Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
The Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 36 grants totaling $458,500, all to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $458,500
- +50.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,736
- +46.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,402,599
- +11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 32, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Mary Louise Shenk as the contact and email as the application form and materials. Awards are restricted to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania charities.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 1 and August 1. Both 2026 dates are past as of September 28, 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 1 and August 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary Louise Shenk
Mailing address: 135 Leaman Road, Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 419-9340
Email: info@shenkfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lancaster Country Day School ($109K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $356K.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 185 grants of 192 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. The foundation’s stated award restriction is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania charities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $302K (2023) to $1.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $459K.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,402,599 | $1,665,781 | $624,973 | $458,500 | 36 | $504,250 | $1,603,898 | $629,753 |
| 2024 | $9,361,178 | $950,524 | $461,097 | $304,000 | 35 | $346,875 | $890,641 | $604,541 |
| 2023 | $8,867,047 | $902,485 | $442,717 | $302,443 | 38 | $342,443 | $855,281 | $542,731 |
| 2022 | $8,407,279 | $1,203,138 | $504,620 | $328,500 | 42 | $368,500 | $1,155,605 | $544,756 |
| 2021 | $7,708,985 | $1,992,958 | $1,489,384 | $1,358,000 | 41 | $1,395,500 | $1,945,608 | $583,175 |
| 2020 | $7,201,067 | $774,213 | $501,697 | $376,000 | 47 | — | $738,426 | $429,377 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for education, conservation, youth programs, food services, and housing-related work. For example, Lancaster Country Day School describes its mission as empowering students to explore their passions, find purpose, and become the best versions of themselves; Lancaster Farmland Trust says its mission is to accelerate the permanent protection and stewardship of farmland. Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster says its foundation provides funds for the club’s program, service, and capital needs, while Lancaster County Food Hub describes its work as providing services to meet basic human needs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 36 grants totaling $458,500. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest listed grant was $100,000 to Lancaster Country Day School for its Shenk Fund for Professional Excellence. Other notable awards included $50,000 to Lancaster Farmland Trust for land/farm acquisitions; two grants of $45,000 each to Lancaster Conservancy, for vehicle lift/mower/material bays and its stewardship endowment fund; and $25,000 to Little Conestoga Creek Foundation for its Blue-Green Corridor Project. The foundation also gave $15,000 each to Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster and Horizons at Lancaster Country Day School for operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $28K, to Mary Louise Shenk (Chair). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
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). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for education, conservation, youth programs, food services, and housing-related work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation?
The filing says 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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/willis-and-elsie-shenk-foundation-morg_3b935ab25f7c4986a535b8250bb2ea1d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_232680871_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/willis-and-elsie-shenk-foundation-morg_3b935ab25f7c4986a535b8250bb2ea1d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation'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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