Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
The Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing lists an award restriction to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania charities, and all reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Key facts about Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
In short: Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation gave $459K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 23-2680871
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $458,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- Average grant
- $12,736
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 32, 2025)
- Total assets
- $10,402,599
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- April 1 and August 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$459K
+50.8% YoY
Grant Count
36
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+46.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $630K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 32 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 80% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated. Its 2024 grants included support for farmland acquisition, a blue-green corridor project, conservation-related activities, a heritage center, and organizational operations and capital needs.
Among the grantees, Lancaster Farmland Trust describes its mission as accelerating the permanent protection and stewardship of farmland. LancasterHistoryOrg says it educates the public about regional, Pennsylvania, and U.S. history. Lancaster County Food Hub describes providing services to meet basic human needs, while Tenfold describes work toward equitable housing and financial security. The Edible Classroom says it creates and sustains learning gardens where children, families, and communities engage with nutritious food. Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster describes its mission as helping young people reach their full potential, and Lancaster County Community Foundation says it invests in people and ideas shaping Lancaster County’s future.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $304,000. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000.
Review Cycle
** April 1 and August 1.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2024 grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients. The filing restricts awards to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania charities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 36 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster, PA | SHENK FUND FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE | $100,000 |
| LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST Strasburg, PA | LAND/FARM ACQUISITION(S) | $50,000 |
| LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PA | VEHICLE LIFT/MOWER/MATERIAL BAYS | $45,000 |
| LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PA | STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND | $45,000 |
| LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK FOUNDATION Lancaster, PA | BLUE-GREEN CORRIDOR PROJECT | $25,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LANCASTER Lancaster, PA | OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| HORIZONS AT LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster, PA | OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| LANCASTER COUNTY FOOD HUB Lancaster, PA | OPERATIONS | $12,000 |
| CASA OF LANCASTER COUNTY Lancaster, PA | OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PA | LCCF EXTRAGIVE 2025 | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,361,178 | $950,524 | $461,097 | $304,000 | 35 |
| 2023 | $8,867,047 | $902,485 | $442,717 | $302,443 | 38 |
| 2022 | $8,407,279 | $1,203,138 | $504,620 | $328,500 | 42 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,402,599 | $9,361,178 | $8,867,047 |
| Revenue | $1,665,781 | $950,524 | $902,485 |
| Expenses | $624,973 | $461,097 | $442,717 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $504,250 | $346,875 | $342,443 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,603,898 | $890,641 | $855,281 |
| Distributable Amount | $629,753 | $604,541 | $542,731 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary Louise Shenk as chair, Hannah S. Koch as president, Wesley S. Lewis as treasurer, and Randy R. Moyer and Stuart W. Herr as directors.
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation is led by Hannah S. Koch, President on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Hannah S. Koch
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $22K (2025)
Mary Louise Shenk
Chair
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $28K (2025)
Randy R. Moyer
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $11K (2025)
Stuart W. Herr
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $11K (2025)
Wesley S. Lewis
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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
Contact
Application contact: Mary Louise Shenk
Mailing address: 135 Leaman Road, Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 419-9340
Email: info@shenkfoundation.com
Frequently asked questions about Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
How much does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation give each year?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation gave $459K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $304K across 35 grants.
What is Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's typical grant size?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,736, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation give grants?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (30 grants) and Lititz, PA (2 grants).
Does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (22 grants).
Who are Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's largest grantees?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lancaster Country Day School ($108,500 across 2 grants), Lancaster Conservancy ($100,000 across 3 grants) and Lancaster Farmland Trust ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation reported $10.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $504K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $630K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated. Its 2024 grants included support for farmland acquisition, a blue-green corridor project, conservation-related activities, a heritage center, and organizational operations and capital needs. Among the grantees, Lancaster Farmland Trust describes its mission as accelerating the permanent protection and stewardship of farmland. LancasterHistoryOrg says it educates the public about regional, Pennsylvania, and U.S. history. Lancaster County Food Hub describes provid…
How do I apply for a grant from Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation?
The filing states that 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 Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's EIN?
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2680871. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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