The Stocker Foundation
The Stocker Foundation is a private foundation established in 1979 and headquartered in Elyria, Ohio. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a focus on grantmaking and philanthropic activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.6M
-12.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+3.0% YoY
Grant Count
198
+41.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-27.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stocker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: A collaborative, connected community that supports equitable access to educational opportunities, inspiring curious, lifelong learners.
Values:
- Equity — Eliminating barriers that prevent students from improving their lives
- Access — High-quality academic opportunities for all students
- Collaboration — Working with others to ensure students achieve their educational and lifelong potential
Primary Funding Focus:
The foundation's competitive grant making concentrates on early education, specifically addressing the reading achievement gap for under-resourced prekindergarten through third grade public school students. Focus areas include:
- Preschool emerging literacy
- Book distribution
- Student reading enrichment and tutoring programs
- Parental engagement
- Whole school improvement
- Limited services that remove barriers to academic achievement (such as childhood hunger programs offered by food banks)
This strategic focus was adopted in 2009 following a multi-year strategic planning process. Prior to 2009, the foundation awarded grants across a broader range of fields including arts and culture, community needs, education, health, social services, and women's issues.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio, Arizona, and Connecticut, with particular emphasis on Northeast Ohio communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total assets: $36,083,643
- Total revenues: $1,610,669
- Total expenses: $3,604,978
- Investment income and dividends: $863,284
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $747,385
Staff: 1–2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,563,546 | $36,083,643 | $37,899,686 |
| Revenue | $3,892,506 | $1,610,669 | $1,936,270 |
| Expenses | $3,688,781 | $3,604,978 | $3,765,350 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,321,284 | $3,233,775 | $3,482,297 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,575,038 | $1,262,307 | $1,668,630 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,311,132 | $2,233,886 | $2,394,606 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Stocker Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation for Southern Arizona ($500,000), Community Foundation of Lorain County ($47,500), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | IN-SCHOOLS LITERACY PROGRAM DURING SCHOOL | $19,600 |
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | UNRESTRICTED; MOST PRESSING NEED | $2,426 |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN HIGHLAND HILLS, OH | 2025 SUMMER READING PROGRAM; BENEFITING CUYAHOGA AND LORAIN COUNTIES | $5,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA NONPROFITS PHOENIX, AZ | 2024 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL | $1,405 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMENS INC TUCSON, AZ | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT | $200 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHEAST OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHEAST OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | TOWARD DISASTER RELIEF WORK RELATED TO CURRENT AND ONGOING WESTERN WILDFIRES | $10,000 |
| ARIZONA CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS PHOENIX, AZ | UNRESTRICTED; MOST PRESSING NEED | $500 |
| ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA TUCSON, AZ | UNRESTRICTED; MOST PRESSING NEED | $200 |
| ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA TUCSON, AZ | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONATION | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Patricia O'Brien — Executive Director
- Ryan Humble — Board Member
The foundation was established by Beth K. Stocker with the help of her three daughters in 1979. Mrs. Stocker remained an active and influential board member until her death at age 97 in 2005.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY ANN DOBRAS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NANCY WOODLING | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAWN DOBRAS | CHAIR-ELECT | 1 | — |
| BRAD NORTON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WENDY ZAPPELLI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RYAN HUMBLE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRENDA NORTON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | TRUST MANAGER | 1 | — |
| MONTICELLO ASSOCIATES | TRUST MANAGER | 1 | — |
| BRENT NORTON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| GRETCHEN NORTON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ANNE WOODLING | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA O'BRIEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $151,200 |
| AMY DOBRAS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| IAN MYERS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Stocker Foundation has continued active grantmaking in support of Northeast Ohio education programs. Recent grant approvals have supported initiatives across eight communities in the United States, with particular emphasis on early education and literacy programs aligned with the foundation's strategic focus.
Stocker Foundation approves grants supporting Northeast ...Contact Information
Address: 151 Innovation Drive, Suite 240A Elyria, Ohio 44035
Phone: (440) 366-4884 Fax: (440) 366-4656
Executive Director Contact: Patricia O'Brien pobrien@stockerfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Stocker Foundation fund?
**Vision:** A collaborative, connected community that supports equitable access to educational opportunities, inspiring curious, lifelong learners. **Values:** • **Equity** — Eliminating barriers that prevent students from improving their lives • **Access** — High-quality academic opportunities for all students • **Collaboration** — Working with others to ensure students achieve their educational and lifelong potential **Primary Funding Focus:** The foundation's competitive grant making concent…
How do I apply for a grant from The Stocker Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,822,292 (most recent filing) • Annual grants awarded: $2,373,835 (2023) • Typical award range: $50–$502,500 • Number of grants: 97+ grants made in 2023 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio: $85,000 • Lorain Historical Society: $76,700 • Charities Aid Foundation of America: $69,800 **Recent Major Grants:** • $500,000 to Lorain County Community College • $500,000 to Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Where does The Stocker Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio, Arizona, and Connecticut, with particular emphasis on Northeast Ohio communities.
What size grants does The Stocker Foundation award?
In 2024, The Stocker Foundation awarded 198 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Stocker Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Stocker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stocker Foundation's EIN?
The Stocker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1293603. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stocker 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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