Burkholder Family Foundation
The Burkholder Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2009 and based in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The foundation was created by Christine and Rick Burkholder following their adoption of twin infants from Guatemala in 2004. The foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children in need of families through adoption-related support and assistance.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48K
-89.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-42.4% YoY
Grant Count
51
-29.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-18.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Burkholder Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: To enhance the lives of children in need of families through adoption grants, loans, and orphanage support.
The foundation's work is rooted in the personal experience of the Burkholder family with international adoption. The organization addresses what it identifies as the global orphan epidemic, which affects over 153 million children worldwide, with an additional 5,700 children becoming orphans daily. The foundation assists families pursuing adoption by providing financial support to help them complete their adoption journeys.
The foundation's funding priorities include:
- Adoption grants and financial assistance
- Orphanage support
- Community support initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
$100 to $265,000
Average Grant
amount: $109 to $109,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including:
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Alabama
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New York
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- New Jersey
- Oklahoma
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $452,504 to $453,000
- Total giving: $1,756,750 to $1,800,586
- Total revenue: $1,251,702
- Total expenses: $1,802,586
- Giving rate: 266.6%
The foundation's expenses exceed its assets, indicating it distributes funds from accumulated reserves and contributions received.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,143 | $452,504 | $898,388 |
| Revenue | $763,595 | $1,251,702 | $2,029,996 |
| Expenses | $1,059,956 | $1,802,586 | $2,325,699 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,057,496 | $1,800,586 | $2,323,743 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,455 | $8,398 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $17,783 | $50,377 | $72,752 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New York School of Urban Ministry ($115,000), Men of Iron ($110,000), Horizon Initiative ($95,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BETHANY CHILDREN'S HOME WOMELSDORF, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $500 |
| BETHEL UNION FIRE COMPANY BETHEL, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $6,250 |
| BIBLE2SCHOOL LANCASTER, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BIG PICTURE SOCCER LANCASTER, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BRIDGE OF HOPE NATIONAL EXTON, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BRITTANY'S HOPE ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CAMP SWATARA BETHEL, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CEF OF LANCASTER COUNTY EAST PETERSBURG, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $35,200 |
| CHRISTIAN RETREAT CENTER EAST WATERFORD, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF LEBANON COUNTY LEBANON, PA | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of unpaid family members:
- Melvin S. Burkholder – President (1 hour/week)
- Matthew V. Burkholder – Vice President/Assistant Treasurer (1 hour/week)
- Lane Burkholder – Secretary (1 hour/week)
- Colby Burkholder – Treasurer (1 hour/week)
- Jeffrey C. Firestone – Assistant Secretary (1 hour/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELVIN S BURKHOLDER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW V BURKHOLDER | VICE PRESIDENT/ ASST. TREAS | 1 | — |
| LANE BURKHOLDER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CORBY BURKHOLDER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY C FIRESTONE | ASST. SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 465, Myerstown, PA 17067-0465
- Phone: 800-733-4191
- EIN: 26-2899494
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Burkholder Family Foundation fund?
**Vision:** To enhance the lives of children in need of families through adoption grants, loans, and orphanage support. The foundation's work is rooted in the personal experience of the Burkholder family with international adoption. The organization addresses what it identifies as the global orphan epidemic, which affects over 153 million children worldwide, with an additional 5,700 children becoming orphans daily. The foundation assists families pursuing adoption by providing financial support…
How do I apply for a grant from Burkholder Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $1,756,750 to $1,800,586 • Number of grants awarded: 72 to 109 grants • Grant range: $100 to $265,000 • Median grant amount: $6,300 to $26,391 • Average grant amount: $109 to $109,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Horizon Initiative: $189,000 • Lighthouse Vocational Services: $115,000 • Men of Iron: $100,000 The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does Burkholder Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including: • Pennsylvania • Ohio • Alabama • California • Florida • Texas • Illinois • Maryland • New York • Minnesota • North Carolina • New Jersey • Oklahoma • Virginia
What size grants does Burkholder Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Burkholder Family Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Burkholder Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Burkholder Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Burkholder Family Foundation's EIN?
Burkholder Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2899494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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