Norbert Dittrich is past president of The Welch Foundation located in Houston, Texas.  The foundation is a private grant-making organization that supports basic research in chemistry in Texas. With assets of $900 million and an annual grant budget of $45 million, the foundation has extended grants to 67 educational institutions in Texas.

Dittrich is a native of Schulenburg, Texas. He received a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1974. Prior to joining the foundation in 1977, he served in the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. He has held leadership roles with the American Chemical Society, Science History Institute, Foundation Financial Officers Group, Philanthropy Southwest, the International Congress of Distinguished Awards, the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation, Tax Executives, Inc., St. Agnes Academy, and the St. Francis de Sales School Foundation.

He is a Fellow of The American Association For The Advancement of Science.