Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust
The Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust is a private independent foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in Pennsylvania and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, the trust has been tax-exempt since October 2010. The foundation operates with no employees and is managed by Sara A Mercer Co Ttee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.1M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$364K
-5.6% YoY
Grant Count
51
+10.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-14.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $480K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust gives primarily to Lutheran, Presbyterian, and United Methodist Churches. Beyond religious institutions, the foundation also supports educational scholarships and community-based organizations in western Pennsylvania.
The trust administers the Ira R. and Frances Wood Scholarship Fund through The Pittsburgh Foundation, which provides partial or full college and university undergraduate scholarships to students demonstrating financial need and dedication to community service.
Grantmaking
Recent grants documented include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in western Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Pittsburgh area and surrounding communities including Allegheny Valley.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $8.08 million
- Total Revenue: $658,000
- Total Expenses: $524,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,088,158 | $8,079,781 | $7,976,338 |
| Revenue | $529,607 | $658,046 | $662,317 |
| Expenses | $521,231 | $524,174 | $560,067 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $420,254 | $450,550 | $500,388 |
| Net Investment Income | $436,439 | $588,426 | $614,198 |
| Distributable Amount | $480,466 | $439,529 | $446,992 |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tour-ed Mine and Museum ($25,000), Butler County Humane Society ($25,000), Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LUTHERAN SENIORLIFE FOUNDATION BUTLER, PA | PAIN MANAGEMENT THERAPY | $8,000 |
| MILLERSTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TARENTUM, PA | PARKING LOT REPAIR | $1,000 |
| NATRONA HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA | PARKING LOT PAVING | $20,000 |
| OLD UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MARS, PA | CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE | $2,000 |
| THE ALLEGHENY VALLEY SALVATION ARMY BRACKENRIDGE, PA | YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SUMMER | $10,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY - NEW KENSINGTON NEW KENSINGTON, PA | MONTHLY MEALS | $10,000 |
| ST BARNABAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH BRACKENRIDGE, PA | UPGRADING FLUORESCENT | $1,500 |
| ST GEORGE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH NEW KENSINGTON, PA | CHURCH HALL DOOR | $5,000 |
| ST PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SARVER, PA | CAMERAS, MICROPHONES & | $10,000 |
| OUR LADY OF THE LAKES PARISH BAIRDFORD, PA | DECREASING THE BUDGET | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sara A Mercer Co Ttee serves as the trustee/committee for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA A MERCER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $23,199 |
| SHANNON PAULOVICH | TRUSTEE | 2 | $23,198 |
Contact Information
- Address: 20 Stanwix Street, Suite 601, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1313
- Telephone: 412-261-1600
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust fund?
The trust gives primarily to Lutheran, Presbyterian, and United Methodist Churches. Beyond religious institutions, the foundation also supports educational scholarships and community-based organizations in western Pennsylvania. The trust administers the Ira R. and Frances Wood Scholarship Fund through The Pittsburgh Foundation, which provides partial or full college and university undergraduate scholarships to students demonstrating financial need and dedication to community service.
How do I apply for a grant from Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust?
Recent grants documented include: • **$25,000** to Tour-Ed Mine and Museum (Tarentum, PA) for an Equipment Storage Building (2024) • **$20,000** to Community Library of Allegheny Valley (Natrona Heights, PA) for a Community Seed Library (2024) The Ira R. and Frances Wood Scholarship Fund awards renewable scholarships with the following criteria: • Applicants must be graduating seniors from Highlands High School or Deer Lakes High School in Pennsylvania • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 required •…
Where does Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in western Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Pittsburgh area and surrounding communities including Allegheny Valley.
What size grants does Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust awarded 51 grants totaling $364K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $480K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust's EIN?
Ira R Wood and Frances Wood Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6897871. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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