Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Lancaster, PA EIN: 23-2680871

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.

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

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

2states

Share of all 36 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

LancasterLititzStrasburgAkronLyndellAshevilleWashington BoroMillersvilleGrantvilleLampeterMount Joy

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M47 grants202041 grants202142 grants202238 grants202335 grants202436 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Lancaster Country Day School: $109K across 2 grantsLancaster Country Day School$109K · 2 grantsLancaster Conservancy: $100K across 3 grantsLancaster Conservancy$100K · 3 grantsLancaster Farmland Trust: $50KLancaster Farmland Trust$50KLittle Conestoga Creek Foundation: $25KLittle Conestoga CreekFoundation$25KBoys & Girls Club of Lancaster: $15KBoys & Girls Club of Lancaster$15KHorizons at Lancaster Country Day School: $15KHorizons at Lancaster CountryDay School$15KLancaster County Food Hub: $12KLancaster County Food Hub$12KMusic for Everyone: $11K across 2 grantsMusic for Everyone$11K · 2 grantsCASA of Lancaster County: $10KCASA of Lancaster County$10KSamaritan Counseling Center: $10KSamaritan Counseling Center$10K

Grant Size Distribution

192 grants across all recorded years

185<$50K4$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster, PASHENK FUND FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE$100,000
LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST Strasburg, PALAND/FARM ACQUISITION(S)$50,000
LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PAVEHICLE LIFT/MOWER/MATERIAL BAYS$45,000
LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PASTEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND$45,000
LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK FOUNDATION Lancaster, PABLUE-GREEN CORRIDOR PROJECT$25,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LANCASTER Lancaster, PAOPERATIONS$15,000
HORIZONS AT LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster, PAOPERATIONS$15,000
LANCASTER COUNTY FOOD HUB Lancaster, PAOPERATIONS$12,000
CASA OF LANCASTER COUNTY Lancaster, PAOPERATIONS$10,000
LANCASTER CONSERVANCY Lancaster, PALCCF 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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
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

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
  2. 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

Mary Louise Shenk — Chair: $28KMary Louise ShenkChair$28KHannah S Koch — President: $22KHannah S KochPresident$22KWesley S Lewis — Treasurer: $20KWesley S LewisTreasurer$20KRandy R Moyer — Director: $11KRandy R MoyerDirector$11KStuart W Herr — Director: $11KStuart W HerrDirector$11K

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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