paul-g-benedum-jr-foundation-morg_9066b95df07549d99e47b4c732e8d4ca
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232887993_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paul G Benedum Jr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paul-g-benedum-jr-foundation-morg_9066b95df07549d99e47b4c732e8d4ca},
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 Paul G Benedum Jr 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.
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