Community Foundation of Western
The Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio is a public, nonprofit charitable organization established in 1981 and headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania. The foundation was co-founded by Nick Strimbu. As a community foundation, it operates as a donor-advised fund platform designed to attract and invest permanent endowment resources to enhance quality of life for residents of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$153.0M
+16.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.3M
+65.8% YoY
Grant Count
358
+53.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+8.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio in accordance with the charitable intentions of donors who wish to leave a legacy. To fulfill this mission, the foundation:
- Identifies and supports community-based charitable purposes in health, education, economic development, human services, historical, cultural, and environmental activities
- Shapes responses to community needs through philanthropic leadership, commitment, and compassion
- Demonstrates accountability and integrity in resource management
Following a 2019 impact assessment, the foundation identified addiction and brain drain as the region's most pressing social issues and has focused on supporting programs that offer greater access for people trying to improve their lives and achieve careers that yield a living wage.
Primary funding areas include:
- Community Development
- Education
- Social & Human Services
- Health
Grantmaking
The foundation operates multiple specialized funding streams:
Grant Range
** Under $1,000 to $350,000+
Review Cycle
(approximately 3 months)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves:
- Primary service area: Mercer and Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania; Trumbull County, Ohio
- Secondary service area: 60% of grants stay in Pennsylvania; four other states receive a large number of grants: Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $131,728,395
- Total Revenues: $20,774,669
- Total Expenses: $10,391,215
- Annual Giving: $7,988,195 (2023)
- Staff: 10 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $153,005,126 | $131,728,395 | $110,760,070 |
| Revenue | $27,668,592 | $20,774,669 | $18,135,472 |
| Expenses | $15,890,162 | $10,391,215 | $9,271,307 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $7,047,099 | $5,694,559 | $3,183,056 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Buhl Park Corporation ($387,933), Buhl Community Recreation Center ($225,940), Assured Settlement Solutions Llc ($168,076).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST WAY SPRINGFIELD, OR | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AID FOR WOMEN CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| ALCO WASHER CENTER NEW CASTLE, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,475 |
| ALIQUIPPA SCHOOL DISTRICT ALIQUIPPA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $21,062 |
| ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS PITTSBURGH, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $104,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS AUSTINTOWN, OH | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| ARISE NEW CASTLE, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $8,171 |
| ARROW ELECTRIC INC GREENVILLE, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $23,537 |
| ASSURED SETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC MONROEVILLE, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $168,076 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Co-founder: Nick Strimbu
- Contact: Kyle (email: kyle@comm-foundation.org)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILL STRIMBU | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KAREN WINNER-SED | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LEW KACHULIS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DORENE POWELL | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JAMES O'BRIEN ESQ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RITA CLEMENTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSEPH GABRIEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE GURGOVITS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RON ANDERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SIMONAE LYLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF MATHEWS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERNIE MAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT MILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL E O'BRIEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT SHERBONDY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES T WELLER SR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KYLE ENGLISH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $151,410 |
| DENNIS J LIEB | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $126,155 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation awarded more than $15 million in grants through its fund advisers, demonstrating continued robust grantmaking activity. The foundation maintains a 4-star rating (97% score) from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong organizational performance.
Western Communities Foundation Opens 2025 Grant Applications to Build Safer,The foundation provided a grant of $27,648 to Mercer County Food Bank in September 2024 to support food security initiatives in the region.
Western Communities Foundation Opens 2025 Grant Applications to Build Safer,Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Community Foundation of Western fund?
The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio in accordance with the charitable intentions of donors who wish to leave a legacy. To fulfill this mission, the foundation: • Identifies and supports community-based charitable purposes in health, education, economic development, human services, historical, cultural, and environmental activities • Shapes responses to community needs through philanthropic leadership, commitment, and …
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Western?
The foundation operates multiple specialized funding streams: **Scholarships:** The foundation administers over 200 scholarships annually, primarily awarded to graduating high school seniors for institutions of higher learning, including loan forgiveness programs. Competitive scholarships total over $500,000 in assistance annually. **SOTUS Program:** Provides living expense support to Lawrence County women pursuing secondary education, allowing them to focus on studies without working multiple …
Where does Community Foundation of Western make grants?
The foundation primarily serves: • **Primary service area:** Mercer and Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania; Trumbull County, Ohio • **Secondary service area:** 60% of grants stay in Pennsylvania; four other states receive a large number of grants: Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida
What size grants does Community Foundation of Western award?
In 2024, Community Foundation of Western awarded 358 grants totaling $11.3M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Community Foundation of Western's EIN?
Community Foundation of Western's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1407396. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Western's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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