Ricker College Scholarship
The Ricker College Scholarship & Endowment Committee is a private foundation based in Houlton, Maine, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation was established to perpetuate the legacy of Ricker College, a small liberal arts college that closed in 1978 after graduating its last class. Despite the college's closure, the foundation continues its educational mission through an active scholarship program serving the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
+29.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$224K
-20.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-5.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ricker College Scholarship reported a distributable amount of $245K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to support education through scholarships for college-bound students. The fund awards scholarships to graduating Maine high school students in Aroostook County, with a focus on helping worthy students pursue their educational dreams. Most scholarships are valued between $1,500 to $2,000 and are renewable until the student graduates or completes the fourth year of a longer program.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active scholarship distribution program. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
**: $2,000
Average Grant
**: Approximately $7,200–$31,000 depending on the year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on Aroostook County, Maine, awarding scholarships to graduating high school students in the region. However, the foundation also funds educational initiatives across multiple states, including Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,882,086
- Total Giving: $223,800
- Total Revenue: $1,244,523
- Total Expenses: $284,658
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,530,000
- Total Revenue: $287,000
- Total Expenses: $334,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,882,086 | $4,526,514 | $4,024,257 |
| Revenue | $1,244,523 | $286,645 | $137,656 |
| Expenses | $284,658 | $333,640 | $177,970 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $254,380 | $312,269 | $153,938 |
| Net Investment Income | $473,091 | $260,480 | $105,278 |
| Distributable Amount | $244,901 | $200,653 | $210,162 |
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
144 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Maine ($73,300), Husson University ($29,500), University of Maine at Presque Isle ($22,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bennington College Bennington, VT | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| Cedarville University Cedarville, OH | Scholarship Program | $4,000 |
| Colby College Waterville, ME | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| Eastern Maine Community College Bangor, ME | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| George Washington University Washington, DC | Scholarship Program | $1,500 |
| Harvard Univeristy Cambridge, MA | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| Husson University Bangor, ME | Scholarship Program | $29,500 |
| Kennebeck Valley Community College Fairfield, ME | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
| Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Scholarship Program | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gary Bossie – Executive Director
- Amie Belyea – Director
- Tina Condon – Board member
- Robert Anderson – Director (through October 2023)
The board operates with minimal compensation, with members generally serving on a voluntary basis.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Bossie | Executive Director | 5 | $17,332 |
| Amie Belyea | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Tina Condon | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Ruth Ann Cowger | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Jake Cowperthwaite | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Pat Cunningham | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Karen Donato | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Fawn Dunphy | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Lynda Foren-Turner | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Greg Sherman | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Travis Watson | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Chelsey Weeks | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Leigh Cummings | Chair | 0.25 | — |
| Cynthia Thompson | Vice Chair | 0.25 | — |
| Gerald Riley | Treasurer (end 2024) | 0.25 | — |
| Martha Bell | Secretary | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to be active in supporting Aroostook County students. In 2023, the Ricker College Board of Trustees awarded $259,000 in scholarships to county graduates. Over the past decade, the board has distributed approximately $2.8 million in scholarships to county students pursuing higher education.
Ricker Trustees award $259,000 in scholarships to county graduates - TheThe foundation maintains an active website at rickerscholarship.com and can be contacted at (207) 532-4475 or rickerscholarship@gmail.com. The organization is open to new applicants and continues to accept scholarship applications from eligible students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ricker College Scholarship fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to support education through scholarships for college-bound students. The fund awards scholarships to graduating Maine high school students in Aroostook County, with a focus on helping worthy students pursue their educational dreams. Most scholarships are valued between $1,500 to $2,000 and are renewable until the student graduates or completes the fourth year of a longer program.
How do I apply for a grant from Ricker College Scholarship?
The foundation maintains an active scholarship distribution program. Recent grant activity includes: • **2024 grants** to institutions including Husson University ($29,500), Thomas College ($12,000), and University of New England ($10,000) • **Total giving in 2024**: $223,800 • **Typical award range**: $1,500–$82,000 • **Median grant size**: $2,000 • **Average grant size**: Approximately $7,200–$31,000 depending on the year The foundation awards scholarships directly to students and also makes …
Where does Ricker College Scholarship make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on Aroostook County, Maine, awarding scholarships to graduating high school students in the region. However, the foundation also funds educational initiatives across multiple states, including Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.
What size grants does Ricker College Scholarship award?
In 2024, Ricker College Scholarship awarded 33 grants totaling $224K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ricker College Scholarship required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ricker College Scholarship reported a distributable amount of $245K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ricker College Scholarship'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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