The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey
The John R. Hershey Jr. and Anna L. Hershey Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Hagerstown, Maryland. Established in 2004, the foundation is dedicated to uplifting and supporting charitable organizations and worthy individuals within Washington County, Maryland, with the goal of enhancing the overall quality of life in the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.9M
+13.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$287K
+10.1% YoY
Grant Count
30
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+2.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide aid and encouragement to charitable organizations that carry out their activities and work primarily in Washington County, Maryland. The foundation focuses on philanthropy and grantmaking, with support directed toward education, human services, and community development initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes approximately 28-30 grants annually. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
**: $6,000 to $8,000
How to Apply
The foundation accepts applications during a specific window:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington County, Maryland. However, it has historically provided support to organizations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, including communities such as Adelphi, Allentown, Bethlehem, Boonsboroough, Columbia, Fayetteville, Frederick, Hagerstown, Maugansville, Middleburg, Smithsburg, and Waynesboro.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $4,900,440
- Total revenues: $1,005,453
- Total expenses: $406,293
- Total giving: $286,795 to $287,000
- Number of employees: 0
Historical trends:
- 2023: $4.3M in assets, $261K in giving across 28 grants
- 2022: $4.2M in assets, $194K in giving across 32 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,900,440 | $4,308,420 | $4,179,841 |
| Revenue | $1,005,453 | $439,327 | $395,554 |
| Expenses | $406,293 | $312,892 | $275,551 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $301,795 | $260,551 | $201,069 |
| Net Investment Income | $946,323 | $391,981 | $348,667 |
| Distributable Amount | $288,885 | $259,284 | $248,639 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Washington County Museum of Fine Arts ($25,500), Meritus Healthcare Foundation ($25,000), Saint James School ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $7,500 |
| BARBARA INGRAM SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $6,000 |
| BCA-CV INC HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $7,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $2,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $10,000 |
| BROOKE'S HOUSE HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $5,000 |
| BUTTONWOOD NATURE CENTER WAYNESBORO, PA | SUPPORT MISSION | $12,500 |
| CEDAR CREST COLLEGE ALLENTOWN, PA | SUPPORT MISSION | $5,000 |
| CHILDREN IN NEED INC HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $12,500 |
| CHILDREN'S VILLAGE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAGERSTOWN, MD | SUPPORT MISSION | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a board of directors:
- John R. Hershey III - President
- Lynne H. Hershey - Vice President
- Karen A. Spessard - Treasurer
- Cheryl L. Hershey - Secretary and Director Emeritus
- Holden Hershey - Director
- Gerry Spessard - Director
- Laura Herrera - Director
- Erin Hershey - Director
All officers serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN R HERSHEY III | PRESIDENT | 4 | $15,000 |
| LYNNE H HERSHEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | $15,000 |
| KAREN A SPESSARD | TREASURER | 2 | $15,000 |
| CHERYL L HERSHEY | SECRETARY | 2 | $15,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide aid and encouragement to charitable organizations that carry out their activities and work primarily in Washington County, Maryland. The foundation focuses on philanthropy and grantmaking, with support directed toward education, human services, and community development initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey?
The foundation makes approximately 28-30 grants annually. Recent grant activity shows: • **Total annual giving**: $286,795 to $287,000 • **Median grant size**: $6,000 to $8,000 • **Grant range**: $1,000 to $75,000 • **Giving rate**: Approximately 5.9% of assets Recent grantees have included the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts ($25,500), Meritus Healthcare Foundation ($25,000), and Saint James School ($25,000). The foundation accepts applications during a specific window: • **Application p…
Where does The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington County, Maryland. However, it has historically provided support to organizations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, including communities such as Adelphi, Allentown, Bethlehem, Boonsboroough, Columbia, Fayetteville, Frederick, Hagerstown, Maugansville, Middleburg, Smithsburg, and Waynesboro.
What size grants does The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey award?
In 2024, The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey awarded 30 grants totaling $287K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey reported a distributable amount of $289K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey's EIN?
The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2152968. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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