John Crain Kunkel Foundation
Mechanicsburg, PA · EIN 23-7026914. Reported 184 grants totalling $3,058,048 to 98 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. John Crain Kunkel Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $20,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $90,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of the Capital Region | Enola, PA | $208,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Historic Harriburg Association | Harrisburg, PA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts | Harrisburg, PA | $145,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bethesda Mission | Harrisburg, PA | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Nativity School of Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $100,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Penn State Health - Hampden Medical Center | Enola, PA | $90,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | Harrisburg, PA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Homeland Center | Harrisburg, PA | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hacc Foundation | Lancaster, PA | $69,950 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Friends of the West Shore Theatre Inc | New Cumberland, PA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St Stephen's Episcopal School | Harrisburg, PA | $59,938 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Sadler Health Center | Carlisle, PA | $58,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA | $54,800 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Joshua Group | Harrisburg, PA | $52,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Operation Warm | Philadelphia, PA | $52,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Capital Area Head Start a Division of Keystone Service Systems | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Central Pennsylvania Food Bank | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Dauphin County Library System | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stop the Violence Ministry | Harrisburg, PA | $49,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Civil War Museum | Harrisburg, PA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood Keystone | Bensalem, PA | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| YWCA Greater Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $42,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brethren Housing Association | Harrisburg, PA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Cracked Pot Coffee Shop | Mechanicsburg, PA | $39,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Millersburg Area Senior Center | Millersburg, PA | $38,250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Joseph T Simpson Public Library | Mechanicsburg, PA | $38,024 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Project Share of Carlisle | Carlisle, PA | $36,976 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Art Center School & Galleries | Mechanicsburg, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greenlight Operation | Lemoyne, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Janus School | Mount Joy, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Junior Achievement of South Central Pa | York, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Witf Inc | Harrisburg, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope | Harrisburg, PA | $29,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cleve J Fredricksen Library | Camp Hill, PA | $27,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Valley Youth House Committee Inc | Bethlehem, PA | $27,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Center for Employment Opportunities | Harrisburg, PA | $26,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bethesda Mission of Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Capital Area School for the Arts | Harrisburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Check Up Center of South Harrrisburg Inc | Harrisburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dickinson College Farm | Boiling Springs, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Historical Society of Dauphin County | Harrisburg, PA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Keystone Human Services | Harrisburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Presbyterian Senior Living | Dillsburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Central Pa | Hershey, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Board of Child Care | Baltimore, MD | $23,700 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area | Harrisburg, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Camp Hebron | Halifax, PA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Capital Area Greenbelt Association | Harrisburg, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hoffman Homes Inc | Littlestown, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hospice of Central Pa | Harrisburg, PA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Leaf Project Inc | Landisburg, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New Hope Ministries | Dillsburg, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg Inc | Harrisburg, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Skip Program | Millersburg, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Upmc Pinnacle Foundation | Harrisburg, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society Inc | Harrisburg, PA | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Check-Up Center | Harrisburg, PA | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg Green Alliance | Harrisburg, PA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Open Stage of Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Paxton Street Home Benevolent Society Inc Dba Paxton Ministries | Harrisburg, PA | $15,250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Big Brothersbig Sisters of the Capital Region | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Chambersburg and Shippensburg | Shippensburg, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Caring Cupboard | Palmyra, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Gamut Theatre Group | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Girls on the Run Mid State Pa | Enola, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg Academy | Wormleysburg, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Operation Medical | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Scholars Inc (dba Thrive Housing Services) | Harrisburg, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Carlisle YMCA | Carlisle, PA | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hoffman Homes for Youth | Littlestown, PA | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Paxton Street Home Dba Paxton Ministries | Harrisburg, PA | $12,830 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region | Camp Hill, PA | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra | Harrisburg, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Susquehanna Art Museum | Harrisburg, PA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Camp Hill United Methodist Pre School | Camp Hill, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair | Duncannon, PA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Central Penn 1881 (dba Central Penn College | Summerdale, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Contact Helpline | Harrisburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties | Carlisle, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral | Harrisburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tribe on a Quest Inc | Harrisburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wiildheart | Harrisburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Cares | Carlisle, PA | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Carlisle Cares Dba Community Cares | Carlisle, PA | $9,330 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Harrisburg Area YMCA | Harrisburg, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Foundation for Enhancing Communities | Harrisburg, PA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross of Central Pa | Harrisburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Employment Opportunities (ceo) | Harrisburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area | Harrisburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania | Camp Hill, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lebanon Valley Volunteers in Medicine | Lebanon, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art | Millersburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Vickie's Angel Walk Inc (dba Vickie's Angel Foundation) | New Cumberland, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wiildheart Ministries | Harrisburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
47 of 98 (48%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 49%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Penn State Health - Hampden Medical Center
TO PURCHASE THE NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE HAMPDEN CENTER SCENIC WALKING PATH TO SAY "JOHN CRAIN KUNKEL". - Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
TO SUPPORT A SET OF MISSION-CRITICAL UPGRADES THAT INVEST IN YOUR CORE MISSION. - Homeland Center
FOR SERVING AND PROVIDING CARE TO THE RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER. - Historic Harriburg Association
RESTORING THE 130 YEAR OLD HHA HOUSE WITH HVAC, PLASTERING AND ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENTS . - Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
TO BE USED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A MERIT BASED PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENT. - Sadler Health Center
TO HELP SUPPORT THE EXPANSION IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 123 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35 | $600,530 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 22 | $440,630 | $14,000 |
| 2023 | 41 | $691,300 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 47 | $675,500 | $10,000 |
| 2025 | 39 | $650,088 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from John Crain Kunkel Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 5000 Ritter Road Suite 202, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 23-7026914 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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