Jerlyn Foundation
Jerlyn Foundation is a private foundation based in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Jerlyn Foundation at a glance
In short: Jerlyn Foundation gave $111K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $111,000
- +67.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -84.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,750
- +989.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $1,077,007
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Jerlyn Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states there is no preset form and limits awards to IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) organizations located primarily in the Berks County area of Pennsylvania. The filing lists Carolyn R Holleran as the contact.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation states there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The foundation states there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Carolyn R Holleran
Mailing address: 1740 Van Reed Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608
Phone: (610) 378-1606
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jerlyn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alvernia University ($95K). Together the top 4 received $111K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 106 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Pennsylvania. The foundation states that awards are limited to eligible organizations located primarily in the Berks County area of Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Jerlyn Foundation gives
- Giving grew 98% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 139% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2021) to $111K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $111K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alvernia University Reading, PA | Donation | $95,000 |
| Berks Art Council Reading, PA | Donation | $10,000 |
| Caron Foundation Wernersville, PA | Donation | $5,000 |
| Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks West Reading, PA | Donation | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,077,007 | $116,183 | $130,194 | $111,000 | 4 | $115,980 | $97,620 | $83,510 |
| 2024 | $1,088,387 | $64,686 | $87,152 | $66,250 | 26 | $73,555 | $44,627 | $79,331 |
| 2023 | $1,108,468 | $63,868 | $78,403 | $56,000 | 26 | $66,810 | $41,453 | $72,491 |
| 2022 | $1,122,520 | $24,933 | $73,465 | $56,000 | 28 | $60,990 | $22,057 | $74,743 |
| 2021 | $1,172,945 | $63,429 | $61,142 | $45,000 | 22 | $46,900 | $45,387 | $80,827 |
| 2020 | $1,175,077 | $-36,287 | $65,981 | $50,000 | 25 | — | $19,031 | $70,545 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerlyn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $84K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a university, an arts council, a foundation, and a breast cancer support organization. Alvernia University describes itself as a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation, founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported four grants totaling $111,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $95,000, with a median of $7,500. Recipients included Alvernia University ($95,000), Berks Art Council ($10,000), Caron Foundation ($5,000), and Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks ($1,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carolyn R Holleran as president; Stephen J Najarian as secretary/treasurer; and Laura Williams, T Jerome Holleran Jr, Peter Najarian, and Patrick Holleran as directors.
Jerlyn Foundation is led by Carolyn R. Holleran, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carolyn R. Holleran
President
Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick B. Holleran
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
T. Jerome Holleran Jr.
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Williams
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Najarian
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen J. Najarian
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jerlyn Foundation
How much does Jerlyn Foundation give each year?
Jerlyn Foundation gave $111K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 26 grants.
What is Jerlyn Foundation's typical grant size?
Jerlyn Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $27,750, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Jerlyn Foundation give grants?
Jerlyn Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Reading, PA (2 grants).
Does Jerlyn Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Jerlyn Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (4 grants).
How large is Jerlyn Foundation?
Jerlyn Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $116K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $84K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jerlyn Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a university, an arts council, a foundation, and a breast cancer support organization. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jerlyn Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jerlyn Foundation's EIN?
Jerlyn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2699256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Jerlyn Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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