Verna O Canova Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Marine on St Croix, MN EIN: 46-4135266 Website

The Verna O Canova Foundation is a private foundation established on October 31, 2013, pursuant to the terms of the Verna O Canova Trust. Based in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with no employees. The foundation was granted tax-exempt status in June 2014.

Key facts about Verna O Canova Foundation

EIN: 46-4135266
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $266,500
Grants made (2024): 26
Average grant: $10,250
Median grant: $10,000
New grantees (estimate): 23% first-time grantees (6 of 26, 2024)
Total assets: $4,418,838
Primary geography: Pennsylvania (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: Applications are accepted through online submission during designated open periods. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Verna O Canova Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Verna O Canova Foundation's 26 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (87%) and Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Allentown, PA (13 grants) and Bethlehem, PA (5 grants). 4% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Operations" (10 grants) and "Program and Events Support" (3 grants).

Is Verna O Canova Foundation open to new grantees?

23%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 26 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $11K. How we count

Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.

77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Verna O Canova Foundation

How to evaluate Verna O Canova Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to Verna O Canova Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.4M

+0.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$267K

-24.6% YoY

Grant Count

-3.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

-21.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Verna O Canova Foundation reported a distributable amount of $308K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's mission is to foster projects in health, education, human services, and community affairs. The foundation provides grants to tax-exempt public charities to support these priority areas, with a particular emphasis on capital projects and operating expenses.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

approximately $10,000–$15,000

Average Grant

award: $16,000

How to Apply

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Verna O Canova Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, the locale in which Verna O Canova was born and resided during her entire lifetime. Grantmaking is concentrated in Pennsylvania, with additional funding activity in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Specific communities served include Allentown, Bethlehem, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Grant Distribution by State

Pennsylvania $232K (87%)

Massachusetts $35K (13%)

Share of all 26 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Massachusetts Minnesota New Mexico Pennsylvania

Cities

AllentownBethlehemSchnecksvilleCarlisleChathamEastonCoopersburgMacungieMarshfieldNorthfieldRoswellSouth YarmouthBreigensvilleHyannisInver Grove HeightsNazarethReigelsville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets and Revenue (as of December 2023):

Total assets: $4,394,908
Total revenues: $152,417
Total expenses: $432,959
Investment income and dividends: $146,631
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $5,786

Historical Asset Trends: Total assets have fluctuated over time, with reported assets of $6.7 million in 2024 tax filings, representing changes in the foundation's investment portfolio and distributions.

Annual Income: Annual income is reported at approximately $509,000 in recent filings.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,418,838	$4,394,908	$4,675,450
Revenue	$373,715	$152,417	$171,723
Expenses	$349,785	$432,959	$462,714
Qualifying Distributions	$305,085	$384,348	$399,190
Net Investment Income	$304,752	$80,888	$101,548
Distributable Amount	$307,766	$266,910	$272,917

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

122 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Verna O Canova Foundation

Foundation

Verna O. Canova Foundation Grant

Verna O Canova Foundation

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include James P Harrington Organization ($20,000), Cape Wellness Collaborative ($15,000), Community Music School ($15,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
JAMES P HARRINGTON ORGANIZATION Marshfield, MA	PROGRAM AND EVENTS SUPPORT	$20,000
CAPE WELLNESS COLLABORATIVE South Yarmouth, MA	WELLNESS SUPPORT	$15,000
COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL Allentown, PA	MUSIC LESSONS AND INSTRUMENTS	$15,000
KIDSPEACE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL Schnecksville, PA	GENERAL FUNDING	$15,000
MANITO LIFE CENTER Allentown, PA	EQUINE THERAPY SERVICES	$15,000
REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE Allentown, PA	DANCE PROGRAM SUPPORT	$15,000
VIA OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY Bethlehem, PA	MISSION AND PROGRAM SUPPORT	$15,000
ASPIRE TO AUTONOMY INC Allentown, PA	PROGRAM AND EVENTS SUPPORT	$10,000
BLOOM FOR WOMEN INC Bethlehem, PA	PROGRAM AND EVENTS SUPPORT	$10,000
COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS Allentown, PA	EARN A BIKE PROGRAM	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and Directors:

Kristen Landreth Dean – President and Director (Cohasset, MA)
Philip E. Canova – Vice President, Treasurer, and Director (Marine on St. Croix, MN)
Parker Landreth – Secretary and Director (Wilmington, MA)

All three officers serve in their roles with minimal hours per week and receive modest compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Kristen Landreth Dean	President	1	$10,000
Philip E Canova	Vice President, Treasurer	1	$12,737
Parker Landreth	Secretary, Director	1	$10,000

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Verna O Canova Foundation fund?

How do I apply for a grant from Verna O Canova Foundation?

Applications are accepted through online submission during designated open periods. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Verna O Canova Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Verna O Canova Foundation award?

In 2024, Verna O Canova Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $267K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Verna O Canova Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Verna O Canova Foundation reported a distributable amount of $308K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.