Chester County Community Foundation Inc
Chester County Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1994, it connects donors with charitable causes through legacy funds and grants, supporting organizations in Chester County and across the United States.
Chester County Community Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Chester County Community Foundation Inc gave $5.2M across 170 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,166,836
- +55.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 170
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,393
- +27.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,879
- Total assets
- $136,202,115
- +15.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (44 of 170, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chester County Community Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
For capacity-building funding, submit a proposal under the foundation’s capacity-building guidelines. General operating applications are closed until January 2027.
- Review Cycle
- Capacity-building proposals are accepted through the end of 2026 and reviewed every other month.
- Deadline
- Capacity-building proposals are accepted through the end of 2026 and reviewed every other month.
- Contact
Mailing address: 28 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 696-8211
Website: https://chescocf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
19 open opportunities from Chester County Community Foundation Inc
Bruce E. Hepke Memorial Scholarship Grant
Chester County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
US $1,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Chester County Estate Planning Council Scholarship Grant
Chester County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
US $500 - US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
East End Neighborhood Association Scholarship Fund Grant
Chester County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Chester County Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Endowment Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
793 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 672 grants of 793 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it makes grants to charities in Chester County and across the United States. In filing year 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 20% to Ohio, and 1% each to New York, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 170 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Chester County Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 44 of 170 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 51% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2019) to $7.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 170 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation Hudson, OH | Human Services | $1,012,650 |
| Arts Holding Hands & Hearts Kennett Square, PA | Arts & Culture | $168,995 |
| Community Volunteers in Medicine West Chester, PA | Health | $155,848 |
| Wharton Esherick Museum Paoli, PA | Arts & Culture | $151,455 |
| Chester County Hospital Foundation West Chester, PA | Health | $105,579 |
| Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA | Education & Library | $100,000 |
| North Wales Area Library North Wales, PA | Education & Library | $100,000 |
| Wissahickon Valley Public Library Blue Bell, PA | Education & Library | $100,000 |
| Fund for Women and Girls West Chester, PA | Education & Library | $89,514 |
| Chester County Food Bank Exton, PA | Human Services | $86,380 |
Ready to take the next step with Chester County Community Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $136,202,115 | $21,125,233 | $8,863,509 | $5,166,836 | 170 | $7,921,448 |
| 2024 | $118,449,078 | $14,532,199 | $6,843,480 | $3,326,548 | 140 | $4,458,829 |
| 2023 | $103,228,321 | $20,699,529 | $8,621,620 | $5,108,148 | 141 | $1,657,373 |
| 2022 | $86,163,241 | $21,195,715 | $8,001,365 | $5,362,742 | 147 | $6,706,382 |
| 2021 | $91,764,111 | $17,661,359 | $9,662,491 | $7,248,536 | 195 | $3,384,623 |
| 2020 | $69,411,798 | $10,391,723 | $4,524,327 | $2,171,830 | 107 | $2,564,465 |
| 2019 | $64,791,228 | $11,022,747 | $4,790,761 | $2,115,549 | 104 | $2,694,757 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to connect people who care with causes that matter, so their philanthropy makes a difference now and forever.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations categorized in arts and culture, health, education and libraries, and human services. Among the grantees, Community Volunteers in Medicine says it provides free health care to uninsured working people with low incomes; Wharton Esherick Museum describes its work as preserving and opening the Esherick campus, art collection, and archive to the public; and the Fund for Women and Girls says it works through philanthropy and advocacy to help women and girls thrive.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 170 grants totaling $5,166,836. Grant amounts ranged from $5,173 to $1,012,650, with a median of $12,879. The largest grant was $1,012,650 to American Endowment Foundation, which describes its mission as expanding the capacity of American philanthropy throughout the financial services industry. Other notable grants included $168,995 to Arts Holding Hands & Hearts, $155,848 to Community Volunteers in Medicine, $151,455 to Wharton Esherick Museum, and $105,579 to Chester County Hospital Foundation.
The foundation’s website says the general operating grant application is closed until January 2027. Capacity-building applications are accepted through the end of 2026 and reviewed every other month. This funding is for specific projects or investments that strengthen a nonprofit’s long-term effectiveness and sustainability, not ongoing programs, services, operations, or capital improvements. The foundation’s published proposal guidelines state that applicants must be charitable, tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) certification; individuals cannot apply. The guidelines also describe proposals being shared with fund advisors, donors, and grant panels.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Simmons as president/CEO and Bob Ferguson as executive vice president of business affairs. Zebulun Davenport, EdD, is listed as board chair; Erik Gudmundson as chair elect; and Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esq., as immediate past chair. Other listed board officers and directors include Emily Temple Abels, Esq.; Les Bear; Stephanie Pahides Kalogredis, Esq.; Rob Necarsulmer; and Mark McCarron.
Chester County Community Foundation Inc is led by Karen Simmons, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 2 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen Simmons
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$160K (2019) → $219K (2025)
Stephanie Pahides Kalogredis Esq.
Board Vice Chair & Committee Chair
Committee Member → Committee Chair, 2023
Committee Chair → Board Vice Chair & Committee Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zebulun Davenport EdD
Board Chair
Committee Member → Board Vice Chair, 2023
Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Zwann Milne Esq.
Committee Chair
Committee Member → Committee Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.9 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark McCarron
Committee Chair
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Necarsulmer
Corp Secretary, Treasurer & Committee Chair
On filings since 2023
0.9 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Ferguson
Executive Vice President & Business Affairs
Executive Vice Pesident & Business Affairs → Executive Vice President & Business Affairs, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$91K (2020) → $128K (2025)
Cindy Sineath Ray CPA
Committee Member
On filings since 2019
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Winifred Moran Sebastian Esq.
Immediate Past Chair
Corp Secretary, Treasurer & Committee Chair → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Vermeil
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Urian CPA
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Gudmundson
Chair Elect
Committee Member → Committee Chair, 2022
Committee Chair → Chair Elect, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Antonelli Esq.
Committee Member
On filings since 2021
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Temple Abels Esq.
Board Vice Chair
Committee Member → Board Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Allegretto Esq.
Committee Member
Committee Member → Committee Member Til, 2024
Committee Member Til → Committee Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Les Bear
Board Vice Chair
Committee Member → Board Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Hoffman CPA
Committee Member
On filings since 2022
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bronwyn Martin PhD
Committee Member
On filings since 2023
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Ortega Moran EdD
Committee Member
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deb Bookman
Committee Member
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richelle Foreman Gunter
Committee Member
On filings since 2024
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: John F. McKenna Esq. (2019–2024) — Committee Member Til
- Former: Michael A. Dehaven CPA (2019–2024) — Immediate Past Chair Til
- Former: Phillip C. Wagner CFA (2019–2024) — Committee Member Til
- Former: Kathy Wileczek CPA (2020–2024) — Committee Member
- Former: Matthew Holliday (2020–2024) — Committee Member Til
- Former: Mary Holleran (2021–2024) — Committee Member Til
- Former: Jacqueline Moytl Esq. (2022–2024) — Committee Member Til
- Former: Ginny Kricun (2024) — Committee Member
- Former: Donald E. Lynn Esq. (2019–2022) — Committee Member
- Former: Kathy Dean-Bradley CPA (2019–2022) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Margaret Freeman (2019–2022) — Committee Member
- Former: Michael R. Horak CFA (2019–2022) — Board Vice Chair & Committee Chair
- Former: Natalie Ortega Moran Ehd (2022) — Committee Member
- Former: Anthony Morris Esq. (2019–2021) — Imm Past Chair
- Former: Joanne Peskoff Bear Esq. (2019–2021) — Committee Chair
- Former: James E. McErlane Esq. (2019–2020) — Committee Member
- Former: Kevin Holleran Esq. (2019–2020) — Committee Member
- Former: Robert E. Rigg Cic Cpcu Clu (2019–2020) — Imm Past Chair
- Former: Carol A. Clark (2019) — Committee Member
- Former: John H. Diederich CFA (2019) — Committee Member
- Former: Michael B. Karwic CFP (2019) — Committee Member
- Former: Pamela Leland PhD (2019) — Committee Member
- Former: Patrick C. South CFA (2019) — Committee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $219K, to Karen Simmons (President/CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chester County Community Foundation Inc
How much does Chester County Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc gave $5.2M across 170 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.3M across 140 grants.
What is Chester County Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,879, and its average grant was $30,393, across 170 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chester County Community Foundation Inc that year got $23K on average.
Where does Chester County Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were West Chester, PA (34 grants), Kennett Square, PA (16 grants), Philadelphia, PA (10 grants) and Phoenixville, PA (9 grants).
Does Chester County Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 170 grants with a stated purpose on Chester County Community Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services" (83 grants), "Arts & Culture" (24 grants) and "Environment & Animals" (22 grants).
Who are Chester County Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include American Endowment Foundation ($1,012,650), Arts Holding Hands & Hearts ($168,995) and Community Volunteers in Medicine ($155,848), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chester County Community Foundation Inc?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc reported $136.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.1M.
What does Chester County Community Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to connect people who care with causes that matter, so their philanthropy makes a difference now and forever. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chester County Community Foundation Inc?
For capacity-building funding, submit a proposal under the foundation’s capacity-building guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chester County Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Chester County Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2773822. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Chester County Community Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chester County Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chester County Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chester-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_ce67cf82c73c430c9575a3a5af84472c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232773822_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chester County Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chester-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_ce67cf82c73c430c9575a3a5af84472c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Chester County Community Foundation Inc'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.
Chester County Community Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?