Ar Charitable Foundation
Ar Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Souderton, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 7 grants totaling $9K.
Ar Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Ar Charitable Foundation gave $9K across 7 grants in 2023 (avg $1K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $8,500
- -67.6% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 7
- -30.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $1,214
- -53.7% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026.
Who Ar Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Souderton Area Community Scholarship Fund ($4K). Together the top 7 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ar Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 183% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2020) to $44K (2021). In 2023 it made 7 grants totaling $9K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Souderton Area Community Scholarship Fund Souderton, PA | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Harleysville Area Emergency Medical Service Inc Harleysville, PA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Keystone Opportunity Center Souderton, PA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company Souderton, PA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Harleysville Jaycees Harleysville, PA | General Operations | $500 |
| Telford Diving & Rescue Unit Harleysville, PA | General Operations | $500 |
| VMSC - Indian Valley Telford, PA | General Operations | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Ar Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | $9,850 | $8,500 | 7 | $8,500 | $315 |
| 2022 | $9,850 | $28,000 | $27,545 | $26,250 | 10 | $26,250 | $227 |
| 2021 | $9,395 | $53,000 | $44,750 | $43,500 | 9 | $43,500 | $443 |
| 2020 | $1,145 | — | $4,365 | $3,000 | 4 | — | $111 |
| 2019 | $5,510 | $20,000 | $24,515 | $23,250 | 7 | — | $334 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ar Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315 for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ar Charitable Foundation is led by Donald R. Shepherd, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Donald R. Shepherd
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ethel M. Shepherd
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ar Charitable Foundation
How much does Ar Charitable Foundation give each year?
Ar Charitable Foundation gave $9K across 7 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $26K across 10 grants.
What is Ar Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Ar Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,214, across 7 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ar Charitable Foundation give grants?
Ar Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Souderton, PA (3 grants) and Harleysville, PA (3 grants).
Does Ar Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ar Charitable Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ar Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Ar Charitable Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Souderton Area Community Scholarship Fund ($4,000), Harleysville Area Emergency Medical Service Inc ($1,000) and Keystone Opportunity Center ($1,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How much is Ar Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Ar Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ar Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Ar Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3693494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2023
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ar Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn
Lansdale, PA
The VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn funds nonprofits addressing health access and basic needs, especially for under-resourced people, as well as collaboration and organizational capacity building in the Greater North Penn region of Pennsylvania. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,500 to $140,000, with a median grant of $7,500; a spring cycle offered one-year grants of up to $15,000.
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
44
Total Given
$641K
Telford Area Community Aid Foundation
Fort Washington, PA
Assets
$97K
Grants
9
Total Given
$9K
The Vincent J and Diane R Pappas
Lansdale, PA
The foundation funds charitable organizations working in areas such as housing, food assistance, social services, health, and education, with most of its giving going to Pennsylvania. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.1M
Grants
27
Total Given
$170K
Genuardi Family Foundation
Blue Bell, PA
The foundation’s Core Grant Program supports direct services in food access, homelessness prevention and housing, and job training and placement, with typical grants of $10,000–$25,000 per year. It focuses on organizations serving residents of Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, or Bucks Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It accepts requests through an open online application process; new applicants and some former grantees are asked to contact the foundation before applying.
Assets
$17.1M
Grants
82
Total Given
$2.8M
New Britain Charitable Foundation Inc
Chalfont, PA
Assets
$10K
Grants
8
Total Given
$28K
HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia Inc
Philadelphia, PA
HIAS Pennsylvania funds organizations serving low-income immigrants, including legal services, citizenship education, immigrant children’s services, crime-victim services, and general operating support. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,168 to $411,155, with a median of $19,222, and went primarily to Philadelphia-area organizations, with nearly all funding in Pennsylvania. No application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
$13.2M
Grants
10
Total Given
$791K
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Ar Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Ar Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?