Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation
The Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation is a private foundation based in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports $299,400 in grants to 12 organizations, with grant recipients located in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation at a glance
In short: Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation gave $299K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $299,400
- +49.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,950
- +49.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,100
- Total assets
- $4,661,002
- -1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 12 Emi Lane, Manheim, PA 17545-1916
Phone: (717) 690-9040
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Calvary Church ($91K). Together the top 10 received $272K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 24 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 5% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation gives
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 117% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2024) to $299K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $299K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calvary Church Lancaster, PA | Program General Support | $90,600 |
| Water Street Ministries Lancaster, PA | Program General Support | $32,800 |
| Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA | Program General Support | $30,200 |
| Friendship Community Ministries Lititz, PA | Program General Support | $27,600 |
| Align Life Ministries Lebanon, PA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
| American Diabetes Assoc Merrifield, VA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
| Child Evangelism Fellowship East Petersburg, PA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
| Hope International Lancaster, PA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
| Hospice & Community Care Lancaster, PA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
| Manheim Central Fdn for Educational Enrichment Manheim, PA | Program General Support | $15,100 |
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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 | $4,661,002 | $251,864 | $328,960 | $299,400 | 12 | $300,492 | $103,396 | $255,967 |
| 2024 | $4,738,400 | $128,120 | $304,418 | $200,000 | 12 | $201,566 | $121,206 | $253,547 |
| 2023 | $4,911,574 | $9,799,832 | — | — | — | — | $4,904,479 | $5,178 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K 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 went to organizations including churches, ministries, educational organizations, a health association, a hospice and community care organization, and a community farm and home foundation.
Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. Water Street Ministries says it works with people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Lancaster County through practical services, resources, and relational support. Lancaster Bible College describes its focus as helping students fulfill God’s purpose in their lives. Align Life Ministries says it shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sacredness of human life through pregnancy services, partnerships, and resources. Hope International says it invests in families’ dreams in underserved communities while proclaiming and living the Gospel.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $299,400 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $12,500 to $90,600, with a median of $15,100. The largest grants included $90,600 to Calvary Church, $32,800 to Water Street Ministries, $30,200 to Lancaster Bible College, and $27,600 to Friendship Community Ministries. Other listed awards included $15,100 each to Align Life Ministries, the American Diabetes Association, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Hope International, Hospice & Community Care, Manheim Central Foundation for Educational Enrichment, and Manheim Farm Show, and $12,500 to Farm & Home Foundation. Each grant was designated for program general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wilmer D. Esbenshade and Sarah Y. Fisher, whose listing ends in October 2025, as trustees.
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation is led by Wilmer D. Esbenshade, Trustee on every filing since 2023 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wilmer D. Esbenshade
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sarah Y. Fisher (2023–2025) — Trustee · Filing note: Until 102025
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation
How much does Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation give each year?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation gave $299K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $200K across 12 grants.
What is Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's typical grant size?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,100, and its average grant was $24,950, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation give grants?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (6 grants).
Does Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's largest grantees?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Calvary Church ($90,600), Water Street Ministries ($32,800) and Lancaster Bible College ($30,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $300K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $256K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including churches, ministries, educational organizations, a health association, a hospice and community care organization, and a community farm and home foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's EIN?
Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-6702306. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Does Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wilmer-and-shirley-esbenshade-foundation-morg_5822d0fe666440248205a64995583a9f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_936702306_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wilmer-and-shirley-esbenshade-foundation-morg_5822d0fe666440248205a64995583a9f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Wilmer and Shirley Esbenshade 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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