Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation
The Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation is a private foundation based in McKnight, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing says it generally makes grants for educational purposes and may support other purposes when funds are available.
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation at a glance
In short: Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation gave $66K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $66,150
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,482
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,108,325
- +0.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a brief informal request outlining the purpose of the grant, along with a copy of the proposed budget and the organization’s IRS determination letter of exempt status. Grants are made to organizations that qualify for exemption under the IRS Code; the filing says grants generally support educational purposes, with other purposes considered when funds are available.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Higgins
Mailing address: 105 Crestwood Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: (724) 719-5405
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Valley School of Ligonier ($17K). Together the top 10 received $60K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania recipients received 82% of grant dollars. Recipients in New York and Michigan each received 6%, Maine recipients received 4%, and Tennessee recipients received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $625; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $625 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $61K (2020) to $69K (2021). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Valley School of Ligonier Ligonier, PA | Charitable Contribution | $17,000 |
| The Gettysburg Foundation Gettysburg, PA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Grove City College Grove City, PA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| The Kiski School Saltsburg, PA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Charitable Contribution | $4,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Charitable Contribution | $4,000 |
| Friends of Casco Bay South Portland, ME | Charitable Contribution | $1,500 |
| St Judes Childrens Hospital Memphis, TN | Charitable Contribution | $1,500 |
| Camp Freedom Carbondale, PA | Charitable Contribution | $1,000 |
| Christ Church Preschool Pittsburgh, PA | Charitable Contribution | $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 | $1,108,325 | $94,981 | $88,665 | $66,150 | 19 | $68,265 | $74,581 | $65,693 |
| 2024 | $1,102,009 | $82,477 | $90,065 | $65,750 | 19 | $68,305 | $60,717 | $64,692 |
| 2023 | $1,110,297 | $57,831 | $86,672 | $61,050 | 17 | $63,855 | $35,014 | $60,723 |
| 2022 | $1,140,388 | $55,776 | $94,398 | $64,650 | 18 | $68,255 | $29,633 | $63,911 |
| 2021 | $1,180,315 | $120,553 | $99,082 | $68,800 | 17 | $72,405 | $93,876 | $75,600 |
| 2020 | $1,159,623 | $79,660 | $88,237 | $61,050 | 19 | — | $56,078 | $66,401 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66K 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 2024 filing states that grants generally support educational purposes, while grants for other purposes may be made when funds are available. It makes grants to organizations that qualify for exemption under the IRS Code.
The 2025 recipients include educational organizations. Valley School of Ligonier describes its mission as providing a balanced program of study and fostering moral behavior, wisdom, and service. The Kiski School says its mission is to prepare students to succeed in college and life. Other recipients include Friends of Casco Bay, whose mission is to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay, and The Family Restored, which says it supports families affected by addiction.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 19 grants totaling $66,150. Grants ranged from $250 to $17,000, with a median grant of $1,000.
The largest reported awards were $17,000 to Valley School of Ligonier, and $10,000 each to The Gettysburg Foundation, Grove City College, and The Kiski School. Other notable grants included $4,000 each to Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Hillsdale College, and $1,500 each to Friends of Casco Bay and St Judes Childrens Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael S Higgins as President, Susan Taraba as Vice President, and Mark C Higgins as Treasurer.
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation is led by Michael S Higgins, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael S Higgins
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark C Higgins
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Susan Taraba
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $4K, to Mark C Higgins (Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation
How much does Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation give each year?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation gave $66K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 19 grants.
What is Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's typical grant size?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,482, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation that year got $625 on average.
Where does Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation give grants?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (6%) and Michigan (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (4 grants) and Ligonier, PA (2 grants).
Who are Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's largest grantees?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Valley School of Ligonier ($17,000), The Gettysburg Foundation ($10,000) and Grove City College ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $68K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing states that grants generally support educational purposes, while grants for other purposes may be made when funds are available. It makes grants to organizations that qualify for exemption under the IRS Code. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation?
Submit a brief informal request outlining the purpose of the grant, along with a copy of the proposed budget and the organization’s IRS determination letter of exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's EIN?
Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2750759. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mark-b-and-jean-higgins-foundation-morg_08fbf9ca03e541fe87a00d3a15a37cc9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942750759_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mark B \& Jean Higgins Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mark-b-and-jean-higgins-foundation-morg_08fbf9ca03e541fe87a00d3a15a37cc9},
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 Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation'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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