Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1904
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carnegie Hero Fund Commission does
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is a non-profit organization established in 1904 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie and headquartered at 436 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1101, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Commission awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. As of 2026, the organization has recognized 10,581 heroes since inception, including approximately 1,500 recipients aged 17 or younger; six individuals have received the medal twice in the Commission's history, and 18 honorees were named in the most recent 2026 award round.
The organization's service portfolio is anchored by the Carnegie Medal Award Program as its core offering, complemented by an integrated suite of support services: scholarships for higher education, death-benefit reimbursements for posthumous heroes, medical treatment expense assistance, mental health treatment support including PTSD-related care, ongoing monthly financial support for disabled heroes and dependents, grave marker medallions, academic honor cords, no-cost medal refinishing, and the Heroes for Heroes peer support network. The Commission also operates a public Hero Search Database covering all recipients from 1904 to present. The organization accepts nominations through its website, conducts a formal investigative process for each case, and disseminates award announcements via its website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube), email newsletters, and earned media.
The Commission is an endowment-funded non-profit with 1-10 employees that does not sell products or services. All grants, scholarships, and support are provided at no cost to recipients; operating capital derives from the original Carnegie endowment established in 1904 rather than from investment rounds, revenue-generating activities, or government grants. Eric Zahren serves as the Hero Fund President. The organization holds no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates independently under a commission governance structure with primary jurisdiction in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
- Legal name
- Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
- Website
- https://carnegiehero.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1904
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Civilian Heroism Recognition
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)
Keywords
Where Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Around this central recognition, the Commission delivers a portfolio of ongoing support services to awardees and their dependents, including scholarships, death benefits, medical and mental health (PTSD) treatment expense assistance, monthly financial support for disabled heroes and dependents, grave marker medallions, academic honor cords, medal refinishing, and the Heroes for Heroes peer support network.
Product overview
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission operates as a single, unified nonprofit service offering centered around the Carnegie Medal award program. The core product is the Carnegie Medal itself—a prestigious recognition awarded to civilian heroes who risk their lives to save others. Surrounding this central award is a portfolio of support services including scholarships, financial assistance (death benefits, medical expenses, mental health treatment, ongoing support), tangible items (grave markers, honor cords, medal refinishing), and the Heroes for Heroes peer support network. The organization also maintains an online Hero Search Database containing records of all recipients since 1904.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Heroes for Heroes: A peer support network program for Carnegie heroes, pairing recipients with volunteer coaches to discuss common experiences and after-rescue challenges
Products and services
- Carnegie Medal Award Program Flagship program that recognizes individuals in the U.S. and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others; recipients receive the Carnegie Medal plus an initial financial grant.
- Scholarships Limited educational funding for Carnegie heroes or dependents of disabled or posthumous awardees to offset tuition, books, and fees at accredited higher-education institutions.
- Death Benefits Reimbursement of funeral costs for posthumous Carnegie heroes, in keeping with Andrew Carnegie's wish that families of deceased heroes not face financial hardship.
- Medical Treatment Expenses Assistance Assistance with medical treatment costs not covered by healthcare coverage for Carnegie heroes who sustain treatable injuries during their heroic acts.
- Mental Health Treatment Expenses Assistance Need-based assistance with treatment costs for heroes experiencing PTSD or PTSD-related conditions resulting from rescue trauma.
- Ongoing Financial Assistance Monthly financial support for disabled heroes and dependents of heroes who gave their lives, to help meet essential living expenses based on individual need.
- Heroes for Heroes Peer Support Network Peer support program that pairs Carnegie heroes with volunteer coaches to discuss common experiences and after-rescue challenges.
- Hero Search Database Online searchable database of all Carnegie Medal recipients from 1904 to present, with search by name, location, act type, and year.
- Grave Marker Medallion Bronze medallions cast in the likeness of the Carnegie Medal, provided at no cost to families of deceased heroes for mounting on stone or bronze memorials.
- Academic Honor Cords Ceremonial cords representing the Tartan plaid of Andrew Carnegie, offered to graduating Carnegie heroes and Hero Fund scholarship recipients.
- Carnegie Medal Refinishing No-cost service arranging refinishing of aged and tarnished Carnegie Medals, returning them as close as possible to their original luster.
Companies that use Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission social profiles
Digital presenceCarnegie Hero Fund Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
What does Carnegie Hero Fund Commission do?
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Around this central recognition, the Commission delivers a portfolio of ongoing support services to awardees and their dependents, including scholarships, death benefits, medical and mental health (PTSD) treatment expense assistance, monthly financial support for disabled heroes and dependents, grave marker medallions, academic honor cords, medal refinishing, and the Heroes for Heroes peer support network.
Is Carnegie Hero Fund Commission a public or private company?
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Carnegie Hero Fund Commission founded?
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was founded in 1904. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Carnegie Hero Fund Commission based?
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
Does Carnegie Hero Fund Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
What industry is Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in?
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission's product category is Nonprofit Civilian Heroism Recognition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts, with a secondary code of BPAGADAE, College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.