Coherent Ii-vi Foundation
The Coherent II-VI Foundation is a private corporate foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 2007. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting education in science, engineering, and mathematics through targeted scholarship and grant programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.8M
+18.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-19.8% YoY
Grant Count
51
-8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Coherent Ii-vi Foundation reported a distributable amount of $984K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established to encourage and enable students to enter the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics, with the goal of increasing and improving the pool of engineers and scientists to address technical challenges facing the nation and world.
The foundation operates two primary programs:
- Targeted Undergraduate Scholarships — Scholarships requiring valuable work experience in industrial or scientific settings
- Graduate-Level Block-Gift Program — Research project support at the graduate level
Grantmaking
The foundation's original scholarship criteria included:
Ready to take the next step with Coherent Ii-vi Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds institutions in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Grantees have included Montana State University and various universities across these regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data
- Total Assets: $8,842,260
- Total Revenues: $3,973,500
- Total Expenses: $1,899,036
- Total Giving: $1,381,018
2023 Financial Data
- Total Assets: $7,437,681
- Total Revenues: $2,182,971
- Total Expenses: $2,217,275
2023 Financial Data (Alternative Source)
- Total Assets: $7.44 million
- Total Liabilities: $122,000
- Revenue: $2.18 million
- Expenses: $2.22 million
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,842,260 | $7,437,681 | $7,816,011 |
| Revenue | $3,973,500 | $2,182,971 | $2,805,081 |
| Expenses | $1,899,036 | $2,217,275 | $2,505,579 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,805,145 | $2,150,977 | $478,151 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,764,182 | $816,908 | $1,722,338 |
| Distributable Amount | $983,909 | $657,501 | $883,971 |
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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Buffalo a ($95,000), University of Buffalo B ($95,000), University of California Santa Barb ($95,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NOAH P BROWN PITTSBURGH, PA | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ADITYA CHITTARI NEW ALBANY, OH | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| TREVOR COX PLAIN CITY, OH | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| CARLOS A LIMA DOMINGUES TAMPA, FL | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| COLIN J GARDNER GROVE CITY, PA | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| COLEMAN HENNER PORTLAND, OR | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| CADEN J JACOBS VALENCIA, PA | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| BRAYDEN KARR CONSHOCTON, OH | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| CAROLINE D KENNEY PITTSBURGH, PA | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| KASEY E LICHTNER REYNOLDSBURG, OH | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Rick Purnell — Executive Director (since foundation inception in 2007)
Board of Directors:
- Carl Johnson — Co-founder and original board member
- Duncan Morrison — Original board member
- Marc Pelaez — Original board member
- Robert German — Board Secretary and legal counsel
- Steve Rummel — Board member (appointed by unanimous vote)
Program Management:
- Dr. Alan Hedges — Manager of the Block-Gift Program (appointed January 1, 2024)
- Dr. Richard H. Hopkins — Former Manager of the Block-Gift Program (served 16 years, transitioned role in January 2024)
Technical Team Consultants:
- Dr. Andy Souzis
- Dr. Timothy F. Murray
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD W PURNELL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $201,200 |
| CARL J JOHNSON | CHAIRMAN EMERITUS & DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| MARC Y E PELAEZ | CHAIRMAN & DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ELGIN EISSLER | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| HOLLY S MCCANN ESQUIRE | SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| J D BROOKHART | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| YOUNG KAI CHEN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Board Expansion:** Steve Rummel was appointed to the Board of Directors, having joined Coherent Corporation in 1988 and serving as Senior Vice President of the Engineered Materials Group since 2019.
**Program Leadership Transition:** Dr. Alan Hedges was appointed as Manager of the Block-Gift Program effective January 1, 2024, following Dr. Richard H. Hopkins' 16-year tenure in the role. The Block-Gift Program was initiated by Carl Johnson in 2008.
**Technical Team Expansion:** The foundation announced additions to its Technical Team, including Dr. Andy Souzis (Ph.D. in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology) and Dr. Timothy F. Murray (principal consultant and owner of Murray Advisory Services, LLC, and former CEO and Chairman of OFS Fitel LLC).
**2025-2026 Block-Gift Programs:** The foundation announced its block-gift programs for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Coherent Ii-vi Foundation fund?
The foundation was established to encourage and enable students to enter the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics, with the goal of increasing and improving the pool of engineers and scientists to address technical challenges facing the nation and world. The foundation operates two primary programs: 1. **Targeted Undergraduate Scholarships** — Scholarships requiring valuable work experience in industrial or scientific settings 2. **Graduate-Level Block-Gift Program** — Research proje…
How do I apply for a grant from Coherent Ii-vi Foundation?
• **Typical award range:** $5,000–$190,000 • **Recent grant activity:** The foundation made 58 grants in the most recent reporting year • **Grant funding sources:** Interest income from cash balances, interest and dividends from securities, and capital gains from securities sales are used for making scholarship grants and block gifts The foundation's original scholarship criteria included: • Applicants must be entering fields of science, engineering, or mathematics • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA …
Where does Coherent Ii-vi Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds institutions in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Grantees have included Montana State University and various universities across these regions.
What size grants does Coherent Ii-vi Foundation award?
In 2024, Coherent Ii-vi Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Coherent Ii-vi Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Coherent Ii-vi Foundation reported a distributable amount of $984K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Coherent Ii-vi Foundation's EIN?
Coherent Ii-vi Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8824719. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Coherent Ii-vi Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Johns Hopkins University
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$23.0B
Grants
757
Total Given
$467.3M
The Simons Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
American Chemical Society
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
341
Total Given
$22.4M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
American Heart Association Inc
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
794
Total Given
$227.6M
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
LOS ALTOS, CA
Assets
$8.5B
Grants
1,029
Total Given
$350.0M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Coherent Ii-vi Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Coherent Ii-vi Foundation to a real strategy.