Esbenshade Foundation
Esbenshade Foundation is a private foundation based in Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania. Its 2023 filing reports 13 grants totaling $78,000; the organizations named among its grantees include education, homelessness, cross-cultural training, and Christian retreat organizations.
Esbenshade Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $944,215
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $29,467
- -90.0% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $3,863
- +18.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $22,311
- +68.8% vs 2024
- 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 Esbenshade Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit any pertinent information they deem helpful; no standard form is used. The filing states that there are no deadlines or restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Denise Wenger Treasurer Esbenshade
Mailing address: 1592 Hunsicker Road, Birdinhand, PA 17505
Phone: (717) 397-6642
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Esbenshade Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The reported 2023 grantees listed above are located in Mechanicsburg, Exton, Lancaster, and Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is Esbenshade Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 8% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2023) to $89K (2021). In 2023 it made 13 grants totaling $78K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mennonite Central Committee Akron, PA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Mennonite Disaster Service Litiz, PA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Neffsville Mennonite Church Lancaster, PA | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Water Street Rescue Mission Lancaster, PA | General Fund | $6,000 |
| Black Rock Retreat Quarryville, PA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Bridge of Hope Harrisburg, PA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Global Disciples Lancaster, PA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Rainbows End Youth Services Mt Joy, PA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| The Jesus Film Project Orlando, FL | General Fund | $5,000 |
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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 | $944,215 | $29,467 | $22,311 | — | — | $3,863 | $17,646 | $48,104 |
| 2024 | $935,552 | $294,861 | $13,220 | — | — | $3,250 | $284,775 | $40,163 |
| 2023 | $656,748 | $47,263 | $93,071 | $78,000 | 13 | $81,350 | $35,542 | $41,176 |
| 2022 | $702,556 | $42,566 | $100,531 | $83,000 | 13 | $86,186 | $29,699 | $44,591 |
| 2021 | $760,521 | $100,938 | $107,451 | $89,000 | 14 | $91,981 | $86,144 | $51,257 |
| 2020 | $767,034 | $77,343 | $104,815 | $89,000 | 14 | — | $64,463 | $45,334 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esbenshade Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported 2023 grantees describe their own work as follows: Messiah University says it educates students toward maturity in intellect, character, and Christian faith; Bridge of Hope Inc says it engages Christian faith communities in ending family homelessness; Global Disciples says it trains people to relate well cross-culturally and live as responsible global Christians; and Black Rock Retreat says it spreads the Gospel and strengthens the church through facilities, programs, and staff supporting spiritual growth and restoration.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $78,000 through 13 grants. Four reported grants were $5,000 each: Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Bridge of Hope Inc in Exton, Pennsylvania; Global Disciples in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that applicants should provide any pertinent information they deem helpful; no standard form is used, and there are no stated award restrictions or deadlines.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ted Esbenshade as president, Jay Esbenshade as vice president, and Denise Wenger as treasurer.
Esbenshade Foundation is led by Ted Esbenshade, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ted Esbenshade
President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Wenger
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Esbenshade
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ruby Y. Esbenshade (2020–2024) — Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Esbenshade Foundation
How large is Esbenshade Foundation?
Esbenshade Foundation reported $944K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Esbenshade Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Esbenshade Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit any pertinent information they deem helpful; no standard form is used. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Esbenshade Foundation make grants?
The reported 2023 grantees listed above are located in Mechanicsburg, Exton, Lancaster, and Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
What is Esbenshade Foundation's EIN?
Esbenshade Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0031087. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from Esbenshade 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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