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Nonprofiteer
← DIETRICH FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by DIETRICH FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$107,295,535
Total expenses
$56,375,570
Contributions and grants received
$0
Grants paid
$45,435,512
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$107,295,535
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$1,469,174,246
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,875,294
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,461,298,952
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$49,344,129
Management and general expenses
$7,031,441
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$49,344,129

Program services were 87.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $8,466,664 · unrelated business $2,863,786 · excluded $5,602,878

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $178,808,284

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $79,979,413

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $98,828,871

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $98,828,871 · unrelated business $1,528,123 · excluded $97,300,748

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $45,435,512 · program services $45,435,512

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $6,096,421 · program services $2,133,747 · management and general $3,962,674

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $531,688 · program services $186,091 · management and general $345,597

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $29,843 · program services $10,445 · management and general $19,398

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $55,555 · program services $19,444 · management and general $36,111

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $182,254 · program services $63,789 · management and general $118,465

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $54,497 · management and general $54,497

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $115,584 · program services $57,792 · management and general $57,792

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $449,070 · program services $224,535 · management and general $224,535

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $83,779 · program services $29,323 · management and general $54,456

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $44,722 · program services $22,361 · management and general $22,361

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $282,605 · program services $141,302 · management and general $141,303

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,070 · program services $535 · management and general $535

  • 17 · Travel

    total $243,532 · management and general $243,532

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $154,466 · management and general $154,466

  • 20 · Interest

    total $945,445 · program services $945,445

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $206,619 · program services $27,678 · management and general $178,941

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $67,906 · program services $4,794 · management and general $63,112

  • 24a · Other expenses: STATE AND FOREIGN TAXES

    total $898,294 · program services $0 · management and general $898,294

  • 24b · Other expenses: UBTI TAX EXPENSE

    total $397,231 · program services $0 · management and general $397,231

  • 24c · Other expenses: BROKER'S COMMISSIONS

    total $50,210 · program services $25,105 · management and general $25,105

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK SERVICE CHARGES

    total $31,341 · program services $16,231 · management and general $15,110

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $17,926 · management and general $17,926

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $823,398 · end of year $0

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $12,163,276 · end of year $35,007,742

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,083,669 · end of year $19,164

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $231,941

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $115,049

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $42,702 · end of year $116,892

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $52,407,082 · end of year $59,277,583

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,429,687,191 · end of year $1,372,299,326

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,563,202 · end of year $2,453,539

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $514,556 · end of year $457,485

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $16,500,000 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $6,831,817 · end of year $7,417,809

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,474,924,147 · end of year $1,461,298,952

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE DIETRICH FOUNDATION (THE "FOUNDATION") IS TO BENEFIT HIGHER EDUCATION, PRIMARILY IN THE GREATER PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA AREA, BY PROVIDING ONGOING AND INCREASING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THIEL COLLEGE, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY, AND CHATHAM UNIVERSITY. THE FOUNDATION SHALL ALSO FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BY PROVIDING ONGOING AND INCREASING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SEE SCHEDULE A, PART I, FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO BENEFIT HIGHER EDUCATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES BY PROVIDING ONGOING AND INCREASING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 13 SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS.

  • PER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED AUGUST 23, 2011 OF WILLIAM S. DIETRICH II REVOCABLE TRUST AND THE DIETRICH FOUNDATION (THE "TRUST"), THE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES ANNUALLY, OR MORE FREQUENTLY, AN AMOUNT FROM NET INCOME EQUAL TO SUBSTANTIALLY ALL (AT LEAST 85%) OF ITS ANNUAL NET INCOME (AS DEFINED IN THE TRUST). IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY UNDER THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD CONSISTENTLY FALL BELOW A RATE OF 3%, THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT WILL APPROXIMATE 3% OF THE FAIR VALUE OF THE FOUNDATION'S ASSETS (NET OF ACQUISITION INDEBTEDNESS) AS DETERMINED ON JANUARY 1 OF EACH YEAR. IN MAY 2024, THE FOUNDATION MADE ITS ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION TO ITS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS EQUAL TO 3.0% OF NET ASSETS AS CALCULATED AT JANUARY 1, 2023.

    Expenses $49,344,129 · Grants $45,435,512

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Edward J Grefenstette

    COMMUNITY TRUSTEE, PRESIDE

    Total calculated
    $3,594,546
    From this org
    $2,098,335
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,496,211
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $880,955
    Bonus
    $1,000,000
    Other
    $217,380
    Deferred
    $1,466,486
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,725
    Filer's total
    $3,594,546
  • Joan Gabel

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $1,166,200
    From this org
    $25,000
    From related orgs
    $1,081,466
    Other
    $59,734
    Hours/week
    1 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $25,000 + $943,964 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $137,502 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $27,600 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $32,134 related
    Filer's total
    $25,000 + $1,141,200 related
  • Eric C Johnson

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE/CHAIRM

    Total calculated
    $50,000
    From this org
    $50,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Farnam Jahanian

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $2,955,276
    From this org
    $25,000
    From related orgs
    $2,749,101
    Other
    $181,175
    Hours/week
    1 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $25,000 + $1,615,936 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $700,000 related
    Other
    $0 + $433,165 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $27,600 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $153,575 related
    Filer's total
    $25,000 + $2,930,276 related
  • Susan Traverso

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $320,626
    From this org
    $25,000
    From related orgs
    $258,737
    Other
    $36,889
    Hours/week
    1 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $25,000 + $222,837 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $27,500 related
    Other
    $0 + $8,400 related
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $36,889 related
    Filer's total
    $25,000 + $295,626 related
  • Eva Blum

    COMMUNITY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $12,500
    From this org
    $12,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • McCall Cravens

    COMMUNITY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $25,000
    From this org
    $25,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jeanne Cunicelli

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $25,000
    From this org
    $25,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Louis Cestello

    EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $12,500
    From this org
    $12,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related
  • Ryan L Vaccaro

    MANAGING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $1,473,561
    From this org
    $880,344
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $593,217
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $425,422
    Bonus
    $380,000
    Other
    $74,922
    Deferred
    $570,133
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,084
    Filer's total
    $1,473,561
  • Mariah S Smith

    OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $230,753
    From this org
    $155,122
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $75,631
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,122
    Bonus
    $30,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $68,710
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,921
    Filer's total
    $230,753
  • Lee S Tilghman

    MANAGING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $1,422,628
    From this org
    $843,100
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $579,528
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $415,193
    Bonus
    $361,000
    Other
    $66,907
    Deferred
    $555,460
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,068
    Filer's total
    $1,422,628
  • Nancy A Watson

    VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $566,306
    From this org
    $364,718
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $201,588
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $225,589
    Bonus
    $105,000
    Other
    $34,129
    Deferred
    $182,740
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,848
    Filer's total
    $566,306
  • Matthew E Cunningham

    MANAGING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $1,142,374
    From this org
    $696,344
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $446,030
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $405,000
    Bonus
    $285,000
    Other
    $6,344
    Deferred
    $440,841
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,189
    Filer's total
    $1,142,374

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
EMPLOYEES TRAVELING ON FOUNDATION BUSINESS ARE PERMITTED TO FLY FIRST CLASS ON OVERSEAS FLIGHTS EXCEEDING 12 CONSECUTIVE HOURS. ALL OTHER AIRLINE TRAVEL MUST BE BOOKED AT THE MOST ECONOMICAL TRAVEL AVAILABLE THAT IS REASONABLE AND EFFICIENT TO THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE TRAVEL. CHARTER FLIGHTS ARE NOT PERMITTED. MEMBERSHIP IN A DOWNTOWN SOCIAL CLUB IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO/CIO AND MANAGING DIRECTORS TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE MEETING PLACE FOR FOUNDATION BUSINESS AND FOR ACCOMMODATING FOUNDATION GUESTS. EXPENSES INCURRED FOR PERSONAL USE OF THE CLUB ARE DOCUMENTED BY THE EMPLOYEE AND ARE NOT REIMBURSED BY THE FOUNDATION.
PART I, LINE 4B
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED A DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR THE PRESIDENT/CEO/CIO AND A BONUS PROGRAM FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES, BOTH AS SET FORTH IN CODE SECTION 457(F) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE FOLLOWING BENEFIT AMOUNTS WERE ACCRUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024: EDWARD J. GREFENSTETTE 383,286 MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM 104,141 RYAN L. VACCARO 124,433 LEE S. TILGHMAN 119,760 NANCY A. WATSON 51,000 MARIAH S. SMITH 23,410 TOTAL 806,030
PART I, LINE 7
EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO A PERFORMANCE BONUS DETERMINED ANNUALLY AND BASED ON PERFORMANCE REVIEWS. THE AMOUNT OF THE BONUS ACTUALLY PAID IS DISCRETIONARY. THE CEO DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF EACH EMPLOYEE'S RECOMMENDED BONUS. THE BONUS OF THE CEO IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE FOLLOWING ITS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF THE CEO AND CONSIDERATION OF A REASONABLENESS OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION CONSULTANT.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202523219349319537

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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