Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation
To support the educational mission and activities of Pennsylvania's state system of higher education (state system) by generating private sector financial support and engaging in other activities to advance the state system.
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation gave $155K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,000
- +287.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,000
- +210.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $11,323,411
- +0.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cheyney University ($35K). Together the top 5 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 18 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2024) to $186K (2021). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyney University Cheyney, PA | WBL Grant | $35,000 |
| Commonwealth University Bloomsburg, PA | WBL Grant | $30,000 |
| East Strouodsburg East Stroudsburg, PA | WBL Grant | $30,000 |
| Shippensburg University Shippensburg, PA | WBL Grant | $30,000 |
| Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA | WBL Grant | $30,000 |
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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 | $11,323,411 | $3,419,401 | $3,331,819 | $155,000 | 5 | $-133,533 |
| 2024 | $11,316,664 | $3,560,509 | $2,643,401 | $40,000 | 4 | $448,360 |
| 2023 | $10,933,847 | $2,493,469 | $1,798,477 | $150,025 | 3 | $114,560 |
| 2022 | $4,629,518 | $1,622,868 | $1,368,716 | $153,199 | 2 | $97,329 |
| 2021 | $4,375,366 | $1,270,660 | $1,151,699 | $186,337 | 4 | $237,801 |
| 2020 | $4,256,405 | $1,555,274 | $1,107,463 | $155,000 | 1 | $92,455 |
About Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Carlisle, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $11.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $155K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation is led by Shelley Scherer, President & CEO on the 2025 filing; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shelley Scherer
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$178K (2025)
David S. Kerr
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Helmer
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Parez- Brantley
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Lynch
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David N. Taylor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Frisby- Greenwood
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jinaki Z. Bright
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Haddock
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Topoleski
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wyatt Troxell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susanne Walker
Finance Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$69K (2025)
Gail M. D'angelo
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Cook
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Skotedis
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew J. Steck
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: D'angelo Gail M. (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Kerr David S. (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Miller Edelyn Lynn (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Steck Matthew J. (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Taylor David N. (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Varano Michael (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Bright Jinaki Z. (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Cook Ashley (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Frisby-Greenwood Donna (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Helmer Andrew (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Skotedis Crystal (2022–2024) — Assistant Tr
- Former: Haddock Joseph (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Jones Andrea (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Lynch Blake (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Perez-Brantley David (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Scherer Shelley (2023–2024) — President
- Former: Troxell Wyatt (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Alexander Marian C. (2024) — Director
- Former: Topoleski Linda (2024) — Director
- Former: Kelly Lieblein (2020–2023) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Alexander Marion Carey (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Bolger John (2021–2023) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Lyttle Kim E. (2021–2023) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Pritchard Cynthia (2021–2023) — Former President
- Former: Bowker Barbara J. (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Brantley David (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lutcavage Matt (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Wyland Scott T. Esq. (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lufburrow John (2022) — Director
- Former: Benevento Anthony N. (2021) — Assistant Tr
- Former: Daniels Marcella (2021) — Director
- Former: Hartman Jennifer S. (2021) — Exe Director - Ou
- Former: Lieblein Kelly S. (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Swarts Nelson A. (2021) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Anthony Benevento (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Barbara Bowker (2020) — Board Chair
- Former: Christine Martin (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Hartman (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: John Bolger (2020) — Board Member
- Former: John Havas Esq. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kim Lyttle (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Lynn Miller (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Marcella Daniels (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Marion C. Alexander (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Matt Steck (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Matthew Lutcavage (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Varano (2020) — Board Member
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 $178K, to Shelley Scherer (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation
How much does Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation give each year?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation gave $155K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $40K across 4 grants.
What is Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $31,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation give grants?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "WBL Grant" (5 grants).
Who are Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's largest grantees?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cheyney University ($35,000), Commonwealth University ($30,000) and East Strouodsburg ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What is Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Carlisle, PA. It holds $11.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's EIN?
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2686249. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education Foundation funds
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