Erie Insurance has established the Erie Insurance Foundation, a private charitable organization aimed at supporting long-term philanthropic efforts and grantmaking initiatives.
To launch the foundation, Erie Indemnity Company, which is the management company for Erie Insurance, is contributing $100 million.
The foundation will operate as a separate entity, with its board of directors and officers responsible for overseeing charitable strategy, funding decisions, and investment management. It will consolidate much of the company’s existing charitable activity, previously managed through the Erie Giving Network.
The foundation’s launch is part of Erie Insurance’s centennial observance in 2025, which also includes community-focused efforts such as “100 Days of Service” and “100 Days of Giving,” involving employee volunteerism and contributions to local organizations.
Christy Blashock, chief diversity and community development officer at Erie Insurance, will serve as president of the new foundation. She said the organization is intended to provide ongoing support to community initiatives across the company’s operating regions.
The creation of the foundation follows a broader pattern in the US insurance sector, where several large insurers have established charitable foundations to manage long-term giving strategies and formalize their approach to community investment. These foundations often focus on areas such as education, disaster recovery, health, and financial literacy.
Erie Insurance continues to fund several other charitable programs in addition to the new foundation. Its Erie Giving Network supports community engagement efforts, including volunteer initiatives such as the Erie Service Corps and a Matching Gifts program that contributes to employee-selected nonprofits. The company also provides scholarships through the H.O. Hirt Scholarship Fund and offers employee support through the F.W. Hirt Employee Emergency Fund.
Educational efforts include the “Investing in Our Future” grant program, which supports organizations working to reduce poverty through education. The program awards grants between $25,000 and $150,000 to nonprofits focused on school readiness, instructional support, and youth development.
The company is also involved in environmental initiatives, including the “100 Trees Project” in Erie, Pennsylvania. The program, recognized by the Plant It Forward initiative, involves planting street trees in urban neighborhoods. Erie Insurance has also partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to expand tree-planting efforts across its broader geographic footprint.
