The Charles A Dailey Foundation is a Erie-focused funder that concentrates on local, primarily faith-connected nonprofits delivering basic needs, youth services, and community development. It favors flexible, often unrestricted support to frontline service providers (soup kitchens, missions, housing and youth organizations) while occasionally funding place-based projects like downtown greening. Grants are mid-size and targeted to visible community-impact organizations rather than national charities.
A recurring pattern defines Charles a Dailey Foundation: large unrestricted grants flow to Erie-based frontline organizations, especially emergency food, youth, and faith-connected service providers. In 2023, Emmaus Soup Kitchen received $25,377 as an unrestricted grant, and in 2025 both Mother Theresa Academy and Chosen received $24,850 each, also unrestricted. Those awards sit alongside support for organizations that provide shelter, education, and community services in Erie, suggesting a funder that backs established local institutions rather than short-term pilots. The foundation also makes place-based grants outside direct human services when a project aligns with Erie’s civic landscape. A downtown greening project supported by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy appears more than once in the recent record, indicating that the foundation funds both daily service delivery and visible neighborhood improvement. Scholarship support appears as a separate thread through Mercyhurst Preparatory School, showing that education access is part of the foundation’s community role. Across the record, the foundation’s pattern is local, practical, and centered on organizations with direct ties to Erie residents.
Emergency food and shelter are a clear priority. Emmaus Soup Kitchen received $25,377 for unrestricted support, and Erie City Mission received $12,689, showing sustained backing for basic-needs providers. Youth development also appears in the recent record: Boys and Girls Club of Erie received $15,610 unrestricted, and Kaleidascope received $4,680 in 2024 and $4,126 in 2025, plus an earlier $3,991 grant as Kaleidascope Inc. Faith-linked education is another theme. Mother Theresa Academy received $24,850 unrestricted, while St Rose of Lima Catholic School received $2,826. The foundation also supports housing and community-building work, including $15,610 to Habitat for Humanity in Erie and a restricted downtown greening grant to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for an Erie project.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the low thousands to low tens of thousands: p25 is $1,657, median is $3,391, and p75 is $12,689. The recent record shows both repeated recipients and repeat project support, such as multiple grants to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for the downtown Erie greening project and several awards to Mercyhurst Preparatory School for scholarships. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals. Its grants include a mix of unrestricted operating support and restricted project or scholarship awards.
$68K
$1M
$58K
$86K
Most grants fall between $2K and $13K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$13K
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Makes a small portfolio of mid-sized (roughly $12k–$25k) grants concentrated in Erie, predominantly one-off unrestricted awards to local, often faith-affiliated service organizations, with occasional restricted support for specific community projects.
Notable grantees: Emmaus Soup Kitchen, Mother Theresa Academy, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of Erie, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania, with 69% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Erie is the main recipient city in the recent list, with grants to Emmaus Soup Kitchen, Mother Theresa Academy, Chosen, Boys and Girls Club of Erie, Habitat for Humanity, and others. Pittsburgh also appears through Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Loaves and Fishes. Outside Pennsylvania, the record includes recipients in Palm Desert, Richmond, Miami Shores, Canton, and Washington, DC, but all recent grants remain within the United States.
The recent grants point to emergency food and shelter providers, youth-serving nonprofits, faith-connected schools and alliances, housing partners, and Erie place-based projects. Examples include Emmaus Soup Kitchen, Boys and Girls Club of Erie, Mother Theresa Academy, and Habitat for Humanity.
Yes. Unrestricted support is common in the recent record, including $25,377 to Emmaus Soup Kitchen, $24,850 each to Mother Theresa Academy and Chosen, and $15,610 to both Boys and Girls Club of Erie and Habitat for Humanity.
Yes. Mercyhurst Preparatory School received restricted scholarship grants of $1,696 in 2023, $1,500 in 2024, and $1,300 in 2025. Mother Theresa Academy and St Rose of Lima Catholic School also appear in the recent grants list.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, accounting for 69% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Erie organizations make up much of that activity, with additional Pennsylvania grants going to Pittsburgh-based recipients.
The typical recent grant is modest to mid-sized. The distribution shows a p25 of $1,657, a median of $3,391, and a p75 of $12,689.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERERANS MIRACLE CENTER ERIE | ERIE, PA | $45,525 | 2026 | RESTRICTED GRANT - HANDICAP RAMPS |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $7,431 | 2026 | RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT |
| MIAMI COUNTY DAY SCHOOL | MIAMI SHORES, FL | $3,373 | 2026 | RESTRICTED GRANT -SPARTAN IMPACT FUND |
| MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY | ERIE, PA | $3,373 | 2026 | RESTRICTED - WOMEN'S TENNIS SCHOLARSHIPS; CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $3,373 | 2026 | KRISTA'S MAKE-A-WISH MOTORCYCLE EVENT |
| THE READ CENTER | RICHMOND, VA | $3,373 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ERIE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JUDE SHRINE | WASHIGNTON, DC | $100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| CHOSEN | ERIE, PA | $24,850 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MOTHER THERESA ACADEMY | ERIE, PA | $24,850 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $4,500 | 2025 | RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT |
| KALEIDASCOPE | ERIE, PA | $4,126 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MIAMI SHORES, FL | $2,826 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA | RICHMOND, VA | $1,657 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MAYMOUNT FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $1,657 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ERIE, PA | $1,300 | 2025 | RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TWENTY4 CHANGE | PALM DESERT, CA | $500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| ST JUDE SHRINE | WASHIGNTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $17,230 | 2024 | RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | ERIE, PA | $15,610 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ERIE | ERIE, PA | $15,610 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| KALEIDASCOPE | ERIE, PA | $4,680 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY | CANTON, MA | $3,120 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| TWENTY4 CHANGE | PALM DESERT, CA | $3,120 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| SAFENET | ERIE, PA | $1,560 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ERIE, PA | $1,500 | 2024 | RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JUDE SHRINE | WASHIGNTON, DC | $100 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| EMMAUS SOUP KITCHEN | ERIE, PA | $25,377 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| ERIE UNITED METHODIST ALLIANCE | ERIE, PA | $12,689 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| ERIE CITY MISSION | ERIE, PA | $12,689 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| KALEIDASCOPE INC | ERIE, PA | $3,991 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER | ERIE, PA | $3,991 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN | ERIE, PA | $3,391 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| LOAVES AND FISHES | PITTSBURGH, PA | $3,391 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $1,696 | 2023 | RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT |
| MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ERIE, PA | $1,696 | 2023 | RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JUDE SHRINE | WASHIGNTON, DC | $100 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
VERERANS MIRACLE CENTER ERIE
$45,525RESTRICTED GRANT - HANDICAP RAMPS
RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
$3,373RESTRICTED - WOMEN'S TENNIS SCHOLARSHIPS; CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
$3,373KRISTA'S MAKE-A-WISH MOTORCYCLE EVENT
THE READ CENTER
UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$1,000RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS
ST JUDE SHRINE
$100UNRESTRICTED GRANT
CHOSEN
$24,850UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MOTHER THERESA ACADEMY
$24,850UNRESTRICTED GRANT
RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT
KALEIDASCOPE
$4,126UNRESTRICTED GRANT
ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$2,826UNRESTRICTED GRANT
AUTISM SOCIETY OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
$1,657UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$1,300RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS
TWENTY4 CHANGE
$500UNRESTRICTED GRANT
ST JUDE SHRINE
$100UNRESTRICTED GRANT
RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$15,610UNRESTRICTED GRANT
KALEIDASCOPE
$4,680UNRESTRICTED GRANT
TWENTY4 CHANGE
$3,120UNRESTRICTED GRANT
SAFENET
$1,560UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$1,500RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS
ST JUDE SHRINE
$100UNRESTRICTED GRANT
EMMAUS SOUP KITCHEN
$25,377UNRESTRICTED GRANT
ERIE CITY MISSION
$12,689UNRESTRICTED GRANT
KALEIDASCOPE INC
$3,991UNRESTRICTED GRANT
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER
$3,991UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN
$3,391UNRESTRICTED GRANT
LOAVES AND FISHES
$3,391UNRESTRICTED GRANT
RESTRICTED GRANT - DOWNTOWN ERIE GREENING PROJECT
MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$1,696RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIPS
ST JUDE SHRINE
$100UNRESTRICTED GRANT