The Serra International Foundation is a Catholic philanthropic organization that has been supporting vocations since 1951. The Foundation provides financial aid to programs that foster vocations to the ministerial priesthood and formation for men and women in consecrated religious life within the Catholic Church.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.2M
+5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$999K
+145.4% YoY
Grant Count
56
+12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+119.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Serra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $715K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's stated purposes are:
- To give financial aid to programs that foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood of the Catholic Church
- To give financial aid to programs of formation for men and women in consecrated religious life in the Catholic Church
- To enhance the recognition of Serra International as the global lay apostolate for vocations in the Catholic Church
Grantmaking
The Foundation awarded over 15 grants in the most recent year documented. Recent grant recipients include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds programs globally, with documented grants across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including recipients in the United States, Canada, Rwanda, Kenya, India, Congo, Indonesia, and Vatican City.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,161,688 | $8,653,266 | $5,681,213 |
| Revenue | $2,847,330 | $6,738,504 | $208,686 |
| Expenses | $1,092,689 | $454,208 | $1,387,737 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $999,299 | $407,233 | $1,270,978 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,510,160 | $1,702,858 | $171,209 |
| Distributable Amount | $715,433 | $461,307 | $400,689 |
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
226 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Loyola University Chicago ($420,000), Albion College ($205,000), Michigan State University ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Albion College Albion, MI | General Use | $205,000 |
| Ascension Genesys Foundation Grand Blanc, MI | General Use | $5,000 |
| CAN Council Saginaw, MI | General Use | $1,000 |
| Catholic Charities Flint, MI | General Use | $1,000 |
| Center for Hope Flint, MI | General Use | $250 |
| Communities First Flint, MI | General Use | $5,500 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Rochester Rochester Hills, MI | General Use | $25,000 |
| Community Partners for Affordable Housing Libertyville, IL | General Use | $10,000 |
| DADS of Southeast Michigan Sterling Heights, MI | General Use | $500 |
| ELGA Credit Union Foundation for Impact Grand Blanc, MI | General Use | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julie A Serra | President | 1 | — |
| Joseph O Serra | Vice Pres. | 1 | — |
| Lauren M Serra | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Matthew J Serra | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation launched an endowment giving program in 2023, announcing its first endowment initiative to support long-term vocations work.
Announcing the Foundation's First Endowment - Serra InternationalSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Serra Foundation fund?
The Foundation's stated purposes are: • To give financial aid to programs that foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood of the Catholic Church • To give financial aid to programs of formation for men and women in consecrated religious life in the Catholic Church • To enhance the recognition of Serra International as the global lay apostolate for vocations in the Catholic Church
How do I apply for a grant from The Serra Foundation?
The Foundation awarded over 15 grants in the most recent year documented. Recent grant recipients include: • Pontifical North American College (Rome) • Institute for Priestly Formation (United States) • Serra's US Council (United States) • Vocations Symposium (Vatican) • Bishop White Seminary (United States) • Missionary Sisters of Mary Queen of the World (United States) • Catholic Bishops of Ontario (Canada) • St. Mary Sisters (United States) • Diocese of Kibungo (Rwanda) • Jesuit Eastern Afri…
Where does The Serra Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds programs globally, with documented grants across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including recipients in the United States, Canada, Rwanda, Kenya, India, Congo, Indonesia, and Vatican City.
What size grants does The Serra Foundation award?
In 2024, The Serra Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $999K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Serra Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Serra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $715K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Serra Foundation's EIN?
The Serra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1675789. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Serra 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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