M J Surgala Trust is a private foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania, established in 2003. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a focus on grantmaking in education, human services, and cultural preservation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.1M
+20.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$829K
+16.3% YoY
Grant Count
51
+45.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-20.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds works to promote preservation of the flagship Niagara. Beyond this core focus, the trust supports:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historic preservation and historic buildings
- Arts and culture through courses, seminars, and educational opportunities
Grantmaking
Mary Lincoln
Review Cycle
- No stated restrictions on applications
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, with a strong emphasis on the Erie, Pennsylvania area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,051,169 | 2024 |
| Total Assets | $19,150,904 | 2023 |
| Total Giving | $828,850 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $406,592 | 2023 |
| Total Expenses | $816,226 | 2023 |
| Investment Income | $545,299 | 2023 |
The foundation's assets place it in the top 10% of foundations nationally (ranked #7,448 of 159,550).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,051,169 | $19,150,904 | $16,742,130 |
| Revenue | $648,982 | $406,592 | $692,727 |
| Expenses | $926,810 | $816,226 | $911,574 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $908,850 | $792,711 | $888,540 |
| Net Investment Income | $646,216 | $540,485 | $690,398 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,051,796 | $870,325 | $839,227 |
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
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mary Lincoln - Executive Director (10 hours per week, $80,000 annual compensation)
The foundation operates with limited staffing, consisting of one employee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY LINCOLN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 10 | $80,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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