John M & Gertrude E Petersen
John M & Gertrude E Petersen is a private foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 2025, it awarded 15 grants totaling $960,940, all to recipients in Pennsylvania.
John M & Gertrude E Petersen at a glance
In short: John M & Gertrude E Petersen gave $961K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $64K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $960,940
- -15.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $64,063
- -21.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $4,453,166
- -11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- 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 September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John M & Gertrude E Petersen
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Richard C. Petersen as the contact. Applicants should submit a funding application with a copy of the agency’s IRS determination letter regarding tax-exempt status, a roster of current board members including addresses, phone numbers, and occupations, and audited financial statements if applicable. The foundation states that there are no restrictions on awards. No application deadline is listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard C Petersen
Mailing address: 4765 Kodiak Drive, Traverse City, MI 49685
Phone: (989) 600-2098
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John M & Gertrude E Petersen funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mercy Center for Women ($425K). Together the top 10 received $936K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 79 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. Listed recipients include organizations in Erie and Pittsburgh.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John M & Gertrude E Petersen open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 15 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $64K. How we count
Medians: $63K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $810K (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $961K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy Center for Women Erie, PA | Capital Project | $425,000 |
| Africa 6000 Erie, PA | Capital Project | $205,440 |
| Sight Center NWPA Erie, PA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Harborcreek Youth Services Erie, PA | Capital Project | $80,000 |
| Community Country Day School Erie, PA | Scholarships | $45,500 |
| Child Development Centers Erie, PA | Capital Project | $25,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Western PA Pittsburgh, PA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Family House Pittsburgh, PA | Capital Project | $15,000 |
| Erie City Mission Erie, PA | General Support | $10,000 |
| United Way of Erie County Erie, PA | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John M & Gertrude E Petersen?
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 | $4,453,166 | $487,175 | $1,044,239 | $960,940 | 15 | $960,940 | $383,027 | $973,180 |
| 2024 | $5,010,230 | $494,757 | $1,224,841 | $1,137,100 | 14 | $1,137,100 | $354,110 | $1,019,593 |
| 2023 | $5,740,314 | $775,716 | $895,204 | $810,442 | 16 | $810,442 | $479,351 | $1,036,838 |
| 2022 | $5,859,802 | $467,833 | $1,197,907 | $1,114,500 | 15 | $1,114,500 | $444,709 | $1,042,351 |
| 2021 | $6,589,876 | $416,879 | $1,148,844 | $1,068,686 | 19 | $1,068,686 | $412,884 | $1,057,261 |
| 2020 | $7,321,841 | $417,450 | $1,082,134 | $1,002,000 | 20 | — | $388,501 | $924,832 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M & Gertrude E Petersen reported a distributable amount of $973K 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 organizations working in areas such as housing and advocacy for women, youth and family services, education, early childhood care, and community poverty alleviation. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ stated missions: Mercy Center for Women describes its work as advocacy and transitional housing for women and children; Harborcreek Youth Services says it helps youth and families build positive futures; and Child Development Centers says it provides child care and early childhood education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $960,940. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $425,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest grants were $425,000 to Mercy Center for Women for a capital project, $205,440 to Africa 6000 for a capital project, and $100,000 to Sight Center NWPA for general support. Other grants included $80,000 to Harborcreek Youth Services for a capital project and $45,500 to Community Country Day School for scholarships.
Community Country Day School describes itself as an educational facility for people requiring social and mental health rehabilitation. Family House, which received $15,000 for a capital project, says it provides affordable temporary housing for patients and their families while they seek medical care. United Way of Erie County, which received $10,000 for general support, says its mission is to mobilize resources to break the cycle of poverty and improve the community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joan Chalikian as president, Michael P. Thomas as secretary, Richard C. Petersen Jr. as executive director, and Patricia A. Rickloff as director.
John M & Gertrude E Petersen is led by Joan Chalikian, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Chalikian
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Patricia A. Rickloff
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael P. Thomas
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard C. Petersen Jr.
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
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 John M & Gertrude E Petersen
How much does John M & Gertrude E Petersen give each year?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen gave $961K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 14 grants.
What is John M & Gertrude E Petersen's typical grant size?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $64,063, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John M & Gertrude E Petersen that year got $63K on average.
Where does John M & Gertrude E Petersen give grants?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen 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 Erie, PA (13 grants) and Pittsburgh, PA (2 grants).
Does John M & Gertrude E Petersen give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of John M & Gertrude E Petersen's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capital Project" (5 grants).
Who are John M & Gertrude E Petersen's largest grantees?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen's largest 2025 grantees include Mercy Center for Women ($425,000), Africa 6000 ($205,440) and Sight Center NWPA ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John M & Gertrude E Petersen?
John M & Gertrude E Petersen reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $961K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $973K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John M & Gertrude E Petersen fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as housing and advocacy for women, youth and family services, education, early childhood care, and community poverty alleviation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John M & Gertrude E Petersen?
The filing lists Richard C. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John M & Gertrude E Petersen funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-m-and-gertrude-e-petersen-morg_4f609a68b8b54e97ac93d18e14e57e1d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251859031_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John M \& Gertrude E Petersen funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-m-and-gertrude-e-petersen-morg_4f609a68b8b54e97ac93d18e14e57e1d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 John M & Gertrude E Petersen'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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