Vesta Fund
Vesta Fund is a private foundation based in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing describes an opportunity for grant funding in support of human mental health and animal welfare programs in Greater Philadelphia.
Vesta Fund at a glance
In short: Vesta Fund gave $364K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 97% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $363,500
- -48.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,359
- -23.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,212,939
- +5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 97% first-time grantees (31 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (97% 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 Vesta Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing says an application may be downloaded from the foundation’s website. The Greater Philadelphia funding opportunity is for human mental health and animal welfare programs and is subject to further conditions and limitations. For all other grants, the foundation only makes contributions to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Review Cycle
- Deadlines are posted on the website or can be obtained by contacting the organization.
- Deadline
- Deadlines are posted on the website or can be obtained by contacting the organization.
- Contact
Application contact: Vesta Fund
Mailing address: PO Box 645, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437
Phone: (215) 419-6940
Email: info@vestafund.org
Website: https://vestafund.fr
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vesta Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Renew Theaters Deep Focus Program ($75K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 160 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 3% to recipients in California. The filing identifies the Greater Philadelphia area for its human mental health and animal welfare grant opportunity.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Vesta Fund open to new grantees?
97%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 32 grantees (97%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 81% 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 $364K (2024) to $710K (2023). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $364K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Renew Theaters Deep Focus Program Doylestown, PA | Deep Focus Program | $75,000 |
| Gettysburg College Financial Aid Gettysburg, PA | Financial Aid | $50,000 |
| Alliance Francaise De Philadelphie Underwriting Salary of the Director of E Philadelphia, PA | Educational and Testing Programs | $30,000 |
| Ambler Theater Inc Film Now and 35MM Film Festival Doylestown, PA | Film Festival | $25,000 |
| Gettysburg College Endowment at Majestic Theater Gettysburg, PA | Majestic Theater | $25,000 |
| Power Forward Foundation Power Forward Startup Flourtown, PA | Operation Support and Scholarships | $15,500 |
| Family Promise Montco Pa Unrestricted Ambler, PA | Unrestricted/General Operating Support | $14,000 |
| Eusebeia Relationship Re Do Warrington, PA | General Operating Support | $12,500 |
| Power Forward Foundation Power Forward Foundation Flourtown, PA | Operation Support and Scholarships | $12,500 |
| Kindle Hill Foundation Charity Salary for Part-Time Grantwriteradministra Gwynedd Valley, PA | Salary for Part-Time Grant | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Vesta Fund?
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 | $10,212,939 | $986,422 | $454,725 | $363,500 | 32 | $409,224 | $944,524 | $507,467 |
| 2023 | $9,693,548 | $405,740 | $819,253 | $709,500 | 48 | $780,876 | $354,835 | $463,108 |
| 2022 | $10,110,048 | $256,057 | $773,486 | $670,117 | 26 | $722,254 | $206,520 | $492,725 |
| 2021 | $10,644,211 | $848,038 | $804,110 | $669,500 | 27 | $735,213 | $795,704 | $563,542 |
| 2020 | $10,560,865 | $1,532,266 | $794,443 | $639,885 | 27 | — | $1,489,916 | $477,892 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vesta Fund reported a distributable amount of $507K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The funder’s website says Vesta supports entrepreneurs with ambitious strategic projects and seeks to foster future leaders. Its 2024 filing identifies human mental health and animal welfare programs in Greater Philadelphia as eligible for a grant funding opportunity.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Vesta Fund reported 32 grants totaling $363,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest were $75,000 to Renew Theaters for its Deep Focus Program, $50,000 to Gettysburg College for financial aid, $30,000 to Alliance Française de Philadelphie for educational and testing programs, and $25,000 each to Ambler Theater for its Film Now and 35MM Film Festival and Gettysburg College for its Majestic Theater endowment.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Geoffrey W. Jackson, Gretchen E. Jackson, and George M. Dempster as directors.
Vesta Fund's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Geoffrey W. Jackson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$25K (2023) → $0 (2024)
George M. Dempster
Director
On filings since 2021
$11K (2021) → $11K (2024)
Gretchen E. Jackson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $11K, to George M Dempster (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Vesta Fund
How much does Vesta Fund give each year?
Vesta Fund gave $364K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $710K across 48 grants.
What is Vesta Fund's typical grant size?
Vesta Fund's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,359, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vesta Fund that year got $11K on average.
Where does Vesta Fund give grants?
Vesta Fund gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (11 grants), Doylestown, PA (4 grants), Gettysburg, PA (3 grants) and Flourtown, PA (2 grants).
Does Vesta Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of Vesta Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Vesta Fund's largest grantees?
Vesta Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Renew Theaters Deep Focus Program ($75,000), Gettysburg College Financial Aid ($50,000) and Alliance Francaise De Philadelphie Underwriting Salary of the Director of E ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Vesta Fund?
Vesta Fund reported $10.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $409K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $507K (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 Vesta Fund fund?
The funder’s website says Vesta supports entrepreneurs with ambitious strategic projects and seeks to foster future leaders. Its 2024 filing identifies human mental health and animal welfare programs in Greater Philadelphia as eligible for a grant funding opportunity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vesta Fund?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Vesta Fund's EIN?
Vesta Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1275074. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Vesta Fund 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Vesta Fund'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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