Northwest Institute of Research
The Northwest Institute of Research (NWIR) is a public charity based in Erie, Pennsylvania. It describes itself as a nonprofit research and technical assistance organization that partners with public and private human service organizations. Its work includes operating programs and distributing funding, with a focus on early childhood and services for children and families.
Northwest Institute of Research at a glance
In short: Northwest Institute of Research gave $3.0M across 65 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,006,464
- +45.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 65
- +85.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,253
- -21.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $8,959,316
- +21.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (19 of 54, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Northwest Institute of Research
- Contact
Mailing address: 3823 West 12Th Street, Erie, PA 16505
Phone: (814) 836-9295
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Northwest Institute of Research funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was YMCA of Greater Erie ($762K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
521 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 306 grants of 521 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NWIR operates Early Learning Resource Center Region 1, which covers Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Venango counties. It began operating Region 1 in 2018. In July 2024, it assumed management of Region 2, which covers Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, and Warren counties.
In 2025, 94% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 4% to recipients listed in PW, and 2% to recipients in New York; the filing also lists 0% for Oregon and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Northwest Institute of Research open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 54 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $7K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $931K (2019) to $19.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 65 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA of Greater Erie Erie, PA | Early Childhood Education | $704,000 |
| Early Connections Inc Erie, PA | Early Childhood Education | $448,000 |
| Timber Ridge Child Care Conneautville, PA | Early Childhood Education | $256,000 |
| Young Men's Christian Association - Corry Corry, PA | Early Childhood Education | $192,000 |
| Zion Education Center Farrell, PA | Early Childhood Education | $128,000 |
| Child Development Centers Inc Franklin, PA | Early Childhood Education | $125,000 |
| Playhouse Children's Center LLC Punxsutawney, PW | Early Childhood Education | $112,000 |
| Child Development Centers Inc Franklin, PA | Early Childhood Education | $78,500 |
| The Learning Ladder Early Child Care Cent Erie, PA | Early Childhood Education | $75,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Erie Erie, PA | Early Childhood Education | $57,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,959,316 | $47,440,023 | $46,542,737 | $3,006,464 | 65 | $201,530 |
| 2024 | $7,386,018 | $39,503,006 | $39,469,969 | $2,071,965 | 35 | $123,899 |
| 2023 | $7,232,287 | $43,423,687 | $42,795,724 | $8,791,920 | 126 | $73,151 |
| 2022 | $10,646,840 | $51,433,326 | $50,719,600 | $19,622,632 | 135 | $262,349 |
| 2021 | $4,835,958 | $44,694,809 | $43,467,249 | $14,846,999 | 160 | $2,728 |
| 2020 | $3,339,483 | $36,028,767 | $36,004,216 | $961,171 | 90 | $-1,100 |
| 2019 | $3,249,214 | $31,083,682 | $30,919,375 | $931,384 | 59 | $267 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NWIR’s stated mission is to partner with public and private human service organizations and their stakeholders to build and operate high-quality, accountable, results-driven programs. Its filing describes its work as management and operation of research and social service programs, with a focus on early childhood. It also says program funding is distributed to qualified organizations.
The organization’s programs include Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works program and Keystone STARS quality rating system through its Early Learning Resource Centers. NWIR says the centers connect families, early childhood education professionals, and communities with information and services supporting child care and early learning.
Its 2025 grants included support for early childhood education. Among the supported organizations, Early Connections describes itself as providing direct early-care services, training, and planning leadership. Child Development Centers says it provides child care and early childhood education, and describes its mission as “educating children to succeed.” Zion Education Center describes its mission as supporting the social, cognitive, and physical development of youth and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, NWIR reported 65 grants totaling $3,006,464. Grant amounts ranged from $5,500 to $704,000, with a median of $6,500. The largest listed awards were for early childhood education:
NWIR’s 2024 annual report also says it distributed more than $19,000 in grants to 18 providers through the JAM Team Foundation’s Miracle Spaces program, supporting classroom and outdoor-space improvements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing were Elana Como, CEO; Aldo Jackson, treasurer; Philip Belfiore, secretary; Linda Holman, president; Dr. Ben Wilson, at-large; Dr. April Torrence, vice president; and Suzanne Preston, at-large.
Northwest Institute of Research is led by Elana Como, CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elana Como
CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $191K (2025)
Linda Holman Mba Sphr
President
At-Large → Chair, 2023
Chair → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aldo Jackson PhD
Treasurer
Board Member → Board Treasurer, 2020
Board Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Belfiore PhD
Secretary
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2020
Board Secretary → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Wilson
At-Large
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April Torrence
Vice President
At-Large → Vice Chairman, 2024
Vice Chairman → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Preston
At-Large
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Leah Manino (2019–2024) — Former CFO
- Former: Melissa Shirey Esq. (2019–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Dan Adamus (2020–2023) — COO
- Former: Roberta Schomburg PhD (2019–2022) — At-Large
- Former: Stephanie King (2021–2022) — At-Large
- Former: Joyce Miller PhD (2019–2021) — CEO
- Former: Laurie Root (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Joe Kuvshinikov (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $191K, to Elana Como (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Institute of Research
How much does Northwest Institute of Research give each year?
Northwest Institute of Research gave $3.0M across 65 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 35 grants.
What is Northwest Institute of Research's typical grant size?
Northwest Institute of Research's median grant in 2025 was $6,500, and its average grant was $46,253, across 65 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Northwest Institute of Research that year got $24K on average.
Where does Northwest Institute of Research give grants?
Northwest Institute of Research gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (20 grants), Corry, PA (3 grants), Conneautville, PA (2 grants) and Franklin, PA (2 grants).
Does Northwest Institute of Research give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 65 grants with a stated purpose on Northwest Institute of Research's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Early Childhood Education" (65 grants).
Who are Northwest Institute of Research's largest grantees?
Northwest Institute of Research's largest 2025 grantees include YMCA of Greater Erie ($761,500 across 2 grants), Early Connections Inc ($514,000 across 3 grants) and Timber Ridge Child Care ($306,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Northwest Institute of Research?
Northwest Institute of Research reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $47.4M.
What does Northwest Institute of Research fund?
NWIR’s stated mission is to partner with public and private human service organizations and their stakeholders to build and operate high-quality, accountable, results-driven programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northwest Institute of Research?
Northwest Institute of Research has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Northwest Institute of Research's EIN?
Northwest Institute of Research's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1296727. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Northwest Institute of Research funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/northwest-institute-of-research-morg_36f84c7d2ba14f98a6dd73b9bafe1196
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251296727_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Northwest Institute of Research funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/northwest-institute-of-research-morg_36f84c7d2ba14f98a6dd73b9bafe1196},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Northwest Institute of Research'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.
Northwest Institute of Research down — hundreds of funders to go?