The John M & Gertrude E Petersen Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Established in 2001, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation was created by John M. Petersen, retired CEO of the Erie Insurance Group, and his wife Gertrude E. Petersen.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
-12.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+40.3% YoY
Grant Count
14
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+60.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M & Gertrude E Petersen reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to use all income earned for charitable purposes. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Child welfare and youth services
- Human services
- General support grants
- Scholarship programs
- Capital campaigns
Grantmaking
The foundation made 20 grants in the most recent reporting year. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the Erie area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $5,010,230
- Total Giving: $1,137,100
- Total Revenues: $494,757
- Total Expenses: $1,224,841
Historical Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $5.74 million
- Revenue: $776,000
- Expenses: $895,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,010,230 | $5,740,314 | $5,859,802 |
| Revenue | $494,757 | $775,716 | $467,833 |
| Expenses | $1,224,841 | $895,204 | $1,197,907 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,137,100 | $810,442 | $1,114,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $354,110 | $479,351 | $444,709 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,019,593 | $1,036,838 | $1,042,351 |
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
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Family House ($750,000), Mercy Center for Women ($125,000), Family Services of Nwpa ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BENEDICTINE SISTERS OF ERIE ERIE, PA | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT | $40,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ERIE INC ERIE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL ERIE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $45,500 |
| EMMAUS MINISTRIES INC ERIE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ERIE CITY MISSION ERIE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FAMILY HOUSE PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FAMILY HOUSE PITTSBURGH, PA | CAPITAL FUND | $750,000 |
| FAMILY SERVICES OF NWPA ERIE, PA | CAPITAL FUND | $100,000 |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN PA PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $21,600 |
| INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ART HOUSE ERIE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members (as of 2021 Form 990):
- Joan Chalikian, President
- Michael P. Thomas, Secretary
- Richard C. Petersen Jr., Executive Director
- Patricia A. Rickloff, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN CHALIKIAN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MICHAEL P THOMAS | SECRETARY | — | — |
| RICHARD C PETERSEN JR | EXECUTIVE DI | — | — |
| PATRICIA A RICKLOFF | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John M & Gertrude E Petersen fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to use all income earned for charitable purposes. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Child welfare and youth services • Human services • General support grants • Scholarship programs • Capital campaigns
How do I apply for a grant from John M & Gertrude E Petersen?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 20 grants in the most recent reporting year. Recent notable grants include: • Mercy Center for Women: $125,000 (General Support) • Community Country Day School: $45,500 (General Support) • Erie City Mission: $10,000 (General Support) **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $2,142 to $750,000. **Application Process:** Prospective grantees are required to submit: • Copy of IRS determination letter regarding tax-exempt status • Roster of current board of …
Where does John M & Gertrude E Petersen make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the Erie area.
What size grants does John M & Gertrude E Petersen award?
In 2024, John M & Gertrude E Petersen awarded 14 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John M & Gertrude E Petersen required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John M & Gertrude E Petersen reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John M & Gertrude E Petersen's EIN?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1859031. 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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