Gamber Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Lancaster, PA EIN: 23-2331958
EducationHealthHuman services

Gamber Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Vermont, with most grant dollars going to Pennsylvania recipients.

Gamber Foundation at a glance

In short: Gamber Foundation gave $281K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$280,550
+4.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
22
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$12,752
+4.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$11,000
Total assets
$4,805,965
+2.1% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
5% first-time grantees (1 of 22, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (95% 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 Gamber Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
Yes
How to Apply

The 2023 filing states that the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Applicants should submit pertinent information they consider helpful; no standard form is used, and the filing lists no restrictions on awards.

Review Cycle
None listed in the 2023 filing.
Deadline
None listed in the 2023 filing.
Contact

Application contact: Michael T Kane President Gamber Fou
Mailing address: 2220 Dutch Gold Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (717) 393-1716

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Gamber Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center: $30KSchreiber Pediatric RehabCenter$30KUnited Disabilities Services: $30KUnited Disabilities Services$30KWater Street Rescue Ministries: $26KWater Street Rescue Ministries$26KBoys and Girls Clubs of Lancaster: $25KBoys and Girls Clubs ofLancaster$25KLancaster Early Education Center: $20KLancaster Early EducationCenter$20KCommunity Action Partnership: $15KCommunity Action Partnership$15KThe Lancaster Salvation Army: $15KThe Lancaster Salvation Army$15KThe Gate House: $13KThe Gate House$13KFriendship Community Ministries: $12KFriendship CommunityMinistries$12KLancaster Area Habitat for Humanity: $12KLancaster Area Habitat forHumanity$12K

The largest 2025 recipient was Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center ($30K). Together the top 10 received $198K.

Grant Size Distribution

111 grants across all recorded years

111<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 111 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 3% to Maryland, 1% to New Hampshire, and 1% to Vermont.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.

Cities

LancasterLititzBurlingtonFranconiaWortonMillersvilleManheim

Is Gamber Foundation open to new grantees?

5%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 22 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $13K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $12K repeat.

  • 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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

$0$100K$200K$300K25 grants2019 24 grants2020 23 grants2021 22 grants2022 22 grants2023 22 grants2024 22 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $241K (2019) to $281K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $281K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center Lancaster, PACapital Improvements on Center and Playground$30,000
United Disabilities Services Lancaster, PASupport Udsf's General Operating Fund$30,000
Water Street Rescue Ministries Lancaster, PAKuhns Hall Renovation$26,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Lancaster Lancaster, PAHomework Help Program$25,000
Lancaster Early Education Center Lancaster, PAGeneral Fund$20,000
Community Action Partnership Lancaster, PAGeneral Fund$15,000
The Lancaster Salvation Army Lancaster, PASupport Bilingual Rent & Utility Assistance$15,000
The Gate House Lancaster, PATransitional Living Scholarships$12,500
Friendship Community Ministries Lititz, PACapital campaign for housing with medical, psychological and social support for residents$12,000
Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity Lancaster, PABuilding Fund$12,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$4,805,965$386,778$288,507$280,55022$284,765$262,778$274,521
2024$4,707,694$338,774$272,471$267,80022$269,315$233,788$267,626
2023$4,641,391$324,839$267,665$263,65022$265,165$205,759$244,447
2022$4,584,217$291,485$268,671$267,00022$267,015$182,699$255,776
2021$4,561,403$310,048$271,936$267,00023—$185,298$265,753
2020$4,523,291$290,138$254,833$248,00024—$175,056$247,968
2019$4,487,986$273,284$242,623$240,50025—$179,645$238,745

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gamber Foundation reported a distributable amount of $275K 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 foundation does not state a mission in the available filing information. Its grants support organizations working in areas including disability services, children’s services, housing, education, and community assistance. For example, United Disabilities Services describes its mission as enhancing the independence and lives of people with physical and age-related disabilities through care and support services. Milagro House says it provides educational programming, housing, and life-skills training for women and children experiencing homelessness. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $280,550. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $11,000. Among the largest grants were $30,000 to Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center for capital improvements to its center and playground; $30,000 to United Disabilities Services for general operating support; $26,000 to Water Street Rescue Ministries for the Kuhns Hall renovation; and $25,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Lancaster for its Homework Help Program. Other notable awards included $20,000 to Lancaster Early Education Center for its general fund and $15,000 each to Community Action Partnership for its general fund and The Lancaster Salvation Army for bilingual rent and utility assistance.

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It uses no standard application form; applicants should include any pertinent information they consider helpful. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Michael T. Kane as president; Julie A. Good as secretary; and Nancy J. Gamber as treasurer. Directors listed are Christopher Markley, Kitty L. Gamber, Laura Emily Olcott, Marianne M. Gamber, Steven E. Kane, Timothy M. Zimmerman, and W.R. Gamber II.

Gamber Foundation is led by Michael T. Kane, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Michael T. Kane

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher Markley

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kitty L. Gamber

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Emily Olcott

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marianne M. Gamber

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven E. Kane

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Timothy M. Zimmerman

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wr Gamber II

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie A. Good

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy J. Gamber

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about Gamber Foundation

How much does Gamber Foundation give each year?

Gamber Foundation gave $281K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $268K across 22 grants.

What is Gamber Foundation's typical grant size?

Gamber Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $11,000, and its average grant was $12,752, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gamber Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Gamber Foundation give grants?

Gamber Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (16 grants).

Does Gamber Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 27% of Gamber Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Gamber Foundation's largest grantees?

Gamber Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center ($30,000), United Disabilities Services ($30,000) and Water Street Rescue Ministries ($26,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Gamber Foundation?

Gamber Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $285K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $275K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Gamber Foundation fund?

The foundation does not state a mission in the available filing information. Its grants support organizations working in areas including disability services, children’s services, housing, education, and community assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Gamber Foundation?

The 2023 filing states that the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Gamber Foundation's EIN?

Gamber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2331958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Gamber Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

Yes, 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 5, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 16, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 2, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 28, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Gamber Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gamber-foundation-morg_2a2227fba16c49fb8349343d3660b6f3

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232331958_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Gamber Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/gamber-foundation-morg_2a2227fba16c49fb8349343d3660b6f3},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Gamber 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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