The Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania primarily funds Catholic education and parish needs within the Diocese of Allentown, with a strong emphasis on scholarships that enable students to attend diocesan elementary and secondary schools. Grants also support parish operations and capital/improvement projects, teacher recognition programs, and specialized Catholic education (notably for students with special needs). Most recipients are local parishes, diocesan Catholic schools, and diocesan-affiliated scholarship organizations, reflecting a geographically concentrated, faith-based giving strategy focused on access to Catholic schooling and parish vitality.
Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Inc. centers its giving on Catholic education and parish life in the Diocese of Allentown, with scholarships appearing repeatedly across its recent grants. The largest award on file, $137,680 to The Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation in 2023, supported scholarships, and a $58,525 distribution in 2025 to Eastern PA Scholarship Foundation again went to scholarship support for students attending a Catholic school in the diocese. That scholarship pattern extends through diocesan high schools such as Allentown Central Catholic High School, Notre Dame High School, Bethlehem Catholic High School, and Nativity High School, where grants were used for scholarships and annual awards. The foundation also supports parish-level needs, including teacher recognition at St Thomas More Parish and educational programming at St Anne Parish. Special education is another recurring thread: Mercy School for Special Learning received support for operations, capital improvements, educational programs, equipment, scholarships, and a teacher excellence program. The mix of schools, parishes, and diocesan organizations shows a faith-based funder focused on access to Catholic schooling, parish vitality, and targeted support for students with special learning needs.
Scholarships are the clearest through line. In 2025, Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Inc. gave $29,240 to St Jane Frances De Chantal Parish for the Adeline Capuro Scholarship for students with financial need, and $17,000 to Holy Trinity Parish in Whitehall for students and families with financial need to attend a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Allentown. The foundation also backed diocesan school awards, including $12,252 to Nativity High School for the Loretta Lecher Schneider Scholarship and other awards for graduating seniors. Parish support is another major theme. Holy Family Parish in Nazareth received $39,661 for special programs, maintenance, and capital improvements, while St Peter Parish in Reading received $25,478 for accessibility improvements. Mercy School for Special Learning was funded for multiple purposes, including operations and special programs, showing a specific commitment to Catholic special education.
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures: the 25th percentile is $13,357, the median is $31,235, and the 75th percentile is $60,531. The grant list shows both recurring and one-time support across years. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2025, including scholarship foundations, parishes, and schools. The foundation is a public charity and also funds individuals. It does not make program-related investments. The recent record is dominated by grants to Catholic schools, parishes, and diocesan entities rather than open calls or competitive applications.
$962K
$55.2M
$2.4M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $13K and $61K, with a median of $31K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$31K
75th Percentile
$61K
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Concentrated, locally focused giving with repeated, mid-sized grants to the same diocesan schools and parishes; portfolio emphasizes program-specific scholarship distributions and operational/capital support rather than one-off large national grants.
Notable grantees: The Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation, Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Sacred Heart Parish (Allentown) / St Joseph the Worker Parish
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, and the recent list is concentrated in eastern Pennsylvania. Allentown appears repeatedly through recipients such as St Thomas More Parish, Eastern PA Scholarship Foundation, Mercy School for Special Learning, and St John Vianney School. Other recipient cities include Bethlehem, Whitehall, Nazareth, Reading, Easton, Orefield, and Pottsville. The grant data shows no recipient-country diversity beyond the U.S.
The recent grants are primarily to Catholic schools, parishes, and diocesan organizations in the Diocese of Allentown. Recipients include scholarship foundations, high schools, parish programs, and Mercy School for Special Learning, with many awards tied to education, parish operations, capital work, and special learning support.
The distribution is fairly broad but centered around mid-sized awards. The 25th percentile is $13,357, the median is $31,235, and the 75th percentile is $60,531. Recent awards range from smaller support grants to larger scholarship distributions above $100,000.
Yes. Scholarships are a major part of the grant pattern, with awards going to scholarship foundations, Catholic high schools, and parishes for students with financial need. Recent examples include scholarship support for Catholic school attendance, graduating senior awards, and parish-based scholarship funds.
Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports parish maintenance and capital improvements, accessibility upgrades, special education at Mercy School for Special Learning, teacher recognition programs, and seminarians preparing for the priesthood through the Diocese of Allentown.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST THOMAS MORE PARISH | ALLENTOWN, PA | $61,219 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT A TEACHER EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ANNUAL HONORARIUMS TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORT PERFORMED BY ALL FULL-TIME DIOCESAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS (K-8) AND PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS. |
| EASTERN PA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALLENTOWN, PA | $58,525 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN. |
| SACRED HEART PARISH | ALLENTOWN, PA | $47,872 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM SACRED HEART PARISH, ALLENTOWN, PA TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN. |
| ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH | OREFIELD, PA | $41,921 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED TO ATTEND ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER SCHOOL. |
| HOLY FAMILY PARISH | NAZARETH, PA | $39,661 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT SPECIAL PROGRAMS, MAINTENANCE, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOLY FAMILY PARISH IN NAZARETH, PA. |
| ST ANNE PARISH | BETHLEHEM, PA | $31,263 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF ST. ANNE PARISH, BETHLEHEM, INCLUDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CCD, AND ADULT FAITH FORMATION. |
| ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL PARISH | EASTON, PA | $29,240 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE ADELINE CAPURO SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ATTEND EITHER ST. JANE DE CHANTEL SCHOOL OR NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL (FRESHMEN). |
| ST PETER PARISH | READING, PA | $25,478 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE FOR ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. PETER THE APOSTLE PARISH, READING, PA. |
| MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING | ALLENTOWN, PA | $21,528 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE OVERALL OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EQUIPMENT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE MERCY SCHOOL. |
| HOLY TRINITY PARISH | WHITEHALL, PA | $17,000 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED FROM HOLY TRINITY PARISH, WHITEHALL, PA, TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN. |
| MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,801 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT A TEACHER EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ANNUAL HONORARIUMS OF AN EQUAL AMOUNT TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORT PERFORMED BY ALL DIOCESAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND AIDES. |
| NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOL | POTTSVILLE, PA | $12,252 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE LORETTA LECHER SCHNEIDER SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO GRADUATING SENIORS AT NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATION. |
| ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH | OREFIELD, PA | $9,110 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT PRESENT AND FUTURE PARISH ACTIVITIES AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH IN OREFIELD, PA. |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL | ALLENTOWN, PA | $8,140 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUNDS OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL (60%), MERCY SCHOOL (20%), AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES (20%). |
| DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN | ALLENTOWN, PA | $7,414 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OR PROJECT IN THE EDUCATION OF SEMINARIANS PREPARING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN OR ONE OF HIS REPRESENTATIVES. |
| HOLY TRINITY PARISH | WHITEHALL, PA | $6,463 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN HOLY TRINITY PARISH TO ATTEND AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN. |
| HOLY GHOST PARISH | BETHLEHEM, PA | $5,780 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARISH CEMETERY. |
| MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING | ALLENTOWN, PA | $5,478 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING IN ALLENTOWN, PA. |
| ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH | OREFIELD, PA | $5,352 | 2025 | THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER SCHOOL IN OREFIELD, PA. |
| THE EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | — | $137,680 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | — | $61,531 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | — | $60,531 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | — | $60,531 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SACRED HEART PARISH | — | $49,334 | 2023 | MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST ANNE PARISH | — | $32,860 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL SCHOOL | — | $31,235 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HOLY TRINITY PARISH | — | $26,379 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH | — | $16,720 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL | — | $13,357 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HOLY GHOST PARISH CHURCH | — | $10,000 | 2023 | CEMTERY MAINTENANCE |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL | — | $6,990 | 2023 | SUPPORT OPERATIONS |
| ST JOSEPH PARISH | — | $5,330 | 2023 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
ST THOMAS MORE PARISH
$61,219THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT A TEACHER EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ANNUAL HONORARIUMS TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORT PERFORMED BY ALL FULL-TIME DIOCESAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS (K-8) AND PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS.
EASTERN PA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$58,525THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN.
SACRED HEART PARISH
$47,872THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM SACRED HEART PARISH, ALLENTOWN, PA TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN.
ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH
$41,921THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED TO ATTEND ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER SCHOOL.
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
$39,661THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT SPECIAL PROGRAMS, MAINTENANCE, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOLY FAMILY PARISH IN NAZARETH, PA.
ST ANNE PARISH
$31,263THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF ST. ANNE PARISH, BETHLEHEM, INCLUDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CCD, AND ADULT FAITH FORMATION.
ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL PARISH
$29,240THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE ADELINE CAPURO SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ATTEND EITHER ST. JANE DE CHANTEL SCHOOL OR NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL (FRESHMEN).
ST PETER PARISH
$25,478THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE FOR ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. PETER THE APOSTLE PARISH, READING, PA.
MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING
$21,528THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE OVERALL OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EQUIPMENT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE MERCY SCHOOL.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH
$17,000THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED FROM HOLY TRINITY PARISH, WHITEHALL, PA, TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN.
MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING
$15,801THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT A TEACHER EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ANNUAL HONORARIUMS OF AN EQUAL AMOUNT TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND TIRELESS EFFORT PERFORMED BY ALL DIOCESAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND AIDES.
NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOL
$12,252THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE LORETTA LECHER SCHNEIDER SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO GRADUATING SENIORS AT NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATION.
ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH
$9,110THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT PRESENT AND FUTURE PARISH ACTIVITIES AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH IN OREFIELD, PA.
ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
$8,140THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUNDS OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL (60%), MERCY SCHOOL (20%), AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES (20%).
DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN
$7,414THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OR PROJECT IN THE EDUCATION OF SEMINARIANS PREPARING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN OR ONE OF HIS REPRESENTATIVES.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH
$6,463THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN HOLY TRINITY PARISH TO ATTEND AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN.
HOLY GHOST PARISH
$5,780THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARISH CEMETERY.
MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING
$5,478THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE MERCY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL LEARNING IN ALLENTOWN, PA.
ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH
$5,352THIS DISTRIBUTION IS TO BE USED FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER SCHOOL IN OREFIELD, PA.
THE EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$137,680PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$61,531PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$60,531PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$60,531PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
SACRED HEART PARISH
$49,334MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS
ST ANNE PARISH
$32,860PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL SCHOOL
$31,235PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
HOLY TRINITY PARISH
$26,379PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH
$16,720PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL
$13,357PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
HOLY GHOST PARISH CHURCH
$10,000CEMTERY MAINTENANCE
ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
$6,990SUPPORT OPERATIONS
ST JOSEPH PARISH
$5,330PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS