Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund
The Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing reports $138,000 in grants to 10 organizations, with the largest award supporting the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Key facts about Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund
In short: Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund gave $138K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 80% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 83-2486909
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $138,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $13,800
- Median grant
- $4,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,847,931
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The fund’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
-0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$138K
+27.8% YoY
Grant Count
10
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-36.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $170K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 10 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $53K repeat.
- 20% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a history and democracy center, a college library, and organizations whose own stated missions include undergraduate liberal arts education, serious-illness care, services for people experiencing poverty or homelessness, regional theatre, and improving the lives of companion animals and the people who love them.
For example, Franklin & Marshall College describes itself as dedicated to excellence in undergraduate liberal arts education. Choices Healthcare says it provides personalized, compassionate care and support for patients and families coping with serious illness through the end of life. Water Street Ministries describes its work as providing services, resources, and relational support to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Lancaster County.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 10 grants totaling $138,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $4,500. The largest awards were $100,000 to LancasterHistory.org for the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy, $10,000 to Franklin & Marshall College for library activities, $7,250 to Choices Healthcare for general and unrestricted support, and $5,000 to Water Street Ministries for general and unrestricted support.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the fund’s grant dollars were reported as distributed among recipients in Pennsylvania (91%), New Hampshire (7%), New Jersey (2%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2020) to $138K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $138K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lancasterhistory Org ($100K). Together the top 10 received $138K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 31 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lancasterhistory Org Lancaster, PA | Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy | $100,000 |
| Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, PA | Support of library activities | $10,000 |
| Choices Healthcare Lancaster, PA | General & Unrestricted | $7,250 |
| Water Street Ministries Lancaster, PA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Feminist Health Center of Greenland, NH | General & Unrestricted | $4,500 |
| Rivier University Nashua, NH | General & Unrestricted | $4,500 |
| Community Action Service Center Hightstown, NJ | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Arden Theatre Company Philadelphia, PA | General & Unrestricted | $2,250 |
| Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Inc Asheville, NC | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration King of Prussia, PA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,847,931 | $157,938 | $179,839 | $138,000 | 10 |
| 2023 | $2,869,832 | $166,642 | $145,568 | $108,000 | 5 |
| 2022 | $2,848,758 | $115,436 | $120,715 | $82,000 | 5 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,847,931 | $2,869,832 | $2,848,758 |
| Revenue | $157,938 | $166,642 | $115,436 |
| Expenses | $179,839 | $145,568 | $120,715 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $152,553 | $123,025 | $97,525 |
| Net Investment Income | $132,300 | $144,099 | $92,446 |
| Distributable Amount | $169,660 | $149,301 | $146,732 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Andrew V Bickford as director, treasurer, and president; Benjamin Gray Bickford as director, vice president, and secretary; Charles G Bickford as director and vice president; and Annie Howe Novak as director and vice president.
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund is led by Andrew V Bickford, Director, Treasurer & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Andrew V Bickford
Director, Treasurer & President
Director & Treasurer → Director, Treasurer & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Annie Howe Novak
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2024)
Benjamin Gray Bickford
Director, Vice President & Secretary
Director & Vice President → Director, Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2024)
Charles G Bickford
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marian Gerhart (2020–2023) — Director, President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2K, to Andrew V Bickford (Dir, Treas, Pres). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Frequently asked questions about Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund
How much does Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund give each year?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund gave $138K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $108K across 5 grants.
What is Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's median grant in 2024 was $4,500, and its average grant was $13,800, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund that year got $4K on average.
Where does Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund give grants?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Hampshire (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (4 grants).
Does Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Lancasterhistory Org ($100,000), Franklin & Marshall College ($10,000) and Choices Healthcare ($7,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $153K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $170K (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 Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund?
The fund’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's EIN?
Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2486909. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Paul and Marian Gerhart Charitable Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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