BLOCS Appointed John Steinmetz to Board of Directors

The organization added the retired technology executive to oversee its growing statewide scholarship operations.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold vector editorial illustration of a graduation cap sitting on a stack of paper, representing academic scholarship strategy. — BLOCS has appointed former SEI Investments technology executive John Steinmetz to its board of directors to manage the organization's expanding statewide scholarship operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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BLOCS has appointed former SEI Investments chief technology officer John Steinmetz to its board of directors. The organization currently provides scholarship support to more than 43,000 students across 584 Pennsylvania schools.

Why it matters

The appointment aims to bolster operational leadership as the organization manages a rapid increase in demand for scholarship funding. This strategic addition aligns with the group's ongoing efforts to oversee enterprise strategy during a period of significant growth.

BLOCS now serves 584 schools across Pennsylvania, a significant expansion from its student base of 17,000 recorded two years ago. The organization currently manages scholarships for 43,000 students statewide.

The players

BLOCS

This is a Pennsylvania-based organization that facilitates scholarship funding for students through state-approved tax credit programs.

John Steinmetz

He is the retired chief technology officer of SEI Investments who recently joined the BLOCS board of directors.

The details

BLOCS distributes these scholarships using funds generated through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs. Through these initiatives, businesses and individuals receive state tax credits for contributions directed toward approved scholarship efforts.

2001: Pennsylvania launched the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
2024: The organization served approximately 17,000 students.
2026: The EITC program marks its 25th anniversary and BLOCS appoints a new board member.

Culture Shift

The expansion reflects a broader movement toward private-public partnerships in education funding. It follows the trajectory of Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, which remains a primary vehicle for private scholarship support since its 2001 inception.

The organizational growth means that more Pennsylvania families may access scholarship opportunities for private school tuition. Residents should monitor local scholarship application deadlines to utilize the increased funding capacity supported by these tax credit programs.

The takeaway

The appointment of a technology veteran suggests that the organization is prioritizing digital infrastructure and operational efficiency to scale its services. Families can benefit by staying informed about how evolving state tax credit programs affect local educational funding availability.