The Benter Foundation

PITTSBURGH, PA EIN: 20-8807953 Website

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

-12.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$71K

+68.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Benter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

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

include general operating supportspecial COVID-19 supplementsand project-specific funding

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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

Pennsylvania $9.6M (54%)

Virginia $6.6M (37%)

Michigan $1.3M (7%)

Missouri $169K (1%)

North Carolina $110K (1%)

Arizona $100K (1%)

New York $60K (0%)

Illinois $50K (0%)

States

Arizona Illinois Michigan Missouri North Carolina New York Pennsylvania Virginia

Cities

Ann ArborAnnandale On HudsonArlingtonDuquesneDurhamEtnaEvanstonHarrisburgHomesteadMillvaleNew YorkPhiladelphiaPittsburghSt LouisTempe

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.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Foundation

Benter Foundation Grant

THE BENTER FOUNDATION

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Inc ($800,000), University of Michigan Regents ($334,000), Laurel Highlands Council Flag Plaza Boys Scouts of America ($200,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ASSEMBLE INC PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,000
ATTACK THEATRE INC PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$15,000
BIKE PITTSBURGH INC PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FOR OPEN STREETS	$30,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WESTERN PA PITTSBURGH, PA	SUPPORT OF A BUSINESS PLAN AND ROADMAP FOR A YOUTH CENTER IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH	$10,000
CHATHAM BAROQUE INC PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$13,500
CITY THEATRE COMPANY INC DBA CITY THEATRE PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$10,000
FRIENDS OF THE PITTSBURGH URBAN FOREST DBA TREE PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA	SUPPORT OF FUNDRAISING AND REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS	$35,000
FRIENDS OF THE RIVERFRONT PITTSBURGH, PA	SUPPORT OF A TRANSIT VAN, STAFF POSITION AND CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE	$50,000
GARFIELD COMMUNITY FARM PITTSBURGH, PA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$7,500
GRANTMAKERS OF WESTERN PA PITTSBURGH, PA	A THREE YEAR GRANT TO SUPPORT THE LAUNCH OF A REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE	$166,667

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 germ

2021

Partnered 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 partnership

Maintains active grantmaking focused on opioid-related community initiatives and downtown Pittsburgh revitalization efforts

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Benter Foundation fund?

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** • **Opioi…

How do I apply for a grant from The Benter Foundation?

The Benter Foundation makes grants to nonprofits and educational institutions across multiple sectors. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $4,100 to $3,200,000 • The Foundation made 62 grants in 2023 • Grant types include general operating support, special COVID-19 supplements, and project-specific funding **Recent Grant Examples:** • Regents of the University of Michigan: $334,219 (2023) for a two-year pilot program in academic detailing to disrupt opioid prescribing in dentistry…

Where does The Benter Foundation make 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.

What size grants does The Benter Foundation award?

In 2024, The Benter Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $3.1M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Benter Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Benter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.