The Ferree Foundation is a private foundation established in 2004 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was created upon the termination of the Oxford Foundation, which was founded in 1947 by Marian S. and John H. Ware 3rd. The Ferree Foundation is one of four Ware family foundations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+23.5% YoY
Grant Count
28
+55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-20.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ferree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families through the support of non-profit organizations working in the following areas:
- Health
- Human Services
- Education
- Arts & Culture
- Environment
- History
Grantmaking
The foundation made 23 grants totaling $1,118,638. Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
$1,300–$400,000
Average Grant
amounts vary by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Priority is given to organizations serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The foundation also supports organizations in Pennsylvania more broadly.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $21,834,708
- Total Giving: $1,118,638
- Total Revenues: $2,441,874
- Total Expenses: $1,397,441
- Number of Employees: 1
Giving Rate: Approximately 4.3% of assets annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,834,708 | $21,198,638 | $19,984,403 |
| Revenue | $2,441,874 | $2,651,674 | $3,531,746 |
| Expenses | $1,397,441 | $1,184,326 | $1,163,793 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,178,622 | $953,763 | $909,914 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,237,766 | $1,989,667 | $2,568,961 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,159,363 | $1,030,111 | $1,011,821 |
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
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Franklin & Marshall College ($400,000), Franklin & Marshall College ($100,000), Fulton Theatre ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AARONS ACRES LANCASTER, PA | 2024 GRANT | $15,000 |
| ARCH STREET CENTER LANCASTER, PA | 2024 GRANT | $15,000 |
| CENTRAL MARKET TRUST LANCASTER, PA | 2024 GRANT | $30,000 |
| CROSSNET MINISTRIES NEW HOLLAND, PA | 2024 GRANT | $10,000 |
| ECHOS ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | 2024 GRANT | $15,000 |
| FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE LANCASTER, PA | WARE INSTITUTE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | $400,000 |
| FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE LANCASTER, PA | WARE COLLEGE HOUSE PROGRAM ENDOWMENT | $100,000 |
| FULTON THEATRE LANCASTER, PA | 2024 GRANT | $100,000 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN SERVICES EPHRATA, PA | 2024 GRANT | $16,920 |
| HOPE INSPIRE LOVE LANCASTER, PA | 2024 GRANT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Katie Schock - Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RONALD J FREDERICK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PAUL W WARE | PRES, TREAS & SEC | 2 | — |
| KATHERINE SCHOCK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $51,500 |
| JUDY S WARE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: Ferree Foundation 229 N. Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 735-8288 Ext 109
Website: www.ferree-foundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ferree Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families through the support of non-profit organizations working in the following areas: • Health • Human Services • Education • Arts & Culture • Environment • History
How do I apply for a grant from Ferree Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,300–$400,000 • Recent median grant: $20,000 • Recent average grant amounts vary by year **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** The foundation made 23 grants totaling $1,118,638. Notable recent grants include: • Franklin and Marshall College (Ware Institute of Civic Engagement): $400,000 • Franklin and Marshall College (Ware College House Program Endowment): $100,000 • Fulton Theatre Company: $100,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts…
Where does Ferree Foundation make grants?
Priority is given to organizations serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The foundation also supports organizations in Pennsylvania more broadly.
What size grants does Ferree Foundation award?
In 2024, Ferree Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ferree Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ferree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ferree Foundation's EIN?
Ferree Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1060557. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ferree Foundation'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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