The Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1995 and based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on Jewish organizations and higher education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.4M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$502K
-26.7% YoY
Grant Count
8
-83.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$63K
+349.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr reported a distributable amount of $563K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving interests include:
- Jewish organizations
- Higher education
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- COVID-19 disaster preparedness and relief
- Organic farming and beekeeping initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with a focus on strategic philanthropic investments across its priority areas.
Grant Range
$49,000 to $512,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs grants to organizations in:
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Missouri
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $12,385,585
- Annual Giving: $502,287
- EIN: 23-7828732
- IRS Ruling Year: 1995
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,385,585 | $12,404,494 | $12,857,605 |
| Revenue | $677,108 | $429,791 | $666,366 |
| Expenses | $696,017 | $882,902 | $623,121 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $502,287 | $685,070 | $309,174 |
| Net Investment Income | $604,125 | $443,893 | $561,606 |
| Distributable Amount | $562,605 | $625,028 | $607,887 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
191 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fox Chase Cancer Center ($200,000), Fund for Israel's Tomorrow ($118,000), Americans for Ben Gurion University ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRAVO VAIL VAIL, CO | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| FLOW THROUGH FROM BAUPOST BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $137 |
| HADASSAH NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| FUND FOR ISRAEL'S TOMORROW ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE | $118,000 |
| OCEAN REEF CHAPEL & FELLOWSHIP KEY LARGO, FL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| VARIOUS HAZLETON, PA | CHARITABLE | $59,150 |
| AMERICANS FOR BEN GURION UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr are the founders and namesakes of the foundation. Ernest Scheller Jr and Roberta Scheller were recognized among America's most generous donors.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNEST SCHELLER JR | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| LISA SCHELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 751 N Church Street, Hazleton, PA 18201-2976
Telephone: 570-455-9408
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr fund?
The foundation's primary giving interests include: • Jewish organizations • Higher education • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • COVID-19 disaster preparedness and relief • Organic farming and beekeeping initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr?
**Financial Profile:** • Total assets: $12,385,585 • Total annual giving: $502,287 • Typical grant range: $49,000 to $512,000 The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with a focus on strategic philanthropic investments across its priority areas.
Where does Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr make grants?
The foundation primarily directs grants to organizations in: • Pennsylvania • New York • Missouri
What size grants does Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr award?
In 2024, Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr awarded 8 grants totaling $502K — an average of about $63K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr reported a distributable amount of $563K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr's EIN?
Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7828732. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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