Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
The Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, established in 1992. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.4M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$304K
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
35
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $605K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Youth development programs
- Environmental initiatives, including community and school gardens and renewable energy
- Environmental education
Grantmaking
The foundation made 45 grants in 2024, with typical award sizes ranging from $1,000 to $60,000. Recent grants include:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the Lancaster County area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,361,178
- Total Revenues: $950,524
- Total Expenses: $461,097
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,361,178 | $8,867,047 | $8,407,279 |
| Revenue | $950,524 | $902,485 | $1,203,138 |
| Expenses | $461,097 | $442,717 | $504,620 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $346,875 | $342,443 | $368,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $890,641 | $855,281 | $1,155,605 |
| Distributable Amount | $604,541 | $542,731 | $544,756 |
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
203 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lancaster Farmland Trust ($50,000), Lancaster Conservancy ($25,000), Lancaster Conservancy ($25,000).
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY LOUISE SHENK | CHAIR | 10 | $26,250 |
| RANDY R MOYER | DIRECTOR | 3 | $10,500 |
| STUART W HERR | DIRECTOR | 3 | $10,500 |
| WESLEY S LEWIS | TREASURER | 10 | $17,500 |
| HANNAH S KOCH | PRESIDENT | 10 | $21,000 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation demonstrated continued commitment to environmental conservation and education in Lancaster County through grants supporting land acquisition, environmental corridor projects, and educational institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Youth development programs • Environmental initiatives, including community and school gardens and renewable energy • Environmental education
How do I apply for a grant from Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation made 45 grants in 2024, with typical award sizes ranging from $1,000 to $60,000. Recent grants include: • Lancaster Farmland Trust: $50,000 (Land/farm acquisitions) • Little Conestoga Creek Foundation: $25,000 (Blue-Green Corridor Project) • Lancaster County Community Foundation: $20,000 (Extraordinary Give supporting Lancaster Conservancy & Lancaster Country Day School) Total giving in 2024 was $304,000. **Grant Types** The foundation supports variou…
Where does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the Lancaster County area.
What size grants does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation award?
In 2024, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $304K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $605K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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