City Limits Foundation
City Limits Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In its 2025 filing, it reported 44 grants totaling $697,050 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in youth education and mentorship, food assistance, housing, and community development.
City Limits Foundation at a glance
In short: City Limits Foundation gave $697K across 44 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $697,050
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 44
- -2.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,842
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,250
- Total assets
- $6,478,465
- +40.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (14 of 44, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to City Limits Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 221 E Mifflin St, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 468-9535
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who City Limits Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Evolve Youth Trades Academy Inc ($124K). Together the top 10 received $383K.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 125 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 1% to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
Is City Limits Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 44 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 268% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 313% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $189K (2022) to $725K (2024). In 2025 it made 44 grants totaling $697K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Evolve Youth Trades Academy Inc Harrisburg, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $123,500 |
| Advantage Lancaster Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recepient. | $39,000 |
| Bridge of Hope Lancaster Exton, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient | $38,200 |
| Lancaster County Food Hub Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $30,000 |
| The Mix Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient | $30,000 |
| Lancaster Education Foundation Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $27,500 |
| Tenfold Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $25,000 |
| Lancaster Redevelopment Fund Inc Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient | $25,000 |
| Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $22,800 |
| Lancaster Early Education Center Lancaster, PA | To Further the Mission of the Recipient. | $21,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,478,465 | $3,212,749 | $1,063,269 | $697,050 | 44 | $697,050 | $1,085,336 | $222,987 |
| 2024 | $4,616,477 | $2,590,291 | $990,152 | $725,188 | 45 | $725,188 | $117,004 | $172,644 |
| 2023 | $2,934,393 | $2,121,198 | $412,972 | $332,950 | 25 | $332,950 | — | $57,761 |
| 2022 | $1,216,645 | $1,415,709 | $200,833 | $189,317 | 11 | $189,317 | — | $20,982 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, City Limits Foundation reported a distributable amount of $223K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address a range of community needs. For example, Advantage Lancaster says it equips middle- and high-school students with skills to navigate school and pursue higher education. Lancaster County Food Hub says it strives to meet basic human needs while honoring people’s dignity. Lancaster Education Foundation says it supports teaching excellence and student success in the School District of Lancaster.
Other 2025 recipients describe work in housing and financial security: Tenfold says it works toward equitable housing and financial security, while Lancaster Redevelopment Fund describes its work as providing affordable housing solutions for low- and moderate-income residents of Lancaster County. Touchstone Foundation says it works to improve youth and children’s mental well-being in Lancaster County.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $697,050. Grants ranged from $300 to $123,500, with a median of $12,250. Its largest listed grant was $123,500 to Evolve Youth Trades Academy. Other notable awards included $39,000 to Advantage Lancaster, $38,200 to Bridge of Hope Lancaster, $30,000 each to Lancaster County Food Hub and The Mix, and $27,500 to Lancaster Education Foundation. The filing states that grant purposes were to further recipients’ missions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J. Gary Neff as president, Marsh K. Neff as secretary, and Steven P. Deck as vice president.
City Limits Foundation is led by J. Gary Neff, President on every filing since 2022; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Gary Neff
President
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven P. Deck
Vice President
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
$19K (2023) → $45K (2025)
Marsh K. Neff
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 $45K, to Steven P Deck (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about City Limits Foundation
How much does City Limits Foundation give each year?
City Limits Foundation gave $697K across 44 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $725K across 45 grants.
What is City Limits Foundation's typical grant size?
City Limits Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,250, and its average grant was $15,842, across 44 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from City Limits Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does City Limits Foundation give grants?
City Limits Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (34 grants) and Harrisburg, PA (4 grants).
Does City Limits Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on City Limits Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Mission of the Recipient" (42 grants).
Who are City Limits Foundation's largest grantees?
City Limits Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Evolve Youth Trades Academy Inc ($123,500), Advantage Lancaster ($39,000) and Bridge of Hope Lancaster ($38,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is City Limits Foundation?
City Limits Foundation reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $697K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $223K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does City Limits Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address a range of community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from City Limits Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is City Limits Foundation's EIN?
City Limits Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4509470. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Does City Limits Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in City Limits Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). City Limits Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/city-limits-foundation-morg_8c748af4d8014939acddbb673f9529b6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_874509470_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{City Limits Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/city-limits-foundation-morg_8c748af4d8014939acddbb673f9529b6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 City Limits 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.
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