The Hamer Foundation
The Hamer Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 and based in State College, Pennsylvania. The foundation was created by Donald W. Hamer, founder and CEO of State of the Art, Inc., a manufacturer of high-reliability resistors. The foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations, with a focus on environmental conservation, community support, and educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$61.8M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
-5.4% YoY
Grant Count
42
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$114K
+1.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hamer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on providing support to nonprofit organizations within a 100-mile radius of State College. The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Environmental Conservation: Support for land conservation, renewable energy, water resources, and environmental education programs
- Community Support: Human services, housing, arts and culture, libraries, and museums
- Education: Support for educational institutions and programming
The foundation maintains a particular commitment to central Pennsylvania, though it has made exceptions for projects of special interest outside the typical service area.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$30,000–$250,000 (based on recent examples)
Review Cycle
January 31
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations within a 100-mile radius of State College, Pennsylvania. This geographic focus encompasses Centre County and surrounding areas in central Pennsylvania, including portions of Pennsylvania, and extends into neighboring regions. The foundation has made exceptions for educational institutions outside this radius, including the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, based on founder Donald Hamer's personal connections and interests.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (as of December 2024):
- Total assets: $61,802,778
- Total revenue: $8,880,693
- Total expenses: $5,113,383
- Net income: $3,767,310
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $1,236,077
- Investment income and dividends: $3,224,669
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no liabilities and substantial investment income supporting its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,802,778 | $58,035,468 | $61,628,128 |
| Revenue | $8,880,693 | $1,764,824 | $3,664,001 |
| Expenses | $5,113,383 | $5,357,484 | $6,666,076 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,785,119 | $5,059,398 | $6,274,543 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,647,756 | $2,071,028 | $3,678,671 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,659,834 | $3,741,498 | $3,719,151 |
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
205 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Western Pa Conservancy ($680,000), Pa Chapter Nature Conservancy ($494,500), State College Food Bank ($460,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INTERFAITH HUMAN SERVICES STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| PA CHAPTER NATURE CONSERVANCY CONSHOHOCKEN, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT, PROGRAMMING, EASEMENTS | $494,500 |
| CENTRE COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| CLEARWATER CONSERVANCY STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT, PROGRAMMING, EASEMENTS, BUILDING | $60,000 |
| EASTER SEALS OF CENTRAL PA STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | SCHOLARSHIP | $100,000 |
| CENTRE COUNTY FARMLAND TRUST BELLEFONTE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| HOUSING TRANSITIONS INC STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY STATE COLLEGE, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| WESTERN PA CONSERVANCY PITTSBURGH, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $680,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Patrick Morse serves as Manager of the foundation (as of 2024).
The foundation was established by Donald W. Hamer, a Navy veteran and entrepreneur. Hamer earned degrees from the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and Penn State University. He was named Penn State's Philanthropist of the Year in 2014. Following Hamer's death in 2016, the foundation continues to operate under his philanthropic vision.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK MORSE | Trustee | 30 | $80,000 |
| JENNIFER SHUEY | Trustee | 3 | $20,000 |
| DAN CRUST | Trustee | 3 | $20,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting major community initiatives in central Pennsylvania. Recent grant activity includes significant support for the Food Bank of the State College Area and the Schlow Library Foundation, reflecting ongoing commitment to community support and cultural institutions. The foundation has also supported environmental conservation projects, including work with ClearWater Conservancy, which has undertaken projects bearing the Hamer name in recognition of the foundation's support.
Grants and Acquisitions | Free | College & Research Libraries NewsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Hamer Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on providing support to nonprofit organizations within a 100-mile radius of State College. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Environmental Conservation**: Support for land conservation, renewable energy, water resources, and environmental education programs • **Community Support**: Human services, housing, arts and culture, libraries, and museums • **Education**: Support for educational institutions and programming The foundation maintains a pa…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hamer Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $5,059,398 (2023); $2,370,000 in grants reported for 2024 • Number of grants: 45 awards (2023) • Grant range: $30,000–$250,000 (based on recent examples) • Typical awards: $5,000–$1,600,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Food Bank of the State College Area: $460,000 (Operating Support) • Schlow Library Foundation: $443,530 (Operating Support) • University of Illinois Foundation: $420,000 (Programming) **Application Process:** • Annual application deadline: Janu…
Where does The Hamer Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations within a 100-mile radius of State College, Pennsylvania. This geographic focus encompasses Centre County and surrounding areas in central Pennsylvania, including portions of Pennsylvania, and extends into neighboring regions. The foundation has made exceptions for educational institutions outside this radius, including the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, based on founder Donald Hamer's personal connections and interests.
What size grants does The Hamer Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hamer Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $114K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hamer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hamer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hamer Foundation's EIN?
The Hamer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1610780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hamer Foundation'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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