Weconservepa logo

Weconservepa

Public charity · Grantmaker Harrisburg, PA EIN: 23-2789029 Website

Weconservepa is a public charity based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It supports conservation through technical assistance, education, advocacy, and grants to land trusts and trail groups for conservation- and trail-related projects.

Weconservepa at a glance

In short: Weconservepa gave $178K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$177,567
+6.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
11
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$16,142
+6.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$11,500
Total assets
$2,765,889
+8.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Weconservepa

How to Apply

The website says funding reservations and grant-application options for CEAP are available only to logged-in users who are their organization’s assigned manager. It also provides program guidelines, applications, and grant contracts for project-planning grants.

Review Cycle
The forest-planning program’s stated application periods ended in 2024. The website says it is uncertain whether that opportunity will be offered again. The $10,000 project-planning grant notice was dated January 22, 2025; the $20,000 grant notice was dated January 30, 2026.
Deadline
The forest-planning program’s stated application periods ended in 2024.
Contact

Mailing address: 610 N 3Rd Street Suite 301, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 230-8560
Website: https://weconservepa.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Weconservepa funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservan: $40KNorthcentral PennsylvaniaConservan$40KFarm & Natural Lands Trust: $31KFarm & Natural Lands Trust$31KWildlands Conservancy: $24KWildlands Conservancy$24KClearwater Conservancy: $16KClearwater Conservancy$16KBerks Nature: $16KBerks Nature$16KFoundation for Sustainable Forests: $12KFoundation for SustainableForests$12KWestern Pa Conservancy Inc: $12KWestern Pa Conservancy Inc$12KFrench and Pickering Creeks Conserv: $9KFrench and Pickering CreeksConserv$9KTinicum Conservancy: $8KTinicum Conservancy$8KHeritage Conservancy: $6KHeritage Conservancy$6K

The largest 2024 recipient was Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservan ($40K). Together the top 10 received $172K.

Grant Size Distribution

54 grants across all recorded years

54<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 54 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. The forest-planning program described on the website was limited to eligible lands in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

States

Cities

DoylestownReadingYorkChadds FordPittsburghEmmausHummelstownPhoenixvilleSewickleyState CollegeCarlisleDallasErwinnaGettysburgSpartansburgWilliamsportEbensburgHarrisburgHawleyLebanon

Is Weconservepa open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count

  • 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K11 grants2020 13 grants2021 8 grants2022 11 grants2023 11 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $130K (2020) to $178K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $178K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservan Williamsport, PAAssistance$39,868
Farm & Natural Lands Trust York, PAAssistance$30,591
Wildlands Conservancy Emmaus, PAAssistance$24,000
Clearwater Conservancy State College, PAAssistance$16,000
Berks Nature Reading, PAAssistance$15,926
Foundation for Sustainable Forests Spartansburg, PAAssistance$11,500
Western Pa Conservancy Inc Pittsburgh, PAAssistance$11,500
French and Pickering Creeks Conserv Phoenixville, PAAssistance$9,350
Tinicum Conservancy Erwinna, PAAssistance$7,500
Heritage Conservancy Doylestown, PAAssistance$6,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$2,765,889$1,513,125$1,197,691$177,56711$133,102
2023$2,561,253$1,278,902$1,233,422$167,27611$78,424
2022$2,321,740$1,171,681$974,283$133,2608$16,848
2021$2,011,850$1,458,925$967,678$161,85013$1,749
2020$1,884,754$1,020,457$957,088$129,59911$7,359

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

WeConservePA’s mission is to help people care for, wisely use, and enjoy what nature offers. It assists individuals and organizations with conserving natural areas, farms, forests, parks, urban gardens, and other green spaces; promotes public understanding of conservation and sustainable practices; and advocates for pro-conservation government policy.

Its stated programs include technical assistance, conservation advocacy, training and convenings, and outreach and education. Its grants support land trusts and trail groups on conservation- and trail-related projects. Website program descriptions also include small grants for conservation easement work, project-planning grants for qualifying small and midsized Pennsylvania land trusts, and a forest-planning program for land trusts with largely forested lands under conservation easement in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

In 2024, grantees included organizations whose stated missions illustrate the kinds of conservation work represented in its awards. Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy describes its work as conserving and enhancing the region’s lands and waters; Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County focuses on preserving agricultural and natural land resources; and Wildlands Conservancy works to protect and restore natural areas and waterways. Clearwater Conservancy describes its work as land conservation, water stewardship, and environmental outreach across central Pennsylvania, while North Branch Land Trust works with landowners, communities, and stakeholders to conserve and care for northeastern Pennsylvania’s lands and waters.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, WeConservePA reported 11 grants totaling $177,567. Grant amounts ranged from $5,332 to $39,868, with a median of $11,500.

The largest reported awards included $39,868 to Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, $30,591 to Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, $24,000 to Wildlands Conservancy, $16,000 to Clearwater Conservancy, and $15,926 to Berks Nature. Other listed recipients included Foundation for Sustainable Forests ($11,500), Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ($11,500), French and Pickering Creeks Conservancy ($9,350), Tinicum Conservancy ($7,500), Heritage Conservancy ($6,000), and North Branch Land Trust ($5,332). The filing lists the purpose of each award as “assistance.”

WeConservePA’s website describes a Conservation Easement Assistance Program that provides small grants for completing or updating conservation, trail, and fishing-access easements, preparing baseline documentation, and installing signs on eased properties. It also describes project-planning grants for qualifying small and midsized Pennsylvania land trusts. Eligible planning costs include landowner outreach, title research, preliminary environmental review, and project planning; expenses eligible for CEAP reimbursement are excluded from project-planning grants.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Jeff Swinehart as president, Oliver Bass as vice president, John Conner as treasurer, and Renee Carey as secretary. It also lists Stephanie Armpriester, Gail Farmer, Ellen Ferretti, Chris Kocher, Kim Murphy, and Tom Saunders as directors. The filing notes that updated bylaws split the president’s office into an elected non-board CEO position and a separately elected board chair position.

Weconservepa is led by Jeff Swinehart, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Jeff Swinehart

    President

    Director → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Ferretti

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kim Murphy

    Director

    President → Im Past President, 2021

    Im Past President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Saunders

    Director

    Secretary → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephanie Armpriester

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gail Farmer

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Kocher

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Fritz Schroeder

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew M. Loza

    Executive Di

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $164K (2020) → $253K (2024)

  • John Conner

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Oliver Bass

    Vice President

    President → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Renee Carey

    Secretary

    Vice President → President, 2023

    President → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Chris Beichner (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Kyle Shenk (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Phil Wenger (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Steve Schiffman (2020) — Director

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

Andrew M Loza — Executive Di: $253KAndrew M LozaExecutive Di$253K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $253K, to Andrew M Loza (Executive Di).

Frequently asked questions about Weconservepa

How much does Weconservepa give each year?

Weconservepa gave $178K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $167K across 11 grants.

What is Weconservepa's typical grant size?

Weconservepa's median grant in 2024 was $11,500, and its average grant was $16,142, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Weconservepa give grants?

Weconservepa gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does Weconservepa give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Weconservepa's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Assistance" (11 grants).

Who are Weconservepa's largest grantees?

Weconservepa's largest 2024 grantees include Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservan ($39,868), Farm & Natural Lands Trust ($30,591) and Wildlands Conservancy ($24,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Weconservepa?

Weconservepa reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.

What does Weconservepa fund?

WeConservePA’s mission is to help people care for, wisely use, and enjoy what nature offers. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Weconservepa?

The website says funding reservations and grant-application options for CEAP are available only to logged-in users who are their organization’s assigned manager. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Weconservepa's EIN?

Weconservepa's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2789029. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 27, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Weconservepa funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/weconservepa-morg_20c08335583e4a7394e789539f18c26c

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232789029_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Weconservepa funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/weconservepa-morg_20c08335583e4a7394e789539f18c26c},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Weconservepa'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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