Greater Berks Development Fund
Greater Berks Development Fund (GBDF) is a public charity based in Reading, Pennsylvania, formed in 1947. It supports economic and industrial expansion and community revitalization in Reading and Berks County, primarily through business lending, financing projects, and facilitating access to public funding programs.
Greater Berks Development Fund at a glance
- Total assets
- $36,710,746
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $4,767,392
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $979,261
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $3,785,563
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Greater Berks Development Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 606 Court St 100, Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 376-6766
Website: https://greaterreading.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Greater Berks Development Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
168 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 168 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GBDF’s stated mission and program description focus on Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. Its website examples include business and community development projects in Berks County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 168 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Best Western Plus Reading Inn & Suites Shillington, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Coastal Grill LLC Wyomissing, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Crossroads Family Restaurant Muhlenberg, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Crowne Plaza Reading Reading, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Exeter Family Restaurant Reading, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Folio Estate LLC Kutztown, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| Jimmy GS Beverly Hills Tavern Inc Sinking Spring, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| JPD Management LLC DBA Zoup Eatery Wyomissing, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| JSK Reading LLC Wyomissing, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
| MDW Enterprises LLC Kutztown, PA | Allieviate Losses Related to Covid-19 Pandemic | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,710,746 | $4,767,392 | $3,785,563 | — | — | $979,261 |
| 2024 | $35,401,732 | $4,853,608 | $3,789,184 | — | — | $833,064 |
| 2023 | $36,750,712 | $3,411,004 | $3,293,042 | — | — | $426,952 |
| 2022 | $36,026,079 | $4,581,165 | $3,168,289 | — | — | $192,698 |
| 2021 | $39,552,158 | $9,719,449 | $9,034,282 | $4,650,000 | 168 | $-584,177 |
| 2020 | $54,955,494 | $7,944,395 | $4,645,462 | — | — | $2,453,153 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
GBDF’s stated mission is to promote economic and industrial expansion and contribute to the economic well-being of Reading and Berks County. It does this by facilitating, promoting, participating in, and financing economic development and community revitalization projects, with the intention of creating jobs and inducing private investment.
The organization’s filing describes its program as providing real estate- and machinery-and-equipment-related loans and other economic and industrial lending. Its website also describes direct loans for eligible businesses on a case-by-case basis, and financing through programs including the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and the PA Catalyst Loan Fund. PIDA financing may support land and building acquisition, construction and renovation, machinery and equipment, and working capital. GBDF is also an eligible applicant for Local Share Account (LSA) funds for public-interest projects; the website lists community and economic development examples.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports zero grants; filings for 2024 and 2023 also report zero grants. The available information does not provide a recent annual total or typical grant size. The website does describe GBDF obtaining LSA funding for projects benefiting other organizations and communities. Examples include $98,287 for Our Town Foundation’s work at the historic Strand Theater in Hamburg and $35,382 for its State Street Square project. These are project awards described on the website, distinct from the zero grant counts reported in the filings.
GBDF’s financing information primarily describes loans and access to public funding programs, rather than a general grant program for outside applicants. The website says LSA applications are typically due in September for the Category 4 round, which is $100,000 or less, and in November for the statewide round, which offers up to $1 million. It identifies GBDF as an eligible applicant for those funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists:
- Daniel R. Langdon — Chairman of the Board
- Ernest J. Choquette, Esq. — Vice Chairman
- Debra L. Millman — President
- Michael A. Duff — Secretary
- Michael Vind — Treasurer
- Charles F. Barbera, MD — Board Member
- Joseph N. Butto — Board Member
- Glynis Fitzgerald — Board Member
- John Hanna — Board Member
- Ginger Kunkel — Board Member
- Susan D. Looney — Board Member
- Jamey Maack — Board Member
Greater Berks Development Fund is led by Lucine Sihelnik, CEO on every filing since 2024; none of the 19 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lucine Sihelnik
CEO
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra L. Millman
President
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel R. Langdon
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina L. Weeber
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ernest J. Choquette Esq.
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamey Maack
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph J. Sigle
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph N. Butto
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael A. Duff
Secretary
Vice President & Secretary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Stewart
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan D. Looney
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy D. Romig
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ginger Kunkel
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Vind
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles F. Barbera MD
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glynis Fitzgerald
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hanna
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Stoltzfus
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey R. Rush
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Jeffery R. Rush (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: David C. Roland (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: James Gerlach (2020–2023) — CEO
- Former: Richard L. Bashore (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Hauseman (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: David M. Shaffer (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: P. Michael Ehlerman (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Edward J. Swoyer Jr. (2020–2021) — Past President · Filing note: Thru 630
- Former: Scott Gruber (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Bruce G. Smith (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Christopher S. Witmer (2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Clint Matthews (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Linda L. Moss (2020) — Board Member
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 Greater Berks Development Fund
How large is Greater Berks Development Fund?
Greater Berks Development Fund reported $36.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.8M.
What does Greater Berks Development Fund fund?
GBDF’s stated mission is to promote economic and industrial expansion and contribute to the economic well-being of Reading and Berks County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Berks Development Fund?
Greater Berks Development Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check greaterreading.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Greater Berks Development Fund make grants?
GBDF’s stated mission and program description focus on Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. Its website examples include business and community development projects in Berks County.
What is Greater Berks Development Fund's EIN?
Greater Berks Development Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6392284. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 4, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
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Greater Berks Development Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?