Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation
The Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation is a private foundation based in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. It makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) charities and governments within the Wellsboro Area School District; its 2024 awards included support for a homeless shelter, arts programming, health-related projects, and local organizations.
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation gave $127K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $127,284
- +34.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +23.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,955
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,829
- Total assets
- $2,173,506
- +3.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (3 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing directs applicants to submit a formal letter of application and a copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter. Awards are limited to qualified 501(c)(3) charities or governments within the Wellsboro Area School District.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 1 and September 1 each year. Both 2026 dates have passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 1 and September 1 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Wellsboro Chamber Of Commerce Co Ju
Mailing address: 114 Main Street 1, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Phone: (570) 724-3801
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tioga County Homeless Initiative ($25K). Together the top 10 received $115K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing limits awards to qualified 501(c)(3) charities or governments within the Wellsboro Area School District. All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 16 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 103% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2021) to $127K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $127K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tioga County Homeless Initiative Mansfield, PA | New Homelessshelter | $25,000 |
| St Paul's Episcopal Church Wellsboro, PA | Repairs Toaltar | $20,000 |
| Deane Center for the Performing Arts Inc Wellsboro, PA | Music Park PROJECT,FREE Summerconcert Sales | $17,000 |
| Tioga Partnership for Community Health Wellsboro, PA | Tioga Countytrail Project | $12,500 |
| Wellsboro Foundation Inc Wellsboro, PA | Variousprojects | $10,907 |
| Susquehanna Health Foundation Williamsport, PA | Construction Ofhealing Garden | $10,000 |
| Wellsboro Cemetery Company Wellsboro, PA | Refurbish Chapel | $6,250 |
| Emmf Wellsboro, PA | Educational Andcultural Outreach | $5,000 |
| Wellsboro Area Education Foundation Wellsboro, PA | New Girls Andboys Basketballmachine | $4,657 |
| Trinity Lutheran School Wellsboro, PA | Playgrounddrainage Repairs | $4,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,173,506 | $222,892 | $154,309 | $127,284 | 16 | $135,672 | $205,397 | $124,912 |
| 2023 | $2,104,923 | $127,546 | $119,419 | $94,693 | 13 | $103,015 | $111,142 | $114,208 |
| 2022 | $2,096,796 | $131,596 | $120,948 | $95,928 | 14 | $103,993 | $114,928 | $117,681 |
| 2021 | $2,086,148 | $269,496 | $91,334 | $62,638 | 13 | $70,017 | $251,179 | — |
| 2020 | $1,907,986 | $117,113 | $117,689 | $92,969 | 15 | — | $100,048 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $125K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of projects, including a homeless shelter, repairs to a church altar, a performing arts center’s music park and free summer concerts, a county trail project, a healing garden, cemetery chapel refurbishment, and school and community facility improvements.
The supported organizations describe their own missions in varied terms. Tioga County Homeless Initiative says it seeks to establish a faith-based network providing a warm, safe, and caring environment for people experiencing homelessness. Deane Center for the Performing Arts says it promotes fine arts through dramatic, orchestral, and other musical performances. Wellsboro Foundation says it works on community and economic development in Wellsboro and Tioga County. The Learning Tree of Wellsboro says it provides a stimulating and safe learning environment for young children.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $127,284 through 16 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $25,000, with a median of $4,828. Notable awards included $25,000 to Tioga County Homeless Initiative for a new homeless shelter, $20,000 to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for altar repairs, $17,000 to Deane Center for the Performing Arts for its music park project and free summer concerts, and $12,500 to Tioga Partnership for Community Health for a county trail project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas Rudy, C&N Bank representative; F. Craig West, Wellsboro Borough mayor; Cheryl Sottolano, Wellsboro Area Schools superintendent; Julie Vanness, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce representative; and Amy DeCamp, board member.
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julie Vanness
Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce Representative
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Rudy
C & N Bank Representative
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Decamp
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Sottolano
Wellsboro Area Schools Supt
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
F. Craig West
Wellsboro Borough Mayor
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Brenda Freeman (2020–2023) — Wellsboro Area Schools Supt
- Former: John Wheeler (2020–2023) — Wellsboro Borough Mayor
- Former: Alanna Huck (2022) — Wellsboro Area Schools Supt
- Former: Julie Henry (2022) — Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce Representative
- Former: R. Lowell Coolidge Esq. (2020–2021) — Attorney
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation
How much does Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation give each year?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation gave $127K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $95K across 13 grants.
What is Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,829, and its average grant was $7,955, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation give grants?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wellsboro, PA (12 grants) and Mansfield, PA (2 grants).
Does Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's largest grantees?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tioga County Homeless Initiative ($25,000), St Paul's Episcopal Church ($20,000) and Deane Center for the Performing Arts Inc ($17,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $136K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $125K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation?
The filing directs applicants to submit a formal letter of application and a copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's EIN?
Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4200423. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/charles-knox-and-margaret-c-etner-foundation-morg_951696774bca464dbd4e588a322894c2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204200423_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Charles Knox \& Margaret C Etner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/charles-knox-and-margaret-c-etner-foundation-morg_951696774bca464dbd4e588a322894c2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Charles Knox & Margaret C Etner Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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