Erie Community Foundation
The Erie Community Foundation is a public charity based in Erie, Pennsylvania, that primarily serves donors and the nonprofit sector in Erie County. It makes grants to support community needs and strategic priorities, and encourages the creation of charitable endowment funds.
Erie Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Erie Community Foundation gave $24.4M across 373 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $24,376,560
- +18.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 373
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,353
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,789
- Total assets
- $385,719,844
- +5.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (74 of 373, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Erie Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For Helping Today, a pre-application meeting with a Community Impact Team member is required before submitting an application. For Transformational Grants, the website says trustees and staff identify prospective applicants.
- Contact
Mailing address: 459 West 6Th Street, Erie, PA 16507
Phone: (814) 454-0843
Website: https://eriecommunityfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
45 open opportunities from Erie Community Foundation
AJO Forever Scholarship Grant
Erie Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alice R. Moomy Pennsylvania State University Scholarship Grant
Erie Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant
Erie Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Erie Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Erie City Mission ($2.3M). Together the top 10 received $8.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($51,784), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,649 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,212 grants of 1,649 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s filing says it primarily serves donors and the nonprofit sector in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Its website describes its community-impact grants as supporting work within its region. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 1% went to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 373 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Erie Community Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 74 of 373 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $26K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $14.8M (2020) to $24.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 373 grants totaling $24.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Erie City Mission Erie, PA | Various Projects | $2,298,713 |
| Hamot Health Foundation Erie, PA | Various Projects | $1,285,678 |
| United Way of Erie County Erie, PA | Various Projects | $1,222,047 |
| The Nonprofit Partnership Erie, PA | Various Projects | $609,966 |
| Erie Philharmonic Erie, PA | Various Projects | $574,921 |
| Erie Downtown Development Corporation Erie, PA | Various Projects | $550,859 |
| Minority Community Investment Coalition Erie, PA | Various Projects | $500,000 |
| East Side Renaissance Erie, PA | Various Projects | $451,356 |
| Erie Zoological Society Erie, PA | Various Projects | $382,336 |
| Foundation for Free Enterprise Education Erie, PA | Various Projects | $354,554 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $385,719,844 | $39,773,154 | $31,907,860 | $24,376,560 | 373 | $24,966,899 |
| 2023 | $364,098,561 | $33,733,321 | $26,936,616 | $20,606,593 | 342 | $10,143,640 |
| 2022 | $332,655,192 | $68,689,242 | $23,282,333 | $17,298,840 | 324 | $11,852,144 |
| 2021 | $335,610,816 | $41,657,029 | $30,855,195 | $23,938,565 | 318 | $21,063,235 |
| 2020 | $290,579,169 | $26,731,197 | $20,059,941 | $14,795,458 | 292 | $3,882,293 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its filing, the Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in the region by evaluating and addressing community issues, building permanent charitable endowments, and promoting philanthropic and community leadership. Its website states a mission of inspiring, engaging, and empowering donors and communities across the region.
The Foundation’s filing describes competitive, donor-advised, designated, and scholarship grants to arts and culture, community development, education, health, neighborhood revitalization, and human service organizations. Its website identifies five general community-impact areas: health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, and regional vitality.
Examples of grantees’ work include City Mission of the Evangelical Churches, whose stated mission is to restore hope and transform lives through services for people experiencing homelessness, hunger, addiction, and poverty; Hamot Health Foundation, which supports UPMC Hamot’s work in patient care, community service, healing, and education; and United Way of Erie County, which mobilizes resources to address poverty and improve the community. The Nonprofit Partnership says it works to strengthen nonprofit management and governance through capacity-building programs and services. Erie Philharmonic says it provides live orchestra concerts and programs to enrich, entertain, and educate people of all ages.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 373 grants totaling $24,376,560. Grant amounts ranged from $5,044 to $2,298,713, with a median of $23,789.
The largest reported grants included $2,298,713 to Erie City Mission, $1,285,678 to Hamot Health Foundation, $1,222,047 to United Way of Erie County, $609,966 to The Nonprofit Partnership, and $574,921 to Erie Philharmonic. The filing lists each purpose as “various projects.”
The Foundation’s website describes Transformational Grants as supporting collaborative programs intended to create meaningful change, with shared goals across institutions, organizations, and programs in one or more of its priority areas. It says trustees and staff identify prospective applicants for this program. The Helping Today Grant is described as supporting Erie County nonprofits addressing immediate community needs; a pre-application meeting with a Community Impact Team member is required before applying. The Shaping Tomorrow Grants listing describes awards of $50,000–$250,000 for projects typically lasting 12–18 months, focused on measurable change and community engagement. It allows applicants that qualify as 501(c)(3) organizations or have a fiscal sponsor, and requires that applicants be located in or serve residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania. The funder’s program listing marks Helping Today and Shaping Tomorrow as active; no application deadline is stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Tullio as chair, Deborah Murphy as immediate past chair, and James Walczak as secretary. Trustees listed on that filing are Anne L. DiPillo, Marcus Atkinson, Charles Knight CPA, Timothy Necastro, Robin Scheppner, William Hilbert Jr., and Sarah Hagen McWilliams.
Erie Community Foundation is led by Karen Bilowith, President on every filing since 2021; 5 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Bilowith
President
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$84K (2021) → $292K (2024)
David Tullio
Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Knight CPA
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Atkinson
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Hagen McWilliams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Hilbert Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karinna Vernaza PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Scheppner
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne L. Dipillo
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Necastro
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Sambroak
Former CFO
Treasurer & Vice President of Finance → Treasurer & CFO, 2022
Treasurer & CFO → Former CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$134K (2020) → $124K (2024)
Erin D. Fessler
Vice President of Marketing & Communit
Vice President of Marketing, Community & Government → Vice President of Marketing & Communit, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $113K (2024)
Patrick Herr Msw
Vice President of Community Impact
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$103K (2022) → $106K (2024)
Suzanne Hauber
CFO
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$77K (2024)
James Walczak
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Tupitza
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Murphy
Immediate Past Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Donald Baxter (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Susannah Weis Frigon CFP (2021–2023) — Vice President of Philanthropic Servic
- Former: Anne L. Lewis (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Batchelor (2020–2022) — Former President
- Former: Dionne Wallace Oakley (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Timothy Hunter (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Debra Murphy (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Lynn McBrier (2020) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $292K, to Karen Bilowith (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Erie Community Foundation
How much does Erie Community Foundation give each year?
Erie Community Foundation gave $24.4M across 373 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $20.6M across 342 grants.
What is Erie Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Erie Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $23,789, and its average grant was $65,353, across 373 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Erie Community Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Erie Community Foundation give grants?
Erie Community Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (242 grants), North East, PA (12 grants), Edinboro, PA (11 grants) and Meadville, PA (8 grants).
Does Erie Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 373 grants with a stated purpose on Erie Community Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various Projects" (373 grants).
Who are Erie Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Erie Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Erie City Mission ($2,298,713), Hamot Health Foundation ($1,285,678) and United Way of Erie County ($1,222,047), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($51,784), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Erie Community Foundation?
Erie Community Foundation reported $385.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $39.8M.
What does Erie Community Foundation fund?
In its filing, the Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in the region by evaluating and addressing community issues, building permanent charitable endowments, and promoting philanthropic and community leadership. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Erie Community Foundation?
For Helping Today, a pre-application meeting with a Community Impact Team member is required before submitting an application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Erie Community Foundation's EIN?
Erie Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6032032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Erie Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Erie Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/erie-community-foundation-morg_417272717b1045b8a9c3f2bc0961da4c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256032032_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Erie Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/erie-community-foundation-morg_417272717b1045b8a9c3f2bc0961da4c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Erie Community 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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