Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation
The Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1950 and based in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The foundation operates as a non-operating private trust focused on philanthropic grantmaking to support youth, child welfare, education, and community services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$554K
+17.3% YoY
Grant Count
118
-9.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+30.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $608K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation emphasizes support for:
- Youth and child welfare agencies
- Schools and educational institutions
- University scholarship funds
- Support for indigent individuals
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation supports a university scholarship fund with specific scholarship opportunities available through the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Scholarships are needs-based with awards ranging from $100 to $300, with approximately 19 awards available annually.
Grant Range
$1,000
Average Grant
award: $5,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:
- Primary focus: McKean County and Bradford, Pennsylvania
- Secondary focus: Pennsylvania, New York, and Tennessee account for 98% of all grants
- Broader reach: Grantmaking extends across 6 states
- Scholarship eligibility: Limited to residents of McKean County, Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $9,820,277 (as of 2023)
- Total assets have grown from $3.5 million in 2011 to $9.8 million in 2023
- Annual income: $3.4 million
- Total annual giving: $467,352 to $472,632
Tax Status:
- EIN: 25-6035748
- IRS ruling year: 1952
- Tax-exempt status: February 1952
- Contributions are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,385,496 | $9,820,277 | $9,856,815 |
| Revenue | $1,349,477 | $659,112 | $931,673 |
| Expenses | $793,820 | $697,476 | $789,848 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $653,627 | $577,375 | $657,329 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,216,917 | $525,601 | $802,671 |
| Distributable Amount | $608,497 | $568,405 | $572,447 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bradford Area Alliance ($100,000), Bradford Hospital Foundation ($44,000), Bradford Creative and Performing Ar ($12,240).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALICIA LABORDER BRADFORD, PA | SOPHINE EVENT, EXPENSES DURING SURGE | $500 |
| BOB LAIRD BRADFORD, PA | HELP WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES | $500 |
| DANI LANGINESE BRADFORD, PA | HELP WITH HOUSEHOLD BILLS | $300 |
| JULIE WHEELER BRADFORD, PA | ASSISTANCE | $500 |
| KELLY COSTELLO BRADFORD, PA | ASSISTANCE | $500 |
| MEGAN MILLER BRADFORD, PA | ASSISTANCE | $300 |
| REV LEE BECKES BRADFORD, PA | ASSISTANCE | $300 |
| RON BACHA BRADFORD, PA | ASSISTANCE | $375 |
| ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS COUNCIL FALCONER, NY | DONATION | $700 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BRADFORD, PA | DONATION | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Ronald Orris
- Executive Secretary: Howard Fesenmyer
- Governance: The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD E MCDOWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GRANT B DUKE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GEORGE B DUKE | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| HARRIETT B WICK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARK A PAUP | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RONALD L ORRIS | EXECUTIVE DI | 15 | $61,678 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been recognized for its community impact, including receiving recognition from the Bradford Community Performing Arts Center. The foundation has also created vocational scholarship opportunities to expand educational support beyond traditional university scholarships.
Blaisdell Foundation creates vocational scholarship - The Bradford EraThe foundation continues to support organizations across Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on local Bradford and McKean County institutions serving youth, families, and vulnerable populations.
Blaisdell Foundation creates vocational scholarship - The Bradford EraContact Information
Address: 2 Main Street, Suite 410 Bradford, PA 16701-2038
Phone: (814) 362-6340
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation fund?
The foundation emphasizes support for: • Youth and child welfare agencies • Schools and educational institutions • University scholarship funds • Support for indigent individuals • Education • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $40,000 to $101,000 • Historical median grant size: $1,000 • Average grant award: $5,000 • Individual grants have ranged up to $108,000 **Grant Activity:** • The foundation has made 427 grants totaling $2 million across available records • Annual giving has grown from $424,000 in 2020 to $1.1 million in 2022 • Total giving reported at $472,632 **Scholarship Program:** The foundation supports a university scholarship fund with specific…
Where does Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • **Primary focus:** McKean County and Bradford, Pennsylvania • **Secondary focus:** Pennsylvania, New York, and Tennessee account for 98% of all grants • **Broader reach:** Grantmaking extends across 6 states • **Scholarship eligibility:** Limited to residents of McKean County, Pennsylvania
What size grants does Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation award?
In 2024, Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation awarded 118 grants totaling $554K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $608K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation's EIN?
Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6035748. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation'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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