Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation
The Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation (GEEDC) is a private foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to make economic development, educational assistance, and pre-apprenticeship trades more accessible to minorities, women, and marginalized residents of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation at a glance
In short: Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation gave $402K across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $401,798
- -5.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- -24.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,549
- +24.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $11,318,652
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 15 for the fall semester and November 25 for the spring semester. Those listed 2026 dates have passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 15 for the fall semester and November 25 for the spring semester.
- Contact
Application contact: Gerald Blanks
Mailing address: PO Box 1215, Erie, PA 16512
Phone: (814) 456-2621
Email: gblanks@geedc.org
Website: https://www.geedc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation
Who Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Newco Electric ($150K). Together the top 10 received $249K.
Organizations only. It also paid 29 grants to individuals ($143,619), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
259 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 245 grants of 259 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GEEDC’s mission and programs focus on Erie, Pennsylvania, and its website describes scholarship eligibility for BIPOC students living in Erie County. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 2% to recipients in New York; the filing reports 0% for the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
Cities
How Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation gives
- Giving fell 57% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 418% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $402K (2024) to $1.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $402K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Newco Electric Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $150,000 |
| 29 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $143,619 |
| Abundant Life Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $28,295 |
| Empowered Life Community Developmen Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $25,000 |
| Super Soul Saturday Program Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $10,000 |
| Erie Knights Erie, PA | Scholarship | $9,325 |
| Uplift Foundation Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $7,500 |
| Booker T Washington Center Erie, PA | Financial Assistance for Neighborhood Survey | $6,500 |
| Erie Community Foundation Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $5,000 |
| Crossover Basketball Club Inc Erie, PA | Financial support of its programs | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
GEEDC files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,318,652 | $670,745 | $1,350,275 | $401,798 | 47 | $1,120,564 | $212,432 | — |
| 2023 | $12,003,577 | $1,429,360 | $1,341,776 | $425,045 | 62 | $1,059,850 | $524,260 | — |
| 2022 | $11,921,559 | $639,025 | $2,601,587 | $1,873,321 | 72 | $2,491,634 | $119,907 | $596,445 |
| 2021 | $14,753,213 | $762,922 | $1,465,815 | $934,890 | 41 | $1,239,446 | $347,375 | $675,526 |
| 2020 | $15,019,273 | $473,242 | $1,025,123 | $631,151 | 37 | — | $132,072 | $680,005 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
GEEDC states that it supports and advocates for improved communication, education, and job opportunities for minorities and individuals in the Erie community. Its 2024 filing describes grants for building repairs, upgrades, equipment purchases, youth-team sponsorships, and financial assistance to students attending colleges, universities, and other training institutions. The filing also says GEEDC rents space to other nonprofit organizations at reduced rates.
GEEDC’s website describes its business grants as a way for nonprofit organizations and businesses to grow their workforce. It asks applicants to identify a specific community need and consider how a more diverse workforce could help address it. The website also describes scholarships for BIPOC students living in Erie County, including support for post-secondary education, pre-apprenticeship training, and paid internships.
Among the organizations GEEDC supported in 2024, Booker T. Washington Center says its mission is to improve conditions for work, play, study, health, and living in Erie and to work with agencies with compatible goals. The Erie Community Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in the region by addressing community issues, building charitable endowments, and promoting philanthropic and community leadership.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, GEEDC reported 47 grants totaling $401,798. Grant amounts ranged from $125 to $150,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $150,000 to an individual recipient, $50,000 to an individual recipient, $28,295 to Abundant Life, and $25,000 to Empowered Life Community Developmen; each was described as financial support of the recipient’s programs. GEEDC also reported scholarship awards to individual recipients.
GEEDC’s website says business grant applications are accepted online once a year, from April 1 through August 1, and invites nonprofit organizations and businesses to apply if they meet the guidelines. The 2026 application period has passed. The website says scholarship applications are reviewed twice a year, for fall and spring semesters; it currently states that the scholarship window is closed and will reopen in November. The 2024 filing says scholarship applications should include family and financial information, income verification, and information such as year in school, major, and specific need. It lists eligibility as residents of the Erie County area applying for colleges or universities that confer four-year degrees.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gerald L. Blanks as President & CEO, Ronald Bryant as Chairman, Corey Cook as Treasurer, Ricardo S. Giles as Vice Chair, Evan Tucker as Secretary, Adrienne M. Dixon-McCullum as a board member, and Vivian McCullum as CFO.
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation is led by Gerald L Blanks, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gerald L Blanks
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $142K (2024)
Ronald Bryant
Chairman
Treasurer → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Evan Tucker
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Vivian McCullum
CFO
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → CFO, 2023
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $33K (2024)
Adrienne M Dixon-McCullum
Board Member
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Ricardo S Giles
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Corey Cook
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
8 hrs/week
$875 (2023) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Melvin Witherspoon (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Paul Gambill (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Carla Johnson (2020–2021) — CEO
- Former: Larry Meredith (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Vernon D Dobbs (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Barbara L Drew (2020) — CEO
- Former: Eva Tucker Jr. (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Lori Pickens (2020) — Board Member
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 $142K, to Gerald L Blanks (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation
How much does Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation give each year?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation gave $402K across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $425K across 62 grants.
What is Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's typical grant size?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $8,549, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation give grants?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (15 grants).
Does Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (30 grants) and "Financial support of its programs" (16 grants).
Who are Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's largest grantees?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's largest 2024 grantees include Newco Electric ($150,000), Abundant Life ($28,295) and Empowered Life Community Developmen ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 29 grants to individuals ($143,619), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $671K.
What does Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation fund?
GEEDC states that it supports and advocates for improved communication, education, and job opportunities for minorities and individuals in the Erie community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check geedc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's EIN?
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1269138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/greater-erie-economic-development-corporation-morg_f2212916de924b11a632b12cc2b7523a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251269138_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/greater-erie-economic-development-corporation-morg_f2212916de924b11a632b12cc2b7523a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation'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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