The Benter Foundation
The Benter Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 2007 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The organization operates as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to helping communities and individuals thrive through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$186K
+28.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+48.5% YoY
Grant Count
44
-12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
+68.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Benter Foundation was founded in 2007 to help communities and individuals thrive. The Foundation's work emphasizes advancing a more livable Pittsburgh, with particular focus on downtown and the neighborhoods comprising the city's urban core.
Primary funding areas include:
- Smart transportation
- Arts enhancement
- Open spaces and sustainability
- Global connections and community engagement
- Peace building efforts
- Innovation addressing large-scale issues
- Opioid-related initiatives in the community
- Education
- Human services
The Foundation prioritizes supporting strong partners with the tools they need to serve communities effectively.
Grantmaking
The Benter Foundation makes grants to nonprofits and educational institutions across multiple sectors.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's primary geographic focus includes:
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (with emphasis on downtown and urban core neighborhoods)
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Michigan
The Foundation also supports peace building efforts and innovation work with broader national and international scope.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $144,732
- Total Revenue: $2,454,198
- Total Expenses: $2,464,127
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $3,141,863
Historical Context: The Foundation has maintained consistent financial activity since its establishment in 2007, with annual revenues and expenses typically in the $2-2.5 million range.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $186,310 | $144,732 | $154,661 |
| Revenue | $3,500,243 | $2,454,198 | $6,190,163 |
| Expenses | $3,458,665 | $2,464,127 | $6,151,184 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,457,627 | $2,463,194 | $6,122,976 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $7,695 | $4,557 | $109,081 |
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
242 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Benter Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
William F Benter is identified as the key officer associated with the Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM F BENTER | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1.6 | — |
| BRUCE BENTER | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 1.3 | — |
| BRUCE PYLE | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 1.45 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has been active in supporting research and community initiatives:
Supported research linking infectious agents to Alzheimer's disease through grants to the IDSA Education and Research Foundation, with more than $1 million in grant funds awarded to researchers studying potential connections between infectious diseases and Alzheimer's
$1 million grant announced for Alzheimer's link to germPartnered with The Forbes Funds and INFLUENCE|SG to provide fundraising capacity training for nonprofit leaders, continuing this partnership into 2021
The Forbes Funds, INFLUENCE|SG and the Benter Foundation continue partnershipMaintains active grantmaking focused on opioid-related community initiatives and downtown Pittsburgh revitalization efforts
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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