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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, M J Surgala Tr reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jefferson Educational Society ($100,000), United Way of Erie County ($55,000), Erie City Mission ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION TALLAHASSEE, FL | GENERAL FUNDS | $1,000 |
| ASBURY WOODS ERIE, PA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| BAYFRONT MARITIME CENTER ERIE, PA | GENERAL FUND | $11,000 |
| BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART BOCA RATON, FL | GENERAL FUNDS | $17,600 |
| BOCA RATON REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION BOCA RATON, FL | GENERAL FUNDS | $2,500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ERIE INC ERIE, PA | GENERAL FUNDS | $15,000 |
| CRIME VICTIM CENTER ERIE, PA | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | GENERAL FUNDS | $2,000 |
| DR GERTRUDE BARBER FOUNDATION ERIE, PA | GENERAL FUNDS | $2,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does M J Surgala Tr fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from M J Surgala Tr?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 51-55 grants in recent years • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $411,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 **Recent Grantees Include:** • Jefferson Educational Society of Erie ($411,000) • ExpERIEnce Children's Museum ($30,000) • Mercy Center for Women ($30,000) • Penn State Erie - The Behrend College **Application Process:** • No formal deadlines • No stated restrictions on applications • Applicants should contact the trustee for information on submitting applica…
Where does M J Surgala Tr make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, with a strong emphasis on the Erie, Pennsylvania area.
What size grants does M J Surgala Tr award?
In 2024, M J Surgala Tr awarded 51 grants totaling $829K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is M J Surgala Tr required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, M J Surgala Tr reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is M J Surgala Tr's EIN?
M J Surgala Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-6556638. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in M J Surgala Tr's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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