Ricker College Scholarship
Ricker College Scholarship is a private foundation based in Houlton, Maine, that supports college scholarships. The Ricker College Trustees oversee the program, which the trustees say has awarded scholarships since 1985 and carries on Ricker College’s legacy.
Ricker College Scholarship at a glance
In short: Ricker College Scholarship gave $190K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Maine. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $189,800
- -15.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -21.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,300
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $6,808,452
- +15.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (88% 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 Ricker College Scholarship
- Review Cycle
- Applications must be postmarked no later than the fourth Friday in April.
- Deadline
- Applications must be postmarked no later than the fourth Friday in April.
- Contact
Application contact: Ricker College Trustees
Mailing address: PO Box 1016, Houlton, ME 04730
Phone: (207) 532-4475
Email: rickerscholarship@myfairpoint.net
Website: https://rickerscholarship.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ricker College Scholarship funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Maine ($58K). Together the top 10 received $158K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($6,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
142 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 139 grants of 142 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated scholarship eligibility centers on graduates of high schools in Aroostook County, Maine; its website also identifies applicants from Washington County as eligible to apply, with fewer scholarships available for that group. In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine. The reported shares also included Vermont (2%), New Hampshire (2%), Massachusetts (1%), and Virginia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ricker College Scholarship open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 23 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 49% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 76% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $56K (2021) to $281K (2023). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $190K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maine Orono, ME | Scholarship Program | $58,000 |
| Husson University Bangor, ME | Scholarship Program | $34,000 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, ME | Scholarship Program | $20,000 |
| University of New England Biddeford, ME | Scholarship Program | $12,000 |
| University of Southern Maine Portland, ME | Scholarship Program | $8,000 |
| University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME | Scholarship Program | $7,800 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent, ME | Scholarship Program | $6,000 |
| Colby College Waterville, ME | Scholarship Program | $4,000 |
| Thomas College Waterville, ME | Scholarship Program | $4,000 |
| University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, ME | Scholarship Program | $4,000 |
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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 | $6,808,452 | $816,262 | $256,016 | $189,800 | 26 | $220,595 | $731,510 | $288,677 |
| 2024 | $5,882,086 | $1,244,523 | $284,658 | $223,800 | 33 | $254,380 | $473,091 | $244,901 |
| 2023 | $4,526,514 | $286,645 | $333,640 | $280,800 | 39 | $312,269 | $260,480 | $200,653 |
| 2022 | $4,024,257 | $137,656 | $177,970 | $127,500 | 29 | $153,938 | $105,278 | $210,162 |
| 2021 | $5,195,255 | $260,079 | $108,140 | $55,800 | 15 | $84,372 | $234,517 | $227,900 |
| 2020 | $4,311,747 | $292,351 | $195,223 | $146,800 | 28 | — | $270,775 | $175,377 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ricker College Scholarship reported a distributable amount of $289K 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
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is awarding college scholarships to graduating Maine high school students in Aroostook County. Its website also says applicants from Washington County and people who previously applied unsuccessfully but are now attending college may apply, though fewer scholarships are available for those groups.
In 2025, the foundation made grants for scholarship programs at institutions including the University of Maine, Husson University, and the University of New England. Husson describes its mission as preparing students for professional careers; the University of New England says it prepares students to thrive in a changing world and improve health; and Thomas College describes its mission as preparing students for personal and professional success, leadership, and community service.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $189,800. Individual grants ranged from $2,000 to $58,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest awards included $58,000 to the University of Maine in Orono, $34,000 to Husson University, $20,000 to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and $12,000 to the University of New England. Each was designated for a scholarship program.
For individual scholarship applicants, the foundation says most awards are $2,000 and may be renewed while the recipient remains in good standing, up to the baccalaureate degree and no more than four years. Applicants generally must rank in the upper quarter of their graduating class; the 2024 filing states that applicants from schools with 25 or fewer seniors may qualify if they rank in the upper 35%. The filing also describes possible preferences for students graduating from particular public schools or municipalities.
Applications are available on the foundation’s website. The filing says applicants should be prepared to provide their name, address, high school, graduation date, proof of college acceptance, and a signed high school transcript. Applicants already attending college should identify their institution, course of study, and estimated program costs. Applications also request parents’ names, awards and personal achievements, any Ricker College family history, and letters of recommendation. The website says forms are distributed through area school guidance departments and that completed forms must be submitted in the traditional way.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Bossie as Executive Director. Directors listed are Amie Belyea, Tina Condon, Ruth Ann Cowger, Jake Cowperthwaite, Pat Cunningham, Karen Donato, Fawn Dunphy, Lynda Foren-Turner, and Debbie Melvin.
Ricker College Scholarship is led by Gary Bossie, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 16 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Bossie
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Leigh Cummings
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Pat Cunningham
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Tina Condon
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Travis Watson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Amie Belyea
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jake Cowperthwaite
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Ann Cowger
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chelsey Weeks
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Donato
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fawn Dunphy
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynda Foren-Turner
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Melvin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Thompson
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Greg Sherman
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Martha Bell
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$62 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Gerald Riley (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Anderson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert Lyons (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert Askren (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Daniel Watson (2020–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Alison Bossie (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Paul Adams (2020) — Director
- Former: Teran Clark (2020) — Director
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 $17K, to Gary Bossie (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Ricker College Scholarship
How much does Ricker College Scholarship give each year?
Ricker College Scholarship gave $190K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $224K across 33 grants.
What is Ricker College Scholarship's typical grant size?
Ricker College Scholarship's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $7,300, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ricker College Scholarship that year got $2K on average.
Where does Ricker College Scholarship give grants?
Ricker College Scholarship gives mostly in Maine: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterville, ME (2 grants).
Does Ricker College Scholarship give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Ricker College Scholarship's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Program" (26 grants).
Who are Ricker College Scholarship's largest grantees?
Ricker College Scholarship's largest 2025 grantees include University of Maine ($58,000), Husson University ($34,000) and University of Maine at Presque Isle ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ricker College Scholarship?
Ricker College Scholarship reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $221K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $289K (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 Ricker College Scholarship fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is awarding college scholarships to graduating Maine high school students in Aroostook County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ricker College Scholarship?
Ricker College Scholarship has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check rickerscholarship.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ricker College Scholarship's EIN?
Ricker College Scholarship's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2709285. 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 March 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ricker College Scholarship funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ricker-college-scholarship-morg_cdd94fb787f54dbabaa9244987532180
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222709285_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ricker College Scholarship funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ricker-college-scholarship-morg_cdd94fb787f54dbabaa9244987532180},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ricker College Scholarship'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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