The Statler Foundation
The Statler Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, dedicated to advancing the hotel industry and supporting future hotel professionals through educational initiatives. Established as a trust in 1934, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on vocational, graduate, and business education across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$38.5M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+16.5% YoY
Grant Count
20
-28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+63.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is grounded in the philosophy: "Life is service. The one who progresses … gives his fellow human beings a little more, a little better service." — Ellsworth Statler
The foundation supports:
- Hotel industry education — awards to colleges and schools teaching hotel techniques
- Culinary arts programs — funding for culinary arts and hotel management education
- Hotel management training — grants for programs to train and increase the proficiency of hotel workers
- Research projects — grants to schools and organizations for research initiatives related to the hospitality industry
- Vocational and business education — broader support for educational development in these fields
Grantmaking
No specific application process details are provided in available sources. The foundation appears to be "possibly open to applications" based on recent grant activity and staffing.
Grant Range
$5,900 to $180,000
Average Grant
$175 to $845 (depending on calculation method)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in the United States, with documented grant activity in:
- New York (Buffalo, Niagara region)
- Colorado (Denver)
- Indiana (Indiana University of Pennsylvania area)
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Fiscal Year):
- Total assets: $38.5 million
- Total revenues: $1.26 million
- Total expenses: $1.93 million
- Investment income and dividends: $190,680
- Total giving/distributions: $1.33 million
Staffing: The foundation employs 1 full-time staff member (the Foundation Administrator) and operates with a board of trustees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $38,549,481 | $36,754,971 | $35,652,836 |
| Revenue | $1,256,387 | $491,436 | $734,135 |
| Expenses | $1,928,874 | $2,202,636 | $1,747,340 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,758,292 | $1,876,547 | $1,461,718 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,256,665 | $339,063 | $229,603 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,935,215 | $1,816,689 | $1,863,104 |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Chairwoman: Donna M. Gioia
- Vice Chairwoman: Elyse NeMoyer
- Trustees: Jay C. Bauer, Robert M. Bennett, Marguerite Collesano, Ernestine R. Green, Hon. Barbara Howe (Ret.), Ralph C. Lorigo, Arthur F. DuC. Musarra, Philip J. Tantillo, Bernard A. Tolbert
Foundation Staff:
- Foundation Administrator: Kristine K. Dusel, CAP-OM, MEP, BW
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY C BAUER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| ROBERT M BENNETT | TRUSTEE | 2 | $26,914 |
| MARGUERITE COLLESANO | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| DONNA M GIOIA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| ERNESTINE R GREEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| BARBARA HOWE | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| RALPH C LORIGO | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| ARTHUR F MUSARRA | TRUSTEE | 10 | $26,914 |
| ELYSE NEMOYER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| PHILLIP J TANTILLO | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
| BERNARD A TOLBERT | TRUSTEE | 1 | $26,914 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Statler Foundation continues active grantmaking with recent support for hospitality education programs:
Statler Foundation Continues Support for IUP with Grant for Advanced Hotel**Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)** has received multiple grants from the foundation, including funding for advanced hotel management software and the sixth Statler Scholarship of Excellence
Statler Foundation Continues Support for IUP with Grant for Advanced HotelThe foundation maintains named facilities at several institutions, including seminar rooms, technology centers, and hotel management spaces at universities across the country
Statler Foundation Continues Support for IUP with Grant for Advanced HotelThe foundation administers the **Scholarship of Excellence** program, providing direct support to students pursuing hotel and hospitality education
Statler Foundation Continues Support for IUP with Grant for Advanced Hotel**Contact Information:**
Website: statlerfoundation.com
Phone: 716-852-1104
Address: 1207 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209-1458
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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