The Erie Community Foundation is a public charity and community foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania, located at 459 West Sixth Street. The organization traces its history back to 1935 when Elisha H. Mack, co-founder of the Boston Store, created a charitable endowment fund. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since March 1959.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$385.7M
+5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$24.4M
+18.3% YoY
Grant Count
373
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$65K
+8.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To inspire, engage and empower donors and communities across the region, today and tomorrow.
Vision: A united, vibrant, and thriving region for all.
The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the region by evaluating and addressing community issues, building permanent charitable endowments, and promoting philanthropic and community leadership.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and Culture
- Community Development
- Education
- Health
- Neighborhood Revitalization
- Human Services
- Economic Growth
- Regional Vitality
Grantmaking
The Erie Community Foundation operates as a public charity primarily serving donors and the nonprofit sector in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The Foundation encourages the establishment of new charitable endowment funds and provides competitive grants through various programs.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,044 to $3,488,367.
Ready to take the next step with Erie Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily serves Erie County, Pennsylvania, with funding extending to Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. Substantially all contributions received are from individuals with ties to Erie County.
The Foundation manages several affiliated community foundations:
- Corry Community Foundation
- Findley Lake Community Foundation
- North East Community Foundation
- Union City Community Foundation
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $385,719,844
- Total Revenue: $39,773,154
- Total Expenses: $31,907,860
- Total Liabilities: $4,100,000
Staffing: 27 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $385,719,844 | $364,098,561 | $332,655,192 |
| Revenue | $39,773,154 | $33,733,321 | $68,689,242 |
| Expenses | $31,907,860 | $26,936,616 | $23,282,333 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $24,966,899 | $10,143,640 | $11,852,144 |
| 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
Open Grants
45 open opportunities from Erie Community Foundation
AJO Forever Scholarship Grant
ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Alice R. Moomy Pennsylvania State University Scholarship Grant
ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant
ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE L DIPILLO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARCUS ATKINSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHARLES KNIGHT CPA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY NECASTRO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBIN SCHEPPNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM HILBERT JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SARAH HAGEN MCWILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID TULLIO | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| DEBORAH MURPHY | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JAMES WALCZAK | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| TOM TUPITZA | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KARINNA VERNAZA PHD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAREN BILOWITH | PRESIDENT | 50 | $292,225 |
| SUZANNE HAUBER | CFO | 50 | $76,910 |
| ERIN D FESSLER | VP OF MARKETING & COMMUNIT | 40 | $112,561 |
| PATRICK HERR MSW | VP OF COMMUNITY IMPACT | 40 | $106,090 |
| BARBARA SAMBROAK | FORMER CFO | 50 | $123,953 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Erie Community Foundation announced new offerings for Erie Gives 2025, its annual giving campaign. The Foundation continues to expand its grant opportunities and community initiatives, with recent awards distributed through specialized funds including the Emerging Erie Fund and Erie Women's Fund.
ECF NEWS | Erie Community FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Erie Community 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