The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) is a public charity based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Established in 1920 as The Greater Harrisburg Foundation, it supports donor philanthropy and local communities through permanent funds, investment, and grantmaking.
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities at a glance
In short: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities gave $7.7M across 285 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,739,936
- +6.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 285
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,158
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,996
- Total assets
- $161,004,830
- +13.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (77 of 283, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
- How to Apply
-
TFEC’s website directs applicants to review the guidelines for the relevant opportunity and apply through its online application system.
- Review Cycle
- The grant-opportunity page lists a cycle with applications available November 1, 2026, a February 1, 2027 deadline, notification by June 1, 2027, and project dates from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028. It also lists a May 1, 2026 deadline for another cycle; that deadline has passed. The Faerie L. Angle Memorial Scholarship Fund lists a June 1, 2026 deadline, which has also passed.
- Deadline
- The grant-opportunity page lists a cycle with applications available November 1, 2026, a February 1, 2027 deadline,…
- Next open deadline
- May 1, 2027 (Arts for All Partnership Grant)
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 North 3Rd Street 8Th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 236-5040
Website: https://tfec.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
77 open opportunities from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
Anil and Neema Thakrar Family Fund Grant
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Arts for All Partnership Grant
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
Amount
Up to US $7,500
Deadline
Expected ~May
Based on past cycles
Beistle Company Scholarship Grant
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Foundation for Enhancing Communities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sankara Eye Foundation USA ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($12,215), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,074 grants of 1,156 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
TFEC is based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and its website describes its work as serving area communities. Several listed opportunities have specific local scopes, including Perry County and Franklin County. In 2025, 66% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the other listed recipient-state shares were California, 17%; New York, 10%; Tennessee, 1%; and Maryland, 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 285 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Foundation for Enhancing Communities open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 77 of 283 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2021) to $7.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 285 grants totaling $7.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sankara Eye Foundation USA Milpitas, CA | HEALTH | $1,238,450 |
| Guiding Eyes for the Blind Yorktown Heights, NY | Human Service | $750,000 |
| Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA | Educational | $232,174 |
| United Way of the Capital Region Enola, PA | Community Development | $153,788 |
| Perry County Council of the Arts Newport, PA | Arts, Humanities | $126,972 |
| Parish Presbyterian Church Franklin, TN | Religion | $100,000 |
| Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation King of Prussia, PA | HEALTH | $100,000 |
| Bethesda Mission of Harrisburg Harrisburg, PA | Human Service | $96,289 |
| St Thomas Lutheran Church Saint Thomas, PA | Religion | $88,871 |
| Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Harrisburg, PA | Human Service | $87,400 |
Ready to take the next step with The Foundation for Enhancing Communities?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $161,004,830 | $17,460,737 | $14,092,536 | $7,739,936 | 285 | $3,854,074 |
| 2024 | $142,041,541 | $16,860,850 | $13,314,932 | $7,275,007 | 265 | $2,973,543 |
| 2023 | $120,074,104 | $6,321,119 | $12,415,926 | $6,303,824 | 246 | $1,598,427 |
| 2022 | $107,592,484 | $47,434,480 | $10,244,249 | $3,573,587 | 214 | $41,662,251 |
| 2021 | $134,056,837 | $15,909,729 | $8,558,572 | $2,428,146 | 146 | $7,932,426 |
| 2020 | $112,582,110 | $10,527,158 | $8,353,882 | $3,185,934 | 170 | $1,679,403 |
| 2019 | $98,795,370 | $13,112,815 | $12,004,584 | $7,164,557 | 207 | $4,270,880 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
TFEC’s mission is to inspire giving by partnering with donors to achieve their charitable goals and strengthen local communities by investing in them for current and future generations. Its stated values include inclusion, stewardship, endurance, and integrity.
The funder’s listed opportunities address a range of needs. For example, the Harold M. Greaney Fund supports programs and services for Perry County citizens; the University Center at Harrisburg Grant Fund focuses on skill and workforce development; and the Kids Trust Fund supports programs and services for young children experiencing physical or emotional abuse or neglect. The Perry County Community Foundation lists arts and culture, community development, education, environment, and health and human services as priorities, with additional emphasis on areas including mental health and early childhood education. TFEC also offers community equity grants for organizations working to create change and increase access.
The organizations receiving TFEC’s largest 2025 grants illustrate the range of grantees and purposes. Sankara Eye Foundation USA describes its mission as working to eradicate curable blindness in India. Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation describes providing financing, education, and advocacy to help people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians obtain assistive technology. An individual recipient Food Bank says it works to ensure people experiencing hunger have access to wholesome food.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, TFEC reported 285 grants totaling $7,739,936. Grant amounts ranged from $5,001 to $1,238,450, with a median of $12,996.
Among the largest reported grants were $1,238,450 to Sankara Eye Foundation USA for health; $750,000 to Guiding Eyes for the Blind for human services; $232,174 to Messiah University for education; $153,788 to United Way of the Capital Region for community development; and $126,972 to Perry County Council of the Arts for arts and humanities. Other listed recipients included Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation ($100,000), Bethesda Mission of Harrisburg ($96,289), and an individual recipient Food Bank ($87,400).
TFEC’s grant-seeker guidance says applicants should identify the opportunity that fits their need and service area. Applicants may begin an application without first contacting TFEC, and may apply to more than one opportunity, but may submit only one application per opportunity. When applying to multiple opportunities, applicants should not request funds for identical services or programs in identical regions. The online application instructions say applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) or provide a valid IRS number for a fiscal sponsor; projects may not start sooner than 12 weeks after the application deadline. TFEC invites applicants to request an orientation and one draft review; draft-review requests made less than two weeks before a deadline cannot be honored.
TFEC also administers scholarships for individuals. Listed examples include the Faerie L. Angle Memorial Scholarship Fund for eligible Franklin County residents studying in a J.D. program, and the Mary Grace Shearer MSW Scholarship for eligible students in accredited social work programs in specified Pennsylvania counties.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert E. Caplan, CFA, as chair; Romeo Azondekon as vice chair; Susan Simms Marsh as secretary; David J. Manbeck, CPA, as treasurer; and Teresa Beckner as assistant treasurer. It also lists Cate Barron, Amy Bockis, Hagir Elsheikh, Michael Gillespie, and Robert C. Grubic, PE, as board members.
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is led by Jennifer Doyle, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Doyle
President & CEO
Vice President of Philanthropy & Committee Investment → President, CEO & Community Investment, 2024
President, CEO & Community Investment → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$120K (2019) → $236K (2025)
Robert E. Caplan CFA
Chair
Vice Chairman & Treasurer → Vice Chairman, 2020
Vice Chairman → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Demyan
Senior Executive Vice President & CFO
Vice President & CFO → Senior Executive Vice President & CFO, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$139K (2019) → $209K (2025)
Susan Simms Marsh
Secretary
Board Member → Assistant Secretary, 2021
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David J. Manbeck CPA
Treasurer
Board Member → Assistant Treasurer, 2021
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David W. Kutz
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Ann Hancock
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marlene Kanuck
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C. Grubic Pe
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Romeo Azondekon
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Martin
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Bockis
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cate Barron
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keaton Macut
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robyn Holder
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Beckner
Assistant Treasurer
Board Member → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beck Moore
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hagir Elsheikh
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Tressler
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gillespie
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (26)
- Former: Esmeralda Y. Hetrick (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Gregg D. Klopp (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Janice R. Black (2019–2024) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Todd C. Snovel (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Marielle Hazen (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Carolyn Dumaresq (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Amanda Owens (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: L. Renee Lieux-Brechbiel (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Cyndee Cohen (2023) — Board Member
- Former: David G. Forney (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer H. Zaborney (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Samir S. Parikh (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: David F. Spang (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Greg Royer (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Judy S. Blust (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Devin Q. Langan (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Dolly M. Lalvani (2019–2020) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Douglas Neidich (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Glenn P. Heisey (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: L. Renee Lieux (2019–2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Neal S. West Esq. (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Richard D. Spiegelman (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Robert J. Dolan Asa (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tita Eberly (2019–2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Gregory J. Royer (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kimberly K. Schaller (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $236K, to Jennifer Doyle (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
How much does The Foundation for Enhancing Communities give each year?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities gave $7.7M across 285 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.3M across 265 grants.
What is The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's typical grant size?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's median grant in 2025 was $12,996, and its average grant was $27,158, across 285 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities that year got $23K on average.
Where does The Foundation for Enhancing Communities give grants?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (17%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Harrisburg, PA (90 grants), Chambersburg, PA (21 grants), Mechanicsburg, PA (12 grants) and Camp Hill, PA (12 grants).
Does The Foundation for Enhancing Communities give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 285 grants with a stated purpose on The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Development" (199 grants), "Human Service" (22 grants) and "Arts, Humanities" (20 grants).
Who are The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's largest grantees?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's largest 2025 grantees include Sankara Eye Foundation USA ($1,238,450), Guiding Eyes for the Blind ($750,000) and Messiah University ($232,174), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($12,215), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Foundation for Enhancing Communities?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities reported $161.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.5M.
What does The Foundation for Enhancing Communities fund?
TFEC’s mission is to inspire giving by partnering with donors to achieve their charitable goals and strengthen local communities by investing in them for current and future generations. Its stated values include inclusion, stewardship, endurance, and integrity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities?
TFEC’s website directs applicants to review the guidelines for the relevant opportunity and apply through its online application system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's EIN?
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0564355. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Foundation for Enhancing Communities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Total Given
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Foundation for Enhancing Communities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-foundation-for-enhancing-communities-morg_4c86bfb2b0d143b4a6719ce03aa3309e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010564355_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Foundation for Enhancing Communities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-foundation-for-enhancing-communities-morg_4c86bfb2b0d143b4a6719ce03aa3309e},
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 The Foundation for Enhancing Communities'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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