John Crain Kunkel Foundation
The John Crain Kunkel Foundation is a private foundation based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It supports religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, with a stated goal of improving quality of life for people in Pennsylvania.
John Crain Kunkel Foundation at a glance
In short: John Crain Kunkel Foundation gave $650K across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $650,088
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- -17.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,669
- +16.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $13,458,679
- +1.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (13 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (96% 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 John Crain Kunkel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted online and must include a completed application, a list of board members, the most recent financial statements prepared by an accountant, and proof of tax-exempt status. Applicants must also provide a specific project budget, including total project cost and the amount requested. Up to three letters of endorsement from collaborating organizations are optional. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- September 1. The foundation lists an application period of January 1 through September 1 and says applicants will be notified by December 15.
- Deadline
- September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Applications Are Submitted Online T
Mailing address: 5000 Ritter Road Suite 202, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone: (717) 902-9817
Website: https://kunkelfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John Crain Kunkel Foundation
Who John Crain Kunkel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Penn State Health - Hampden Medical Center ($90K). Together the top 10 received $364K.
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 172 grants of 184 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports work within Pennsylvania, primarily in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, and Juniata counties. It may consider organizations outside Pennsylvania if they serve, in part, an area, people, or communities within the state. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 4% to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John Crain Kunkel Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 39 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $441K (2022) to $691K (2023). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $650K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Penn State Health - Hampden Medical Center Enola, PA | To purchase the naming rights for the hampden center scenic walking path to say "john crain kunkel". | $90,000 |
| Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts Harrisburg, PA | To support a set of mission-critical upgrades that invest in your core mission. | $90,000 |
| Art Center School & Galleries Mechanicsburg, PA | To improve the gravel lot, water filtration system and add a dedicated sink. | $30,000 |
| United Way of the Capital Region Enola, PA | To help alice families move from crisis to thriving | $25,000 |
| St Stephen's Episcopal School Harrisburg, PA | To renovate/replace three heat pumps within the school's infrastructure have ceased functioning. | $24,938 |
| Board of Child Care Baltimore, MD | To Update the Computer Lab and Library. | $23,700 |
| Bethesda Mission Harrisburg, PA | To Update the Creativity Room. | $20,000 |
| National Civil War Museum Harrisburg, PA | To Complete the Installation of a New Boiler | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Keystone Bensalem, PA | To help alice families move from crisis to thriving | $20,000 |
| UPMC Pinnacle Foundation Harrisburg, PA | To help in the acquisition of advanced simulators to enhance training capabilities for our residents and fellows.to help in the acquisition of advanced simulators to enhance training capabilities for our residents and fellows. | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John Crain Kunkel Foundation?
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 | $13,458,679 | $1,033,056 | $828,049 | $650,088 | 39 | $768,464 | $985,481 | $858,335 |
| 2024 | $13,253,672 | $790,191 | $851,642 | $675,500 | 47 | $797,808 | $740,777 | $811,112 |
| 2023 | $13,315,123 | $826,153 | $867,004 | $691,300 | 41 | $814,278 | $777,666 | $765,853 |
| 2022 | $13,355,974 | $1,093,170 | $651,751 | $440,630 | 22 | $562,439 | $1,044,450 | $804,195 |
| 2021 | $12,914,555 | $1,831,688 | $778,079 | $600,530 | 35 | $721,488 | $1,783,589 | $848,833 |
| 2020 | $11,860,946 | $717,569 | $695,442 | $521,095 | 17 | — | $671,348 | $746,318 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Crain Kunkel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $858K 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 says it sees equal value in all lives and is dedicated to improving quality of life for all individuals within Pennsylvania. Its 2025 grants included support for health care, arts and science, education, social services, and cultural organizations. For example, the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts describes its mission as creating community space through education and cultural experiences; Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center says it works to improve health and well-being in Pennsylvania; and United Way of the Capital Region says it works to address community needs in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 39 grants totaling $650,088. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $90,000, with a median award of $10,000. The largest awards were $90,000 each to Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center for naming rights for a scenic walking path and to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts for mission-critical upgrades. Other awards included $30,000 to Art Center School & Galleries for site improvements, $25,000 to United Way of the Capital Region to help ALICE families move from crisis to thriving, and $24,938 to an individual recipient Episcopal School to replace or renovate heat pumps.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trustees listed on the 2025 filing are Nancy W. Bergert, John P. Davis, Deborah K. Facini, Dave Davis, Emily Kunkel, John K. Stark, Jay W. Stark, Jennifer R. Maguire-Wright, William T. Wright II, and John C. Kunkel III.
John Crain Kunkel Foundation's 2025 filing lists 13 officers; all 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Deborah K. Facini
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Franklin B. Bergert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Jay W. Stark
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Jennifer R. Maguire-Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
John C. Kunkel III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
John K. Stark
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Kenneth R. Stark II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Mary L. Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Nancy W. Bergert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
William T. Wright II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Dave Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
Emily Kunkel
Trustee
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
John P. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Elizabeth K. Davis (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: John C. Kunkelii (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Paul A. Kunkel (2020–2023) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to John K Stark (Trustee). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John Crain Kunkel Foundation
How much does John Crain Kunkel Foundation give each year?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation gave $650K across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $676K across 47 grants.
What is John Crain Kunkel Foundation's typical grant size?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,669, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John Crain Kunkel Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does John Crain Kunkel Foundation give grants?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Harrisburg, PA (22 grants), Enola, PA (3 grants), Mechanicsburg, PA (2 grants) and Carlisle, PA (2 grants).
Does John Crain Kunkel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on John Crain Kunkel Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are John Crain Kunkel Foundation's largest grantees?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Penn State Health - Hampden Medical Center ($90,000), Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts ($90,000) and Art Center School & Galleries ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Crain Kunkel Foundation?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation reported $13.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $768K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $858K (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 John Crain Kunkel Foundation fund?
The foundation says it sees equal value in all lives and is dedicated to improving quality of life for all individuals within Pennsylvania. Its 2025 grants included support for health care, arts and science, education, social services, and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Crain Kunkel Foundation?
Applications are submitted online and must include a completed application, a list of board members, the most recent financial statements prepared by an accountant, and proof of tax-exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John Crain Kunkel Foundation's EIN?
John Crain Kunkel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7026914. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Crain Kunkel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Crain Kunkel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-crain-kunkel-foundation-morg_ee02947df5fd41cf9dadd2d0b0b48b08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237026914_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Crain Kunkel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-crain-kunkel-foundation-morg_ee02947df5fd41cf9dadd2d0b0b48b08},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 John Crain Kunkel 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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