Lightening the Load
Lightening the Load is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing reports $610,000 in grants to 13 organizations.
Lightening the Load at a glance
In short: Lightening the Load gave $610K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $610,000
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,923
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $10,517,938
- -4.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lightening the Load
- 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 for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Jc Hook 2005 Market St 260, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 564-8057
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lightening the Load funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ($200K). Together the top 10 received $588K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 66 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. The remaining grant dollars went to organizations in Georgia (3%), Maryland (2%), and Vermont (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lightening the Load open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) 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. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $547K (2021) to $630K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $610K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $200,000 |
| Community Volunteers in Medicine West Chester, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Foundation | $75,000 |
| Philabundance Philadelphia, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $70,000 |
| Travis Manion Foundation Doylestown, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $62,500 |
| Philadelphia Education Fund Philadelphia, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $60,000 |
| WCU Foundation West Chester, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $45,000 |
| Melmark Berwyn, PA | Promises to Keep Campaign | $25,000 |
| Care Atlanta, GA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $20,000 |
| West Chester Area Senior Center West Chester, PA | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $20,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,517,938 | $246,008 | $733,487 | $610,000 | 13 | $610,000 | $314,052 | $619,416 |
| 2023 | $11,005,417 | $384,945 | $772,310 | $629,500 | 14 | $629,500 | $242,135 | $581,456 |
| 2022 | $11,392,782 | $1,331,133 | $750,212 | $614,500 | 15 | $614,500 | $893,480 | $591,535 |
| 2021 | $10,811,861 | $1,299,361 | $679,701 | $547,000 | 13 | $547,000 | $670,446 | $622,469 |
| 2020 | $10,192,201 | $190,633 | $630,654 | $552,000 | 11 | — | $196,585 | $541,179 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lightening the Load reported a distributable amount of $619K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including healthcare, hunger relief, veterans and families of fallen heroes, education, services for people with disabilities, older-adult programs, and pediatric cancer research. These are areas reflected in the listed grants, not a stated foundation-wide focus.
For example, Community Volunteers in Medicine describes its mission as providing free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured working people with low incomes. Philabundance says it works to drive hunger from communities and end hunger. Travis Manion Foundation says it empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. Melmark describes itself as a human services provider serving people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. MIB Agents describes its work as supporting the pediatric osteosarcoma community through programs, education, and research.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $610,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Notable awards included $200,000 to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, $75,000 to Community Volunteers in Medicine, $70,000 to Philabundance, $62,500 to Travis Manion Foundation, $60,000 to Philadelphia Education Fund, and $45,000 to WCU Foundation. Other reported grants included $25,000 to Melmark, $20,000 each to CARE and West Chester Area Senior Center, and $5,000 to MIB Agents.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patricia A. Holveck as president/director; David P. Holveck as secretary/treasurer/director; and Lisa Boyle and Jennifer Ginelli as directors.
Lightening the Load is led by Patricia A. Holveck, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patricia A. Holveck
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David P. Holveck
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Ginelli
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Boyle
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Lightening the Load
How much does Lightening the Load give each year?
Lightening the Load gave $610K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $630K across 14 grants.
What is Lightening the Load's typical grant size?
Lightening the Load's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $46,923, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lightening the Load that year got $10K on average.
Where does Lightening the Load give grants?
Lightening the Load gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (4 grants) and West Chester, PA (4 grants).
Does Lightening the Load give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Lightening the Load's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant to Another 501(C)(3) Organization" (11 grants).
Who are Lightening the Load's largest grantees?
Lightening the Load's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ($200,000), Community Volunteers in Medicine ($75,000) and Philabundance ($70,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lightening the Load?
Lightening the Load reported $10.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $610K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $619K (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 Lightening the Load fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including healthcare, hunger relief, veterans and families of fallen heroes, education, services for people with disabilities, older-adult programs, and pediatric cancer research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lightening the Load?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lightening the Load's EIN?
Lightening the Load's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2617321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lightening the Load 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lightening the Load's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lightening the Load funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lightening-the-load-morg_938832b5a86242148b993ae2ca3d1c39
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472617321_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lightening the Load funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lightening-the-load-morg_938832b5a86242148b993ae2ca3d1c39},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Lightening the Load'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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