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Ferree Foundation is a private corporation based in LANCASTER, PA. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2004. The principal officer is Paul W Ware. It holds total assets of $21.8M. Annual income is reported at $4.6M. Total assets have grown from $12.7M in 2011 to $21.2M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2016 to 2023. Grantmaking is concentrated in Pennsylvania. According to available records, Ferree Foundation has made 105 grants totaling $3.4M, with a median grant of $20K. Annual giving has grown from $822K in 2020 to $1.7M in 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $150K, with an average award of $33K. The foundation has supported 51 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Pennsylvania and Colorado and Virginia. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Ferree Foundation is a private foundation serving students from Randolph County, North Carolina, with a singular focus on higher education access. Despite the Lancaster, PA address on IRS records, the foundation operates from Asheboro, NC (PO Box 2207) and restricts all awards to Randolph County residents pursuing higher education. The approach is straightforward: low-interest educational loans with a limited number of scholarships and grants. This is a narrow geographic/demographic mandate — the foundation does not support general charitable, arts, or community causes. Linda R. Cranford serves as Executive Director and handles semester-based check pickup directly, reflecting a hands-on, locally embedded model typical of hometown education foundations.
With ~$21.8M in assets, typical annual giving runs $870K-$1.1M (the 5% IRS minimum). Awards go primarily as educational loans (the core product), with scholarships and direct grants as smaller supplementary streams. Geographic focus is strictly Randolph County, NC (Asheboro area — population ~144K). Funding sizes per student typically fall in the $2K-$10K range based on the per-semester check pickup pattern visible on the site. Applications are handled via a PDF download from the Foundation's website (FerreeFoundationApp1.pdf), and disbursements follow a semester schedule with in-person check pickup — a model more akin to a community education fund than a typical private foundation.
| Foundation | Assets | Model | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferree Foundation | $21.8M | Educational loans + scholarships | Randolph County, NC only |
| Peckham Family Foundation | $22.2M | Family-directed | Westchester/NY Metro |
| Morse Charitable Foundation | $21.4M | Family-directed | Detroit/MI |
| Typical Education-Focused Private Foundation $20-25M | ~$22M | Scholarships | Regional/State |
| Typical Student Loan Foundation | ~$20M | Low-interest loans | County/City |
Among ~$20-25M private foundations focused on education, Ferree is distinctive for offering low-interest loans as the primary vehicle rather than outright scholarships — a rarer model that allows the corpus to recycle and serve more students over time.
As of January 2026, the Foundation posted new check pickup dates, with disbursements from Linda Cranford at set in-person windows requiring printed grade verification. This indicates active semester-by-semester engagement with student borrowers. The latest announcement on the site (dated January 2026) confirms the program is operating normally. Recent 990-PF filings (available via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, EIN 201060557) would show specific loan and scholarship totals. The foundation has no evidence of expanding beyond Randolph County or of funding organizations other than individual students.
1) Eligibility is strictly limited to Randolph County, NC students pursuing higher education — organizations and students outside this county should not apply. 2) Download the application PDF directly from ferreefoundation.org (FerreeFoundationApp1.pdf in the sidebar). 3) Contact: ferreefoundation@triad.rr.com, Linda R. Cranford, Executive Director; mailing address PO Box 2207, Asheboro, NC 27204. 4) Most awards are low-interest LOANS (not grants); factor in repayment obligations. 5) Bring a printed copy of current grades to receive semester disbursements. 6) This is not an org-level grantmaker — if you run a nonprofit seeking general operating support, this foundation is not a fit. 7) Randolph County high-school counselors and community colleges are the primary referral channel — make sure your Foundation application has been endorsed through that local network.
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Smallest Grant
$5K
Median Grant
$20K
Average Grant
$36K
Largest Grant
$150K
Based on 23 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
No program descriptions are available for this foundation. Many private foundations report program activities in their annual 990-PF filings — check the Tax Filings section below for the most recent filing.
With ~$21.8M in assets, typical annual giving runs $870K-$1.1M (the 5% IRS minimum). Awards go primarily as educational loans (the core product), with scholarships and direct grants as smaller supplementary streams. Geographic focus is strictly Randolph County, NC (Asheboro area — population ~144K). Funding sizes per student typically fall in the $2K-$10K range based on the per-semester check pickup pattern visible on the site. Applications are handled via a PDF download from the Foundation's we.
Ferree Foundation has distributed a total of $3.4M across 105 grants. The median grant size is $20K, with an average of $33K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $150K.
The Ferree Foundation is a private foundation serving students from Randolph County, North Carolina, with a singular focus on higher education access. Despite the Lancaster, PA address on IRS records, the foundation operates from Asheboro, NC (PO Box 2207) and restricts all awards to Randolph County residents pursuing higher education. The approach is straightforward: low-interest educational loans with a limited number of scholarships and grants. This is a narrow geographic/demographic mandate .
Ferree Foundation is headquartered in LANCASTER, PA. While based in PA, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 3 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Schock | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $42K | $0 | $42K |
| Ronald J Frederick | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Paul W Ware | PRES, TREAS & SEC | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Layla Deluria | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Judy S Ware | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$21.2M
Fair Market Value
$23M
Net Worth
$21.2M
Grants Paid
$905K
Contributions
$486K
Net Investment Income
$2M
Distribution Amount
$1M
Total: $17.9M
Total Grants
105
Total Giving
$3.4M
Average Grant
$33K
Median Grant
$20K
Unique Recipients
51
Most Common Grant
$50K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Of Scouting Museum IncGENERAL OPERATING | Valley Forge, PA | $100K | 2022 |
| Friendship CommunityPURCHASE ADAPTIVE VEHICLE | Lititz, PA | $20K | 2022 |
| Fulton Opera House FoundationANNUAL | Lancaster, PA | $100K | 2022 |
| Union Community CareMOBILE HEALTHCARE | Lancaster, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Lancaster Country Day SchoolANNUAL | Lancaster, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Central Penn College Education FoundationMEDICAL ASSISTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | Summerdale, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Hospice Of Lancaster CountyEXPANSION OF PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES | Lancaster, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Lancaster MennoniteCAPITAL CAMPAIGN - LINCOLN HIGHWAY CAMPUS | Lancaster, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Spanish American Civic AssociationTUITION FOR LOW-INCOME ENROLLEES AT TEC CENTRO | Lancaster, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Willow Valley Memory CareWILLOW VALLEY MEMORY CARE CENTER | Willow Street, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Community First FundCOMMUNITY FIRST FUND CREDIT UNION | Philadelphia, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Elizabethtown CollegeCYBER COLLEGE | Elizabethtown, PA | $50K | 2022 |
| Lancaster General Health FoundationCLINICAL TRIALS - LOCATION/STAFFING | Lancaster, PA | $25K | 2022 |
| Planned ParenthoodCAPITAL CAMPAIGN | Lancaster, PA | $25K | 2022 |
| Samaritan Counseling CenterGENERAL OPERATING | Lancaster, PA | $20K | 2022 |
| Advoz Mediation & Restorative PracticesVICTIM OFFENDER CONFERENCE & MAKING PEACE WORKSHOPS | Lancaster, PA | $20K | 2022 |
| Lancasterlebanon Habitat For HumanityOPEN DOORS BUILDING CAMPAIGN | Lancaster, PA | $20K | 2022 |
| North MuseumGENERAL OPERATING | Lancaster, PA | $15K | 2022 |
| Pennsylvania College Of Art And DesignFEASIBILITY STUDY | Lancaster, PA | $15K | 2022 |
| 7th Ward ReunionEVENT SPONSORSHIP | Lancaster, PA | $10K | 2022 |
| Lancaster ConservancyPROTECT NATURAL LANDS | Lancaster, PA | $10K | 2022 |
| Lancaster Science FactoryHANDS-ON STEM AND MATH WORKSHOPS TO-GO | Lancaster, PA | $8K | 2022 |
| Susquehanna Service DogsCAPITAL PURCHASES | Harrisburg, PA | $8K | 2022 |
| Music For EveryoneINSTRUMENT REPAIR PROGRAM | Lancaster, PA | $5K | 2022 |
| Servant StageCHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL PERFORMANCE | Strasburg, PA | $5K | 2022 |
| Lancaster Safety CoalitionSURVEILLANCE CAMERA PURCHASE | Lancaster, PA | $5K | 2022 |
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
LIGONIER, PA
PITTSBURGH, PA