To inspire, engage, and empower donors and communities across the region, today and tomorrow.
Erie Community Foundation’s recent grantmaking shows a strong pattern of large, repeated support for Erie-based institutions such as United Way of Erie County and Erie City Mission, alongside smaller program grants for scholarships, capacity building, and community sponsorships. The foundation is a public charity and mixed community foundation with annual grants of $62,281,993 and total assets of $385,719,844, giving a sense of both scale and reach in the region. Its work is tied to Erie County through a local giving scope and multiple active programs that include scholarships, Hovis Grants, Helping Today Grants, Acorn Grants, and women- and family-focused grantmaking. Recent awards also show sustained support for organizations working in health, housing, education, neighborhood development, and regional vitality. Across the grant list, several recipients appear more than once across different years, including Erie Philharmonic, Erie Zoological Society, and The Nonprofit Partnership, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation also administers named and legacy programs, including the Erie Women’s Fund and the Furchak Ferko Grants, indicating a structure that combines broad community philanthropy with targeted giving.
Health, education, and community stability appear throughout the foundation’s program work. In health-related grantmaking, Erie City Mission received $2,298,713 in 2025 for various projects, while Hamot Health Foundation received $1,285,678 in 2025 for various projects. Education support shows up in multiple forms, including post-secondary scholarships and a $337,123 grant to Mercyhurst Preparatory School for various projects. The foundation also backs workforce and economic opportunity: Foundation for Free Enterprise Education received $354,554 in 2025 for various projects, and the Emerging Erie Fund is built around living-wage pathways and neighborhood investment in Erie County. Women and families are another clear focus. Through the Erie Women’s Fund, Furchak Ferko Grants support transportation, healthcare, workforce training, education, housing, childcare, and food insecurity, reflecting a place-based approach to community gaps.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with p25 at $9,492, a median of $19,758, and p75 at $49,012. The distribution extends well above that for larger operating and institutional awards, but many of the foundation’s structured programs cap grants from $2,500 for sponsorships to $100,000 for some women’s fund and emerging-initiative awards. Recurring relationships are visible in the recent grant list: United Way of Erie County, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Zoological Society, and The Nonprofit Partnership each appear in more than one year. The foundation is a public charity and mixed community foundation, and it also makes program-related investments. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including scholarships, Hovis Grants, Helping Today Grants, Acorn Grants, and the Erie Women’s Fund programs.
$24.4M
$385.7M
$39.8M
$31.9M
Most grants fall between $9K and $49K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$49K
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 96% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania, and all listed recipient-country data are in the US. The recent grant list is concentrated in Erie, PA, with additional awards in Corry, PA. Erie-based organizations dominate the largest awards, including United Way of Erie County, Erie City Mission, Hamot Health Foundation, Erie Philharmonic, and Erie Downtown Development Corporation. One out-of-city example in the recent list is Corry YMCA in Corry, PA, showing that the foundation’s reach extends beyond Erie city while staying within the region.
The foundation supports scholarships, Hovis Grants, Helping Today Grants, Acorn Grants, Erie Women’s Fund grantmaking, Emerging Erie Fund grants, and sponsorships. The active program descriptions also point to health, education, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, regional vitality, and women- and family-focused work.
Yes. Several active programs are listed as accepting unsolicited applications, including scholarships, Hovis Grants, Erie Women’s Fund programs, Emerging Erie Fund grants, Helping Today Grants, Sponsorships, and Acorn Grants.
The typical grant-size distribution is p25 at $9,492, median at $19,758, and p75 at $49,012. Some active programs have their own caps, such as sponsorships up to $2,500, Acorn Grants up to $10,000, and Helping Today Grants up to $50,000.
Its grantmaking is local, and 96% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania. In the recent grant list, most recipients are in Erie, PA, with some in nearby Corry, PA.
Recent recipients include United Way of Erie County, Erie City Mission, Hamot Health Foundation, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Downtown Development Corporation, Erie Zoological Society, The Nonprofit Partnership, and East Side Renaissance. The list also includes Mercy Center for Women, Mercyhurst Preparatory School, and the Erie County Historical Society and Museums.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Erie Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in or serving a sizable Erie County population, generally have an annual budget below $150,000 and preferably be less than five years old. Programmatic support, fixed operating costs and general operations are not eligible.
Deadline: Full application deadlines: January 28, May 1, July 30 and October 15.
Who can apply: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or use a local fiscal sponsor, be located in or serve a sizable Erie County population, have completed prior reporting, and not have received a Helping Today grant in the past 12 months. Individuals, for-profits, start-up funding, fundraising events, endowments, religious activities, deficit reduction and improvements to unowned property are ineligible.
Deadline: 2026 deadlines: January 29, May 1, July 30 and October 15.
Who can apply: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or partner with one as a fiscal sponsor. Proposals are evaluated on community need, project model, timeline, organizational capacity and potential impact for the LGBTQ+ community.
Deadline: 2026 deadline shown on the program page/flyer: October 28 or October 30, 2026.
Who can apply: Nonprofits must meet the Foundation's general eligibility requirements and experience an unanticipated, unbudgeted crisis.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Erie County that provide camps or summer programs for youth or elderly people.
Deadline: Applications generally open February 1 and close February 28; the directory lists February 27, 2026 for the 2026 cycle.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERIE CITY MISSION | ERIE, PA | $2,298,713 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| HAMOT HEALTH FOUNDATION | ERIE, PA | $1,285,678 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| UNITED WAY OF ERIE COUNTY | ERIE, PA | $1,222,047 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| THE NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP | ERIE, PA | $609,966 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE PHILHARMONIC | ERIE, PA | $574,921 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | ERIE, PA | $550,859 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| MINORITY COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COALITION | ERIE, PA | $500,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| EAST SIDE RENAISSANCE | ERIE, PA | $451,356 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | ERIE, PA | $382,336 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| FOUNDATION FOR FREE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION | ERIE, PA | $354,554 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE INDEPENDENCE HOUSE INC | ERIE, PA | $340,303 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ERIE, PA | $337,123 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | ERIE, PA | $301,366 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| NEW HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ERIE | ERIE, PA | $290,276 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| JULIA HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE | MCKEAN, PA | $276,695 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ERIE, PA | $267,580 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE ART MUSEUM | ERIE, PA | $247,638 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE CANCER WELLNESS FOUNDATION | ERIE, PA | $238,774 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN | ERIE, PA | $227,476 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| EMMAUS MINISTRIES | ERIE, PA | $224,838 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| EAGLE'S NEST LEADERSHIP CORPORATION | ERIE, PA | $215,354 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ANNA SHELTER | ERIE, PA | $189,588 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| WOMEN'S CARE CENTER | ERIE, PA | $180,598 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| CORRY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | CORRY, PA | $175,810 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| WAYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN | ERIE, PA | $169,022 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| YMCA OF GREATER ERIE | ERIE, PA | $167,389 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH & LEARNING CENTER | ERIE, PA | $163,923 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | ERIE, PA | $158,288 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| MARIA HOUSE PROJECT | ERIE, PA | $143,551 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| SARAH REED CHILDREN'S CENTER | ERIE, PA | $141,871 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | NORTH EAST, PA | $141,227 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY | ERIE, PA | $140,608 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE COVENANT | ERIE, PA | $139,594 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ASBURY WOODS PARTNERSHIP | ERIE, PA | $138,266 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| USCRI - ERIE FIELD OFFICE | ERIE, PA | $137,499 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE UNITED METHODIST ALLIANCE | ERIE, PA | $130,217 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE AREA RABBIT SOCIETY & RESCUE | ERIE, PA | $129,569 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| CORRY YMCA | CORRY, PA | $128,149 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| GOODELL GARDENS & HOMESTEAD | EDINBORO, PA | $127,221 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE PLAYHOUSE | ERIE, PA | $125,023 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND OF ERIE COUNTY | ERIE, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| GREATER ERIE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP | ERIE, PA | $120,993 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE HUMANE SOCIETY | ERIE, PA | $120,597 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| CORRY HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL | CORRY, PA | $117,008 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ERIE CITY MOMS | ERIE, PA | $116,113 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| LECOM | ERIE, PA | $113,986 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| ORPHAN ANGELS CAT SANCTUARY AND ADOPTION CENTER | ERIE, PA | $113,495 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| BAYFRONT EAST SIDE TASKFORCE | ERIE, PA | $112,051 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| BECAUSE YOU CARE | MCKEAN, PA | $109,759 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
| SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OF NWPA | ERIE, PA | $108,929 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROJECTS |
ERIE CITY MISSION
$2,298,713VARIOUS PROJECTS
THE NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP
$609,966VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE PHILHARMONIC
$574,921VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$550,859VARIOUS PROJECTS
MINORITY COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COALITION
$500,000VARIOUS PROJECTS
EAST SIDE RENAISSANCE
$451,356VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$382,336VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE INDEPENDENCE HOUSE INC
$340,303VARIOUS PROJECTS
MERCYHURST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$337,123VARIOUS PROJECTS
NEW HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ERIE
$290,276VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE ART MUSEUM
$247,638VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE CANCER WELLNESS FOUNDATION
$238,774VARIOUS PROJECTS
MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN
$227,476VARIOUS PROJECTS
EMMAUS MINISTRIES
$224,838VARIOUS PROJECTS
EAGLE'S NEST LEADERSHIP CORPORATION
$215,354VARIOUS PROJECTS
ANNA SHELTER
$189,588VARIOUS PROJECTS
WOMEN'S CARE CENTER
$180,598VARIOUS PROJECTS
CORRY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$175,810VARIOUS PROJECTS
WAYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN
$169,022VARIOUS PROJECTS
LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH & LEARNING CENTER
$163,923VARIOUS PROJECTS
MARIA HOUSE PROJECT
$143,551VARIOUS PROJECTS
SARAH REED CHILDREN'S CENTER
$141,871VARIOUS PROJECTS
PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$141,227VARIOUS PROJECTS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
$140,608VARIOUS PROJECTS
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE COVENANT
$139,594VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE AREA RABBIT SOCIETY & RESCUE
$129,569VARIOUS PROJECTS
GOODELL GARDENS & HOMESTEAD
$127,221VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE PLAYHOUSE
$125,023VARIOUS PROJECTS
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND OF ERIE COUNTY
$125,000VARIOUS PROJECTS
GREATER ERIE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP
$120,993VARIOUS PROJECTS
CORRY HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL
$117,008VARIOUS PROJECTS
ERIE CITY MOMS
$116,113VARIOUS PROJECTS
LECOM
$113,986VARIOUS PROJECTS
ORPHAN ANGELS CAT SANCTUARY AND ADOPTION CENTER
$113,495VARIOUS PROJECTS
BAYFRONT EAST SIDE TASKFORCE
$112,051VARIOUS PROJECTS
BECAUSE YOU CARE
$109,759VARIOUS PROJECTS
SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OF NWPA
$108,929VARIOUS PROJECTS
