The Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation concentrates its support on private secondary and post-secondary education in western Pennsylvania and nearby communities, together with selective funding for historic preservation and cultural institutions. Grants are directed to a small number of local institutions, often repeated over multiple years, indicating relationship-based philanthropy focused on sustaining regional independent schools and a prominent battlefield/museum organization.
Concentrated, relationship-driven giving: a handful of mid-sized gifts to repeat grantees rather than broad one-off grants. Majority of funds go to education (especially private secondary schools) with a significant share to a single cultural/historic organization.
A repeated pattern defines the Mark B & Jean Higgins Foundation: year after year, it returns to the same private schools and colleges in western Pennsylvania, with Valley School of Ligonier receiving $17,000 in 2025 after two prior grants of $15,000 in 2024 and 2023. That continuity points to relationship-based giving rather than broad open solicitation. The foundation also backs The Kiski School and Grove City College, two other education recipients that appear multiple times in the recent grants list. Alongside education, it supports a smaller set of civic and heritage institutions, including The Gettysburg Foundation, which received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The overall pattern is compact and regional, with grants spread across a limited roster of organizations rather than a wide field of one-off awards. Recent grant sizes range from four-figure gifts to mid-five-figure support, and the recurring names suggest a donor that favors sustained institutional backing. The foundation’s recent giving shows a clear preference for established nonprofits in education and preservation, with occasional support for veterans, health, and community organizations in the Northeast and beyond.
Education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s recent grants. Valley School of Ligonier received $17,000 in 2025, while The Kiski School was awarded $10,000 in 2025 and $8,750 in 2024, showing multi-year support for independent secondary education. Grove City College also appears across three years, with grants of $10,000 in 2023, $9,000 in 2024, and $8,000 in 2025. The foundation also extends support to historic and cultural preservation: The Gettysburg Foundation received $11,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Beyond that core, it has made smaller grants to groups such as Friends of Casco Bay and Travis Mills Foundation, each appearing in multiple years, indicating some breadth beyond education and preservation.
Typical grant size is small to mid-sized: the p25 is $762, the median is $1,000, and the p75 is $5,000. The distribution includes a handful of larger education and preservation grants, but many awards cluster at $1,000 to $1,500. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Valley School of Ligonier, The Gettysburg Foundation, The Kiski School, Grove City College, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Hillsdale College, Friends of Casco Bay, and Travis Mills Foundation. That repetition suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off donations. The foundation is an independent grantmaker and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$258K
$1.1M
$95K
$89K
Most grants fall between $763 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$763
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 74% of grants go to recipients in ME.
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Notable grantees: Valley School of Ligonier, The Gettysburg Foundation, The Kiski School, Grove City College
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 54 grants to U.S. recipients. The strongest concentration is in Pennsylvania, where 74% of grants go, including repeated awards to organizations in Ligonier, Saltsburg, Grove City, Gettysburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Carbondale. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation gives to a small number of places such as Mt Vernon, Maine; South Portland, Maine; Staten Island, New York; Hillsdale, Michigan; and Memphis, Tennessee. Maine is the top state by grant count, reflecting a notable out-of-state cluster there.
Its recent grants are centered on private secondary and post-secondary education in western Pennsylvania, especially independent schools and small colleges. Historic preservation and battlefield or museum work is the other clear cluster, with recurring support for a Gettysburg-based heritage organization.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Valley School of Ligonier, The Gettysburg Foundation, The Kiski School, Grove City College, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Hillsdale College, Friends of Casco Bay, and Travis Mills Foundation.
The grant-size distribution is modest: p25 is $762, median grant size is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. Many awards in the recent list are at $1,000 or $1,500, with a smaller number of larger gifts to schools and preservation organizations.
Pennsylvania receives 74% of the grants, but the top state by grant count is Maine. Recent Maine recipients include organizations in Mount Vernon and South Portland.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley School of Ligonier | Ligonier, PA | $17,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Gettysburg Foundation | Gettysburg, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Kiski School | Saltsburg, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Grove City College | Grove City, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation | Staten Island, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $4,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| St Judes Childrens Hospital | Memphis, TN | $1,500 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Friends of Casco Bay | South Portland, ME | $1,500 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Emma Munson Foundation Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Family Restored | Portland, ME | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Camp Freedom | Carbondale, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Christ Church Preschool | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Childrens Tumor Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Holy Trinity Church | Ligonier, PA | $900 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Pittsburgh Creche Endowment Fund | Pittsburgh, PA | $500 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Penn State Dance Marathon | State College, PA | $250 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| North Hills Cares Inc | Glenshaw, PA | $250 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington, PA | $250 | 2026 | Charitable Contribution |
| Valley School of Ligonier | Ligonier, PA | $17,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Gettysburg Foundation | Gettysburg, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Kiski School | Saltsburg, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Grove City College | Grove City, PA | $8,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation | Staten Island, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Friends of Casco Bay | South Portland, ME | $1,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Travis Mills Foundation | Mt Vernon, ME | $1,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| St Judes Childrens Hospital | Memphis, TN | $1,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Childrens Tumor Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Christ Church Preschool | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Camp Freedom | Carbondale, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Emma Munson Foundation Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Holy Trinity Church | Ligonier, PA | $900 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Pittsburgh Creche Endowment Fund | Pittsburgh, PA | $500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Pittsburgh Firefighters Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| North Hills Cares Inc | Glenshaw, PA | $250 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Salvation Army | Pittsburgh, PA | $100 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Valley School of Ligonier | Ligonier, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Gettysburg Foundation | Gettysburg, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Grove City College | Grove City, PA | $9,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| The Kiski School | Saltsburg, PA | $8,750 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation | Staten Island, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $4,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Friends of Casco Bay | South Portland, ME | $1,500 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Travis Mills Foundation | Mt Vernon, ME | $1,500 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Camp Freedom | Carbondale, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Christ Church Preschool | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Emma Munson Foundation Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
| Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution |
Valley School of Ligonier
$17,000Charitable Contribution
The Gettysburg Foundation
$10,000Charitable Contribution
The Kiski School
$10,000Charitable Contribution
Grove City College
$10,000Charitable Contribution
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
$4,000Charitable Contribution
Hillsdale College
$4,000Charitable Contribution
St Judes Childrens Hospital
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Friends of Casco Bay
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Emma Munson Foundation Inc
$1,000Charitable Contribution
The Family Restored
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Camp Freedom
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Christ Church Preschool
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Childrens Tumor Foundation
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Holy Trinity Church
$900Charitable Contribution
Pittsburgh Creche Endowment Fund
$500Charitable Contribution
Penn State Dance Marathon
$250Charitable Contribution
North Hills Cares Inc
$250Charitable Contribution
Westminster College
$250Charitable Contribution
Valley School of Ligonier
$17,000Charitable Contribution
The Gettysburg Foundation
$10,000Charitable Contribution
The Kiski School
$10,000Charitable Contribution
Grove City College
$8,000Charitable Contribution
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
$5,000Charitable Contribution
Hillsdale College
$4,000Charitable Contribution
Friends of Casco Bay
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Travis Mills Foundation
$1,500Charitable Contribution
St Judes Childrens Hospital
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Childrens Tumor Foundation
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Christ Church Preschool
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Camp Freedom
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Emma Munson Foundation Inc
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Holy Trinity Church
$900Charitable Contribution
Pittsburgh Creche Endowment Fund
$500Charitable Contribution
Pittsburgh Firefighters Foundation
$500Charitable Contribution
North Hills Cares Inc
$250Charitable Contribution
The Salvation Army
$100Charitable Contribution
Valley School of Ligonier
$15,000Charitable Contribution
The Gettysburg Foundation
$10,000Charitable Contribution
Grove City College
$9,000Charitable Contribution
The Kiski School
$8,750Charitable Contribution
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
$5,000Charitable Contribution
Hillsdale College
$4,000Charitable Contribution
Friends of Casco Bay
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Travis Mills Foundation
$1,500Charitable Contribution
Camp Freedom
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Christ Church Preschool
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Emma Munson Foundation Inc
$1,000Charitable Contribution
Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh
$1,000Charitable Contribution