The Ethel Mae Hocker Foundation concentrates its giving on student scholarships for private secondary schools and scholarship funds, with an emphasis on Catholic and single‑sex independent schools. Grants are relatively large and targeted, often paid repeatedly to the same institutions, suggesting a donor preference for sustaining specific school communities rather than broad programmatic funding. While centered in the Camden/Haddonfield region, the foundation also supports a small number of out‑of‑state independent schools and scholarship foundations tied to the donor’s priorities or affiliations.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants with multiple repeat awards to a handful of core grantees rather than many small one‑off gifts; funding is targeted to scholarship purposes for private secondary education.
Scholarship funding is the defining pattern in The Ethel Mae Hocker Foundationinc’s grantmaking, with repeated support for private secondary schools and scholarship funds tied to Catholic and single-sex independent education. The recent record shows large, recurring awards to a small set of school communities, including Vfma Foundation for scholarships and Ashley Hall Foundation for scholarships. That repetition points to a funder that sustains specific educational pipelines rather than dispersing small grants across many unrelated causes. The foundation’s grant sizes are substantial for the schools it backs. Recent awards include six-figure commitments alongside mid-five-figure scholarships, and the distribution centers on grants large enough to support institutional scholarship programs rather than one-off classroom projects. Camden Catholic High School, Roman Catholic High School, Gesu School, Catholic Partnerships Schools, and Wildwood Catholic High School all appear among the recent recipients, showing a steady preference for tuition support and scholarship administration. Although the foundation is associated with the Camden and Haddonfield region, its grantmaking is not limited to one locality. Recent scholarships also reached schools in South Carolina and California, while the overall pattern remains focused on student aid at private schools and scholarship organizations.
A central theme in the foundation’s giving is scholarship support for Catholic secondary education in the Camden and Philadelphia area. It gave $125,400 to Camden Catholic High School in 2024 and $107,660 in 2025, both for scholarships, and also supported Roman Catholic High School with $101,250 in 2024 and $72,974 in 2025. The foundation also backs scholarship administration through intermediary organizations. It awarded $225,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2025 to Vfma Foundation for scholarships, showing direct support for a dedicated scholarship vehicle rather than only to schools. Girls’ independent-school scholarships are another visible thread. Ashley Hall Foundation received $133,474 in 2025, $121,600 in 2025, $117,800 in 2024, $113,650 in 2023, all designated for scholarships. The foundation also supported St Helena Montessori School in California with scholarship grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
$1.1M
$10.6M
$470K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $40K and $95K, with a median of $59K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$59K
75th Percentile
$95K
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Notable grantees: Camden Catholic High School, Ashley Hall Foundation, Roman Catholic High School, VFMA Foundation
Typical grants sit in a fairly tight mid-five-figure band: p25 is $40,000, median is $59,250, and p75 is $95,000. The recent record also includes several six-figure awards, which indicates a preference for funding established scholarship programs at meaningful scale. The pattern is recurring rather than one-time. Vfma Foundation, Ashley Hall Foundation, Camden Catholic High School, Gesu School, Roman Catholic High School, and Wildwood Catholic High School each appear more than once across recent years. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder, and there is no indication of individual giving or program-related investments in the provided data.
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, and the foundation gives most often in California by grant count. New Jersey is a major recipient state as well, with 46% of grants going to recipients there. Recent grants reached Cherry Hill, Camden, Philadelphia, North Wildwood, and Wayne in the Mid-Atlantic, along with Charleston and Saint Helena farther afield. That mix suggests a regional base with a small number of out-of-state school and scholarship recipients tied to the foundation’s education focus.
It funds scholarships for private secondary schools and scholarship funds, especially Catholic and single-sex independent schools. Recent grants repeatedly support Camden Catholic High School, Roman Catholic High School, Ashley Hall Foundation, Vfma Foundation, Gesu School, and Wildwood Catholic High School, all for scholarships.
Typical grant size is fairly concentrated: the 25th percentile is $40,000, the median is $59,250, and the 75th percentile is $95,000. The recent record also includes several grants above $100,000, especially for scholarship programs.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Vfma Foundation, Ashley Hall Foundation, Camden Catholic High School, Gesu School, Roman Catholic High School, Wildwood Catholic High School, Catholic Partnerships Schools, and St Helena Montessori School. That pattern suggests recurring support for selected scholarship partners.
By grant count, California is the top recipient state. New Jersey also accounts for a large share of grants, with 46% going to recipients there. The recent grants list includes recipients in Cherry Hill, Camden, Philadelphia, North Wildwood, Wayne, Charleston, and Saint Helena.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG & SMALL DOG RANCH RESCUE | LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | $175,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| VFMA FOUNDATION | WAYNE, PA | $150,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $133,474 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $115,342 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIPS SCHOOLS | CAMDEN, NJ | $85,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $72,974 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GESU SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $70,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST HELENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SAINT HELENA, CA | $63,750 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ | $61,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| URBANPROMISE MINISTRIES | CAMDEN, NJ | $52,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $44,450 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS | WAYNE, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $13,275 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| VFMA FOUNDATION | WAYNE, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $121,600 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $107,660 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GESU SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $85,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIPS SCHOOLS | CAMDEN, NJ | $85,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $64,926 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ | $59,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST HELENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SAINT HELENA, CA | $58,200 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $51,100 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| URBANPROMISE MINISTRIES | CAMDEN, NJ | $47,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS | WAYNE, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $26,550 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| RIOGRANDE BAPTIST CHURCH | RIO GRANDE, NJ | $12,900 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $125,400 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $117,800 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $101,250 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GESU SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $85,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIPS SCHOOLS | CAMDEN, NJ | $80,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ | $59,250 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST HELENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SAINT HELENA, CA | $58,110 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| URBANPROMISE MINISTRIES | CAMDEN, NJ | $42,500 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $35,876 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS | WAYNE, PA | $30,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $26,700 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| RIOGRANDE BAPTIST CHURCH | RIO GRANDE, NJ | $6,700 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| VFMA FOUNDATION | WAYNE, PA | $225,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $120,670 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $113,650 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GESU SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $95,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS | CAMDEN, NJ | $87,500 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $83,250 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST HELENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SAINT HELENA, CA | $58,200 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | NORTH WIDLWOOD, NJ | $57,900 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $49,875 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| URBANPROMISE MINISTRIES | CAMDEN, NJ | $40,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS | WAYNE, PA | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $24,150 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
BIG & SMALL DOG RANCH RESCUE
$175,000CHARITABLE DONATION
VFMA FOUNDATION
$150,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$115,342SCHOLARSHIPS
ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$72,974SCHOLARSHIPS
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$61,500SCHOLARSHIPS
CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL
$44,450SCHOLARSHIPS
THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL
$13,275SCHOLARSHIPS
VFMA FOUNDATION
$200,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$107,660SCHOLARSHIPS
ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$64,926SCHOLARSHIPS
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$59,250SCHOLARSHIPS
CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL
$51,100SCHOLARSHIPS
INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL
$26,550SCHOLARSHIPS
RIOGRANDE BAPTIST CHURCH
$12,900CHARITABLE DONATION
CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$125,400SCHOLARSHIPS
ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$101,250SCHOLARSHIPS
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$59,250SCHOLARSHIPS
CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL
$35,876SCHOLARSHIPS
INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL
$26,700SCHOLARSHIPS
RIOGRANDE BAPTIST CHURCH
$6,700CHARITABLE DONATION
VFMA FOUNDATION
$225,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CAMDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$120,670SCHOLARSHIPS
ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$83,250SCHOLARSHIPS
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$57,900SCHOLARSHIPS
CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL SCHOOL
$49,875SCHOLARSHIPS
INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE LITTLE FLOWER HIGH SCHOOL
$24,150SCHOLARSHIPS