Scholarship Foundation of Erie
The Scholarship Foundation of Erie, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a private foundation that awards scholarships to support students pursuing undergraduate and graduate education. Its website identifies the scholarship program as the Scholarship Foundation of Erie Scottish Rite Bodies and says the foundation was established through support from members and friends of the Valley of Erie Scottish Rite Fraternity.
Scholarship Foundation of Erie at a glance
In short: Scholarship Foundation of Erie gave $68K across 68 grants in 2025 (avg $996.324), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $67,750
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 68
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $996
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,340,487
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Scholarship Foundation of Erie
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its scholarship application process requires a Scottish Rite sponsor and the specified application materials.
- Review Cycle
- Applications for the 2026 program must be postmarked by April 1, 2026. The foundation’s 2024 filing lists April 1, 2025, as the deadline for that filing’s scholarship cycle.
- Deadline
- Applications for the 2026 program must be postmarked by April 1, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Scholarship Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 1364, Erie, PA 16512
Phone: (814) 866-5382
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Scholarship Foundation of Erie funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
320 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 320 grants of 320 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s published eligibility requirements name residents of Erie or Crawford County, Pennsylvania. All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
Cities
How Scholarship Foundation of Erie gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2023) to $135K (2021). In 2025 it made 68 grants totaling $68K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $57,750 |
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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 | $1,340,487 | $44,528 | $77,990 | $67,750 | 68 | $67,750 | $38,754 | $65,262 |
| 2024 | $1,291,766 | $48,240 | $79,383 | $68,200 | 62 | $68,200 | $23,639 | $61,281 |
| 2023 | $1,216,088 | $-47,436 | $74,637 | $58,850 | 54 | $58,850 | $26,597 | $59,177 |
| 2022 | $1,212,442 | $324,441 | $76,852 | $67,250 | 47 | $67,250 | $308,632 | $63,873 |
| 2021 | $1,446,903 | $50,452 | $145,317 | $134,750 | 89 | — | $38,417 | $67,469 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Scholarship Foundation of Erie reported a distributable amount of $65K 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 states that its scholarships are intended to assist and encourage the pursuit of undergraduate and graduate education. Awards go to qualified individuals, with funds paid directly to colleges or universities to reduce tuition and room and board costs.
For the 2026 program, the foundation lists financial need, academic achievement, essay, extracurricular activities, and educational or career objectives as evaluation criteria. It says applicants must pursue a bachelor’s or graduate degree at an accredited college or university; associate or similar programs are not eligible.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 62 scholarships totaling $68,200. Each listed award was $1,100, making $1,100 the smallest, largest, and median grant amount. The filing describes the awards as scholarships and says they were made directly to colleges. Examples of listed recipients include three individual recipients, each receiving $1,100 for a scholarship.
The foundation’s 2026 application materials say applicants must be residents of Erie or Crawford County and high school graduates by July 1, 2026. Applicants need a current Erie Scottish Rite member to review and sign the application; each member may sponsor up to three applications. The application materials call for a completed, signed application, an essay, grade transcripts, and FAFSA information. The website also lists SAT/ACT scores and a FAFSA EFC report among application materials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Paul Gornall as president, William R. Cunningham as vice president, John H. Daneri as secretary, and Bernard D. Hanmore as treasurer. It also lists Richard Elberfeld, R. Perrin Baker, James H. Richardson Jr., James Bowers, and Brian Woodward as trustees.
Scholarship Foundation of Erie is led by Paul Gornall, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Gornall
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James H. Richardson Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. Perrin Baker
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Elberfeld
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Woodward
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Bowers
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bernard D. Hanmore
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Daneri
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William R. Cunningham
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Eric M. Marshall (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Roger Kuntz (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Scholarship Foundation of Erie
How much does Scholarship Foundation of Erie give each year?
Scholarship Foundation of Erie gave $68K across 68 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $68K across 62 grants.
What is Scholarship Foundation of Erie's typical grant size?
Scholarship Foundation of Erie's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $996, across 68 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Scholarship Foundation of Erie give grants?
Scholarship Foundation of Erie gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Scholarship Foundation of Erie give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 68 grants with a stated purpose on Scholarship Foundation of Erie's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (68 grants).
How large is Scholarship Foundation of Erie?
Scholarship Foundation of Erie reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $68K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $65K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Scholarship Foundation of Erie fund?
The foundation states that its scholarships are intended to assist and encourage the pursuit of undergraduate and graduate education. Awards go to qualified individuals, with funds paid directly to colleges or universities to reduce tuition and room and board costs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Scholarship Foundation of Erie?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Scholarship Foundation of Erie's EIN?
Scholarship Foundation of Erie's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1710223. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Scholarship Foundation of Erie accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Scholarship Foundation of Erie's focus areas in our free grants database
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Scholarship Foundation of Erie down — hundreds of funders to go?