“NO ONE HAS EVER BECOME POOR BY GIVING.”
ANNE
FRANK
OUR BRAND PROMISE
The Erie Community Foundation is a trustworthy and permanent steward of greater Erie’s generosity. Through the power of collective giving, we invest in solutions that transform lives.
WHY ESTABLISH A FUND AT THE
ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
INSPIRE
With a legacy spanning nearly 100 years, The Erie Community Foundation has been deeply embedded in Erie's philanthropic landscape for generations. We support your philanthropy effectively, assisting in crafting tax-wise giving strategies that reflect your passions. From administrative support to grantmaking assistance, we handle the details. At the Foundation, we go beyond traditional services, providing comprehensive support and Erie-centric expertise to ensure impactful giving on your timetable.
ENGAGE
Our goal is to nurture long-term partnerships by offering relevant advice and identifying appropriate opportunities to meet your philanthropic goals. Through tailored guidance and ongoing support, our philanthropic services team will cultivate a direct and personal relationship with you.
EMPOWER
Through a robust network of donors, nonprofits, community leaders, researchers, volunteers, and grantees, we collaborate to amplify the impact of philanthropic endeavors across our community. Together, we strive for inclusive and sustainable solutions to local challenges.
TRANSPARENCY
Transparency and accountability are core values at the Foundation. We provide you with access to comprehensive information through our private portal, ensuring transparency in fund management. Our commitment to openness enables donors to make informed decisions and fosters trust.
“WE
CHOOSE YOUR GIVING
The Erie Community Foundation offers several fund types to ensure impactful giving.
DONOR ADVISED FUND ($10,000+)
Engage actively with your philanthropy through a Donor Advised Fund, which gives you the freedom to recommend grants to nonprofit organizations of your choice. The Foundation staff provides valuable insights and information about nonprofits aligning with your philanthropic interests, ensuring your giving makes a meaningful impact.
DONOR DESIGNATED FUND ($10,000+)
Make a lasting impact on specific charitable organizations with a Donor Designated Fund. Direct annual support to one or more nonprofits of your choice, providing stable funding for their vital programs and initiatives. Your generosity strengthens the capacity of organizations dedicated to making a difference in Erie.
FIELD OF INTEREST FUND ($10,000+)
Channel your passion for specific causes or regions within Erie through a Field of Interest Fund. Whether you prioritize education, healthcare, housing, cultural assets, or other vital areas, this fund enables the Foundation to direct your gift to outstanding nonprofits addressing issues close to your heart. Together, we create positive change in areas that matter most to our community and everyone’s quality of life.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($25,000+)
Support the educational aspirations of Erie students by establishing a Scholarship Fund. Shape the future by specifying selection and award criteria, empowering deserving students to pursue higher education. Your generosity opens doors to opportunity and fosters academic achievement for generations.
AGENCY FUND ($25,000+)
An agency fund provides nonprofits with a reliable and stable income source for their mission, providing annual grants to the nonprofit, while the fund continues to grow indefinitely.
MAKE AN IMPACT
Through the power of collective giving, The Erie Community Foundation remains dedicated to investing in solutions that truly transform lives. As our region evolves alongside the world around us, we recognize the growing diversities within our communities and residents.
We support collaborative projects that promote systems-level change with a focus on education, health, economic growth, neighborhood and community development, and quality of life.
INSPIRING COMMUNITY CHANGE
With support of Infinite Erie, and numerous funders including a $500,000 Transformational Grant from The Erie Community Foundation, the Minority Community Investment Coalition (MCIC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the summer of 2023. The event launched the construction for Grow Erie, an equitable economic development project.
Grow Erie is a public-private collaboration that merges innovative research, technology, and agriculture science with marketplace expertise to produce local goods, create meaningful jobs, and revitalize a vacant piece of property. Once completed, Grow Erie will include two distinct facilities, including a commercial facility and a 2,500 square foot all-season community greenhouse that will be operated entirely by the community.
“I HAVE A STRONG PASSION FOR BETTERING THE ERIE COMMUNITY, AND GROW ERIE IS A CONSEQUENTIAL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO EQUITABLY LIFT UP OUR EAST ERIE NEIGHBORHOODS, REVERSE BLIGHT, AND FIGHT FOOD INSECURITIES.”
EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED
Education can unlock a child’s potential to succeed in life, but some students face insurmountable barriers at no fault of their own. In 2016, The Erie Community Foundation Board of Trustees provided a $1.5 million grant to launch the United Way’s Community Schools Model, which, at its most basic level, removes the nonacademic barriers to learning that low-income students face daily.
After achieving effective outcomes through the Community School Model, the Foundation increased its commitment to Erie’s student population by presenting a $2 million grant to United Way of Erie County to establish the Community School Model at Erie High School in 2023. Now, K-12 students will benefit from the model, which leads to increased attendance, improved behavior, and a positive school culture.
“THE
IS
ERIE COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION’S $2 MILLION
GRANT
A SYMBOL OF HOPE, OPPORTUNITY, AND BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD IN ERIE. EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY.”
LAURIE ROOT, PRESIDENT, UNITED WAY OF ERIE COUNTY
ENGAGING PARTNERS TO HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS
Addressing the multifaceted needs of Erie’s unhoused population has been a pressing concern for community leaders for years. In November 2022, a collaborative effort led to the establishment of the Housing First Erie Project, a public-private partnership, which aims to combat chronic homelessness in Erie County and will develop permanent supportive housing for 150 chronically homeless individuals.
At its core, Housing First Erie embodies an evidence-based approach demonstrating that individuals achieve stability when swiftly connected with permanent housing and supplemented with intensive supportive services. This vision not only provides a safe haven for the most vulnerable members of the community but also offers the necessary support to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
“WE ARE RAISING $20 MILLION TO ADDRESS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, 150 PEOPLE WILL HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING, AND WE CAN GO TO SLEEP KNOWING OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY.”
KAREN BILOWITH, PRESIDENT & CEO THE
“SERVICE TO OTHERS IS THE RENT YOU PAY FOR YOUR ROOM HERE ON EARTH.” MUHAMMAD ALI
OUR INVESTMENTS
The Erie Community Foundation manages funds for the long term to maximize the power of your gift. For nearly a century, the Foundation has guided countless charitable funds through a careful and strategic pooled investment program.
The Foundation uses the premier investment advisory group in the country for endowments and community foundations: Cambridge Advisors, who represent some of the most prestigious organizations and universities in the nation and is widely considered the gold-standard of investment advisors.
To ensure long-term purchasing power and growth of your fund, the Foundation sets a recommended annual distribution percentage, which is reviewed each December.
If you were to invest $50,000 today, your impact over the next 100 years would substantially increase:
100
$961,000 Grants Awarded $1,215,000
“NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD: INDEED, IT’S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.”
MARGARET MEAD
Diversified portfolio investments are essential to accomplish investment goals. At The Erie Community Foundation, we seek a real return objective at a tolerable risk level by investing in the following assets:
GLOBAL EQUITIES are comprised of equity investments in U.S. and non-U.S. companies, including emerging and frontier markets, diversified by country, economic sector, and market capitalization. The principal purpose of global equities is to provide for long-term growth of the capital pool.
PRIVATE INVESTMENTS include private equity/venture capital and private real estate / natural resources / infrastructure, and other non-marketable securities. These investments are intended to outperform traditional equity investments over the long term.
DIVERSIFYING ASSETS helps reduce the return volatility of the overall portfolio, while generating long-term returns between global equity investments and fixed income investments. These investments, diversified by manager and strategy, are comprised of funds with high levels of transparency, reasonable liquidity, and little portfolio leverage.
FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS minimize risk by reducing the overall volatility of returns. Components of fixed income investments may also serve as a partial hedge against periods of prolonged economic contraction. Most of the fixed income portfolio is comprised of high-quality government and corporate securities, which typically outperform other fixed income securities in an economic contraction or short-term economic shock.
“THINK OF GIVING NOT AS A DUTY BUT AS A PRIVILEGE.”
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER JR.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR IMPACT
CHECK, WIRE TRANSFER, OR CREDIT CARD
APPRECIATED SECURITIES
PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK AND MUTUAL FUNDS.
REAL ESTATE
Donate residential or commercial properties, farmland, or timberland to make a lasting impact.
BUSINESS INTEREST
Privately held stock, limited partnerships and other business interests.
TRANSFERS FROM CHARITABLE ENTITIES
Transfer assets from a private foundation or donor-advised fund to create a Foundation fund, ensuring seamless management and continued philanthropy.
IRA QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION
If you're 70 1/2 or older, make a QCD of up to $100,000 from your IRA into various Foundation funds to support our community. If you’re 73 or older, this can count towards your RMD.
BEQUESTS, RETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS, AND LIFE INSURANCE
Include the Foundation in your estate planning by naming your fund as the beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance policy. You can also transfer a life insurance policy irrevocably to the Foundation, ensuring your legacy of giving endures.
HISTORY
The Erie Community Foundation traces its history back to 1935, when Elisha H. Mack, co-founder of the Boston Store, created a charitable endowment fund. From 1935 to 1969, that single fund fueled regional philanthropic efforts. Through the diligent efforts of Edward Doll and Enoch Filer, Mr. Mack’s fund was transformed into a public charity, becoming The Erie Community Foundation in 1971.
Today, we are constantly expanding our collection of nearly 900 different endowment funds, all created locally. Some funds are established during a donor's lifetime, others via a bequest. Additionally, nearly 200 local nonprofit organizations have also chosen to build endowments under the administrative umbrella of The Erie Community Foundation.