The Britton Family Foundation
The Britton Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania. In its 2024 filing, it reported grants to nonprofit organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Pennsylvania.
The Britton Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Britton Family Foundation gave $265K across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 2% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $265,375
- +9.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,897
- +6.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,807,565
- -3.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 45, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Britton Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists John W. Britton, President, as the contact and says to see attached materials for the application form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. The filing does not provide those details in the information available here.
- Contact
Application contact: John W Britton President
Mailing address: 100 State St Ste 700, Erie, PA 16507
Phone: (814) 870-7710
Email: mminnaugh@skmco.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Britton Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hamot Health Foundation ($23K). Together the top 10 received $128K.
Grant Size Distribution
216 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 216 grants of 216 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 4% to recipients in Tennessee. The listed recipients include organizations in Erie, Pennsylvania, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Britton Family Foundation open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 45 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 98% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $243K (2022) to $265K (2024). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamot Health Foundation Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $22,875 |
| Bayfront Maritime Center Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Erie County Historical Society Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Achievement Center Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Greater PA Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Dr Gertrude Barber Foundation Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Erie City Mission Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Sarah Reed Children's Center Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children Erie, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospit Memphis, TN | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Britton Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,807,565 | $184,375 | $293,395 | $265,375 | 45 | $265,375 | $161,931 | $235,606 |
| 2023 | $2,916,585 | $66,344 | $268,001 | $242,875 | 44 | $242,875 | $75,982 | $213,595 |
| 2022 | $3,118,242 | $29,240 | $280,721 | $242,875 | 44 | $242,875 | $59,587 | $217,515 |
| 2021 | $3,369,723 | $458,379 | $278,811 | $251,875 | 42 | $251,875 | $435,339 | $238,247 |
| 2020 | $3,190,430 | $2,583 | $275,290 | $250,000 | 41 | — | $52,922 | $210,717 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Britton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Hamot Health Foundation says it supports UPMC Hamot’s work in patient care, community service, healing, and education. Erie County Historical Society says it engages the community through educational programs, exhibits, and publications and preserves collections and archives. Child Development Centers Inc. says it provides child care and early childhood education in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Other 2024 recipients include Achievement Center, which describes providing child- and family-centered therapeutic services, and Asbury Woods Partnership, which says it offers environmental, educational, and recreational experiences. SafeNet says it provides shelter and safety to victims of interpersonal violence, while Mercy Center for Women says it advocates for women and provides transitional housing for homeless women and children.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 45 grants totaling $265,375. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $22,875, with a median of $2,500. The largest listed grant was $22,875 to Hamot Health Foundation. Other notable grants included $20,000 to Bayfront Maritime Center, $15,000 to Erie County Historical Society, and $10,000 each to Achievement Center, Alzheimer’s Association Greater PA, Dr Gertrude Barber Foundation, Erie City Mission, Sarah Reed Children’s Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Stairways Behavioral Health, and Erie Homes for Children and Adults. The listed purposes for these grants were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John W. Britton as President/Director, James E. Spoden Esq. as Treasurer/Director, and Margaret Britton and Matthew M. Minnaugh as directors.
The Britton Family Foundation is led by John W. Britton, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John W. Britton
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James E. Spoden Esq.
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Britton
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew M. Minnaugh
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 The Britton Family Foundation
How much does The Britton Family Foundation give each year?
The Britton Family Foundation gave $265K across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $243K across 44 grants.
What is The Britton Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Britton Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,897, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Britton Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Britton Family Foundation give grants?
The Britton Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (40 grants) and Fairview, PA (3 grants).
Does The Britton Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Britton Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (45 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Britton Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Britton Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hamot Health Foundation ($22,875), Bayfront Maritime Center ($20,000) and Erie County Historical Society ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Britton Family Foundation?
The Britton Family Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $265K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Britton Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Hamot Health Foundation says it supports UPMC Hamot’s work in patient care, community service, healing, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Britton Family Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists John W. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Britton Family Foundation's EIN?
The Britton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1618532. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Britton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Erie Community Foundation
Erie, PA
The Erie Community Foundation funds nonprofits working in health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, regional vitality, and other community needs in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $24,000, while Shaping Tomorrow awards are $50,000–$250,000. It accepts applications for Helping Today and Shaping Tomorrow; Helping Today requires a pre-application meeting, while Transformational Grant applicants are identified by trustees and staff.
Assets
$385.7M
Grants
373
Total Given
$24.4M
M J Surgala Tr
Erie, PA
The foundation supports educational, human-services, arts, cultural, health, and community organizations, with most of its giving in Pennsylvania. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations; contact Mary Lincoln for application information.
Assets
$23.1M
Grants
51
Total Given
$829K
Wabtec Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
Wabtec Foundation primarily supports education and environmental stewardship, including literacy, academic achievement, and workforce readiness, in communities where Wabtec operates; it also funds a range of other nonprofit causes. Its Direct Grant Program awards $1,000–$10,000, and the foundation considers applications, generally from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, with preference for groups connected to Wabtec employees.
Assets
$14.8M
Grants
254
Total Given
$839K
United Way of Erie County
Erie, PA
United Way of Erie County's mission is to mobilize resources to break the cycle of poverty and improve our community.
Assets
$40.7M
Grants
9
Total Given
$714K
The Henry A and Mary J
Erie, PA
The foundation supports health, children and families, shelter and food assistance, community services, and the arts, with 2025 grants going to organizations in Pennsylvania. Its 15 grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests; it refers applicants to an attached statement for application details.
Assets
$2.9M
Grants
15
Total Given
$242K
Firstenergy Foundation
Akron, OH
The FirstEnergy Foundation supports eligible nonprofits working on community needs such as housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development, education, safety and STEM in FirstEnergy’s service area and other places where it does business. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25 to $5.3 million, with a median of $1,375. It does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Assets
$124.9M
Grants
151
Total Given
$7.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Britton Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-britton-family-foundation-morg_6d40feefdb82433f865258ecb4fd4142
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251618532_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Britton Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-britton-family-foundation-morg_6d40feefdb82433f865258ecb4fd4142},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Britton Family Foundation'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.
The Britton Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?