Uncommon Individual Foundation
The Uncommon Individual Foundation (UIF) is a private foundation based in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1986, it focuses on mentoring and supports students, educators, and entrepreneurs through mentoring programs, curriculum, and grantmaking.
Uncommon Individual Foundation at a glance
In short: Uncommon Individual Foundation gave $1.1M across 94 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,133,704
- -22.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 94
- +4600.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,061
- -98.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $94,018,295
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Uncommon Individual Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing says any form of written correspondence is acceptable, with no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: The Uncommon Individual Foundation
Mailing address: 610 Old Lancaster Rd 2Nd Floor, Bryn Mawr, PA 19090
Phone: (610) 520-0180
Website: HTTP://WWW.UIF.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Uncommon Individual Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vanguard Charitable ($500K). Together the top 10 received $890K.
Organizations only. It also paid 65 grants to individuals ($175,799), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
168 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 154 grants of 168 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania recipients received 87% of grant dollars and New Jersey recipients received 5%. The filing also lists 1% each for recipients in Hawaii, Ohio, and an unidentified state. Listed Pennsylvania recipients include organizations in Philadelphia, Allentown, West Chester, and other communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 94 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Uncommon Individual Foundation gives
- Giving grew 96% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $277K (2021) to $1.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 94 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Charitable Malvern, PA | Cash Contribution | $500,000 |
| Liguori Academy Philadelphia, PA | Presidential Excellence Award Grant Agreement | $110,000 |
| The Baum School Allentown, PA | Centenial Expansion | $100,000 |
| 25 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $133,299 |
| Hope for Kids Schwenksville, PA | Camp miracles sponsor/donation in support of healing to fly | $35,000 |
| New Jersey Scholars Lawrenceville, NJ | Donation | $30,000 |
| Community Volunteers in Medicine West Chester, PA | Donation | $25,000 |
| Cornerstone Christian Academy Philadelphia, PA | Donation | $25,000 |
| Haven Ministries Sunbury, PA | Donation | $25,000 |
| Villanova Athletic Ticket Office Villanova, PA | Donation to Villanova | $22,680 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,018,295 | $5,305,493 | $4,427,638 | $1,133,704 | 94 | $2,928,755 | $2,873,596 | $4,078,023 |
| 2024 | $70,551,410 | $2,496,656 | $4,634,760 | $1,468,836 | 2 | $4,501,465 | $1,243,048 | $3,461,331 |
| 2023 | $73,360,386 | $2,448,976 | $3,901,946 | $859,174 | 30 | $3,714,447 | $1,701,516 | $3,539,841 |
| 2022 | $75,904,935 | $3,799,427 | $3,470,837 | $577,252 | 32 | $3,125,765 | $3,278,825 | $4,042,114 |
| 2021 | $75,678,270 | $2,317,562 | $3,579,417 | $277,429 | 10 | — | $36,281,019 | $3,047,837 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Uncommon Individual Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
UIF’s stated mission is to educate, encourage, and enable people to recognize the power of mentoring and its role in personal success, inspiring change, and contributing to society. Its 2024 filing also describes its mission as encouraging the use of mentoring in its original and natural form.
The foundation’s listed 2025 grants include education, youth, health, and community organizations. For example, Liguori Academy describes its mission as preparing future leaders through individualized learning, while an individual recipient Philadelphia High School describes itself as a college-preparatory school for students who cannot otherwise afford private education. Hope for Kids describes its work as a faith-fueled summer camp that empowers young people through mentoring and service. Community Volunteers in Medicine says it provides free health care to uninsured working people with low incomes.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, UIF reported 94 grants totaling $1,133,704. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median of $1,250. Among the largest grants were $500,000 to Vanguard Charitable, $110,000 to Liguori Academy, $100,000 to The Baum School, and $79,549 to an individual recipient Philadelphia High School. Other listed grants included $35,000 to Hope for Kids and $25,000 each to Community Volunteers in Medicine, Cornerstone Christian Academy, and Haven Ministries.
The 2024 filing reported two grants totaling $1,468,836; the 2023 filing reported 30 grants totaling $859,174.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gerald N. Holtz as president, John C. Crosby as executive director, Gary R. DiLella as vice president and treasurer, and Jonathan Caruso and Jennifer Caruso as directors. UIF’s website identifies John Crosby as its founding executive director and Jerry Holtz as its president.
Uncommon Individual Foundation is led by John C. Crosby, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John C. Crosby
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$134K (2021) → $130K (2025)
Gerald N. Holtz
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Caruso
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Caruso
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary R. Dilella
Vice President & Treasury
Vice President & Treasurer → Vice President & Treasury, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Sally E Caruso (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Richard E Caruso (2021–2022) — Chairman Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $130K, to John C Crosby (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Uncommon Individual Foundation
How much does Uncommon Individual Foundation give each year?
Uncommon Individual Foundation gave $1.1M across 94 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 2 grants.
What is Uncommon Individual Foundation's typical grant size?
Uncommon Individual Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $12,061, across 94 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Uncommon Individual Foundation give grants?
Uncommon Individual Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), Malvern, PA (2 grants), Villanova, PA (2 grants) and Wayne, PA (2 grants).
Does Uncommon Individual Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 94 grants with a stated purpose on Uncommon Individual Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hackman Ontrack Plus Scholarship" (16 grants), "Dr. Ron Attarian Ontrack Plus Scholarship" (7 grants) and "Crosby Ontrack Plus Scholarship Yr 1" (6 grants).
Who are Uncommon Individual Foundation's largest grantees?
Uncommon Individual Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vanguard Charitable ($500,000), Liguori Academy ($110,000) and The Baum School ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 65 grants to individuals ($175,799), which are not listed by name. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Uncommon Individual Foundation?
Uncommon Individual Foundation reported $94.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Uncommon Individual Foundation fund?
UIF’s stated mission is to educate, encourage, and enable people to recognize the power of mentoring and its role in personal success, inspiring change, and contributing to society. Its 2024 filing also describes its mission as encouraging the use of mentoring in its original and natural form. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Uncommon Individual Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Uncommon Individual Foundation's EIN?
Uncommon Individual Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2741682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Uncommon Individual Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Uncommon Individual Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/uncommon-individual-foundation-morg_4d691cbf8a3b453693c5a87c76d0dc63
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222741682_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Uncommon Individual Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/uncommon-individual-foundation-morg_4d691cbf8a3b453693c5a87c76d0dc63},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Uncommon Individual Foundation'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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