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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Statler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Culinary Institute of America ($167,644), University of South Carolina ($131,247), Erie Community College Foundation ($126,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY BUFFALO, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL TONAWANDA, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $116,492 |
| ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION BUFFALO, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $126,000 |
| FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MIAMI, FL | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $24,494 |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA INDIANA, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $55,341 |
| MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY ERIE, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $16,544 |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EAST LANSING, MI | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $15,193 |
| MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROCHESTER, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SANBORN, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT | $59,100 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Statler Foundation fund?
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 worke…
How do I apply for a grant from The Statler Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 29 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical grant range: $5,900 to $180,000 • Median grant size: approximately $29,000 to $55,000 • Average grant size: $175 to $845 (depending on calculation method) **Recent Grant Recipients Include:** • The Culinary Institute of America — $167,644 (Scholarships and Support) • Erie Community College Foundation — $126,000 (Scholarships and Support) • Niagara University — $72,600 (Scholarships and Support) • Indiana University of…
Where does The Statler Foundation make 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
What size grants does The Statler Foundation award?
In 2024, The Statler Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Statler Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Statler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Statler Foundation's EIN?
The Statler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1889077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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