The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term is a private foundation based in Erie, Pennsylvania. It reported 18 grants totaling $4,489,880 in 2024, supporting organizations including a university, a veterans’ center, and organizations serving young adults and people with disabilities.
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term at a glance
In short: The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term gave $4.5M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $249K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,489,880
- +110.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +63.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $249,438
- +28.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $62,500
- Total assets
- $126,574,323
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Mark Gusek as the contact and a written request as the required materials. Awards are limited to public charities.
- Review Cycle
- No deadline.
- Deadline
- No deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Gusek
Mailing address: 100 State Street Suite 106, Erie, PA 16507
Phone: (814) 413-0010
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gannon University ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 29 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. Pennsylvania accounted for 65%, California 18%, Florida 6%, New York 4%, and Missouri 3%. The listed grants also include recipients in Kentucky, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term gives
- 6% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2023) to $4.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gannon University Erie, PA | Community Benefit Grant | $2,000,000 |
| Schwab Donor Advised Fund San Francisco, CA | Schwab Investment to Be Used for Emergency Usage | $800,000 |
| Allegheny Valley Veterans Center Clarendon, PA | We're All in This Together | $592,600 |
| The Faine House Inc Orlando, FL | We Are All in This Together | $250,000 |
| Warren Area Refugee Resettlement Network Warren, PA | We're All in This Together | $250,000 |
| Lutheran Senior Services St. Louis, MO | The Benze/Gesler Grant for Long-Term Living | $137,280 |
| Suburban Adult Services Inc Elma, NY | Strategies for Increasing Life Skills and Independence | $100,000 |
| Baptist Health Foundation Hardin Inc Elizabethtown, KY | Edwina M. Gesler Music Therapy Grant | $100,000 |
| First Evangelical Lutheran Church Warren, PA | Community Benefit Grant | $75,000 |
| Levine Music Washington, DC | Edwina M. Gesler Music Therapy Grant | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $126,574,323 | $-718,867 | $9,570,596 | $4,489,880 | 18 | $5,890,534 | — | $5,865,241 |
| 2023 | $125,796,304 | $3,483,283 | $6,534,683 | $2,132,700 | 11 | $5,119,778 | $40,757 | $5,547,629 |
| 2022 | $118,157,711 | $1,354,094 | $1,711,145 | — | — | $781,949 | $889,121 | $5,417,354 |
| 2021 | $117,122,951 | $-12,915,957 | $6,592 | — | — | — | $1,019 | $287,567 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term reported a distributable amount of $5.9M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for varied organizations and purposes, including a community benefit grant to Gannon University, a shelter and community center operated by Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, and life-skills and independence strategies at Suburban Adult Services. Those organizations describe their own missions as, respectively, preparing students through teaching and service; providing shelter for homeless veterans and a community center; and connecting people with opportunities and services that honor their choices.
Other 2024 awards included music therapy grants. Levine Music describes its mission as providing music education where children and adults can learn, perform, listen, and participate. NW Works says it empowers adults with disabilities and people facing barriers to employment to build skills and secure meaningful work. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not mission statements of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $4,489,880. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $62,500.
Among the largest awards were $2,000,000 to Gannon University for a community benefit grant; $800,000 to Schwab Donor Advised Fund for an emergency-use investment; and $592,600 to Allegheny Valley Veterans Center for “We’re All in This Together.” The foundation also awarded $250,000 each to The Faine House and Warren Area Refugee Resettlement Network, and $137,280 to Lutheran Senior Services for the Benze/Gesler Grant for Long-Term Living.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark J. Gusek as president and director; Robert Joyce as CFO/CIO; William G. Cox Jr. as treasurer; and Jeanne H. Tropper, Melanie A. Brewer, Floyd M. Csir, Matthew E. Dennison, Roland D. King, Thomas R. Masters, and Dennis M. W. Michalak as directors.
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term is led by Mark J. Gusek, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark J. Gusek
President & Director
Chairman → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$479K (2022) → $981K (2024)
Wade C. Root
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis M. W. Michalak
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Floyd M. Csir
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne H. Tropper
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew E. Dennison
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie A. Brewer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roland D. King
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Masters
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Joyce
CFO & CIO
CFO → CFO & CIO, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$316K (2022) → $930K (2024)
William G. Cox Jr.
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $981K, to Mark J Gusek (President/Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term
How much does The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term give each year?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term gave $4.5M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 11 grants.
What is The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's typical grant size?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's median grant in 2024 was $62,500, and its average grant was $249,438, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term give grants?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (18%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (3 grants) and Warren, PA (2 grants).
Does The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "We're All in This Together" (5 grants) and "Edwina M. Gesler Music Therapy Grant" (5 grants).
Who are The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's largest grantees?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's largest 2024 grantees include Gannon University ($2,000,000), Schwab Donor Advised Fund ($800,000) and Allegheny Valley Veterans Center ($592,600), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term reported $126.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term?
The filing lists Mark Gusek as the contact and a written request as the required materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's EIN?
The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1874516. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lutheran-foundation-for-long-term-morg_807269e79c604c8db65dcdf323739bf4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871874516_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lutheran-foundation-for-long-term-morg_807269e79c604c8db65dcdf323739bf4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Lutheran Foundation for Long-Term'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.
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