FundersPennsylvania

Gooding Group Foundation

Ephrata, PA · EIN 23-2516754. Reported 268 grants totalling $333,168 to 141 organizations across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$400median grant
$333,168granted, 2020-2024
141organizations funded
42%of grantees funded again the next year
$624,066assets, latest filing

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. Gooding Group 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.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $400. Half of everything it gave fell between $200 and $1,000; the smallest was $23 and the largest $53,026. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
194 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
59 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
5 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
9 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
1 grant

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Thaddeus Stevens CollegeLancaster, PA$54,526222022
Alzheimer's AssociationReading, PA$52,205552024
Veteran's Honor ParkLititz, PA$15,850442024
Bethel AME ChurchLancaster, PA$15,000112020
Habitat for HumanityLancaster, PA$13,800552024
Penn State UniversityUniversity Park, PA$12,000552024
Fulton TheatreLancaster, PA$10,515332024
Bethel AME Cultural CenterLancaster, PA$10,000112021
Long's Park Ampitheater FoundationLancaster, PA$10,000112022
Great Give CcNew Haven, CT$8,800112022
Lancaster HistoryLancaster, PA$5,000112023
Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA$4,500332022
Shippensburg UniversityShippensburg, PA$4,500332024
University of VirginiaCharlottsville, VA$4,500332024
Alliance for ProgressRosemont, IL$4,000442023
Goldey Beacom CollegeWilmington, DE$4,000442023
Lancaster Chamber of CommerceLancaster, PA$4,000442023
Pa College of Health & SciencesLancaster, PA$4,000222023
Historic Preservation TrustLancaster, PA$3,300332023
Thaddeus Stevens FoundationLancaster, PA$3,176222024
Central Penn CollegeSummerdale, PA$3,000222023
F&m College FundLancaster, PA$3,000332023
Harrisburg University of ScienceHarrisburg, PA$3,000222022
Ephrata Legion Post 429Ephrata, PA$2,500112021
Good Samaritan ServicesLancaster, PA$2,500112021
Mainspring of EphrataEphrata, PA$2,500112022
Milagro HouseLancaster, PA$2,400442023
Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA$2,000112022
Elizabethtown College BusinessElizabethtown, PA$2,000222023
JR Achievement of Central PaLancaster, PA$2,000222021
Lincoln Fire Co 1Ephrata, PA$2,000442023
Roherstown Fire CompanyLancaster, PA$2,000442023
S Dale High CenterLancaster, PA$2,000112021
Singerly Fire CompanyElkton, MD$2,000442023
Grove City CollegeGrove City, PA$1,700112020
United Way of LancasterLancaster, PA$1,700332023
Lancaster County Court of Common PlLancaster, PA$1,600442023
Love 146New Haven, CT$1,600442023
Men of IronManheim, PA$1,600442023
Vision Corps FoundationLancaster, PA$1,600442023
Hospice Community CareLancaster, PA$1,525332023
Ephrata Community AmbulanceEphrata, PA$1,500332023
Marywood CollegeScranton, PA$1,500112020
Pennsylvania College of HealthLancaster, PA$1,500112024
Pioneer Steam Fire EngineEphrata, PA$1,500332022
South Eastern UniversityLakeland, FL$1,500112021
Towson UniversityTowson, MD$1,500112020
Lititz Public LibraryLititz, PA$1,425332023
Ephrata Public LibraryEphrata, PA$1,250332023
Ephrata Area Educ FoundationEphrata, PA$1,200332023
Ephrata Community Health FoundationYork, PA$1,200332023
Ephrata Performing ArtsEphrata, PA$1,200332023
Ephrata Rec CenterEphrata, PA$1,200332023
Friendship CommunityLancaster, PA$1,200332023
Lancaster County Food HubLancaster, PA$1,200332023
Lancaster Theological SeminaryLancaster, PA$1,200332023
Leadership LancasterLancaster, PA$1,200332023
Schreiber PediatricLancaster, PA$1,200332023
YMCA of LancasterLancaster, PA$1,200332023
YWCA of LancasterLancaster, PA$1,200332023
ThorneEphrata, PA$1,023112024
Elizabethtown College Family Bus CtElizabethtown, PA$1,000112023
Junior AchievementLancaster, PA$1,000112023
Pancreatic Cancer Action NetworkManhattan Beach, CA$1,000222023
Lebanon Va HospiceLebanon, PA$850332024
Excentia Human ServicesLancaster, PA$800222023
Girl Scouts of AmericaMiquon, PA$800222021
Girl Scouts of PaMiquon, PA$800222023
American Cancer SocietyLancaster, PA$750112020
Blessings of HopeLancaster, PA$730112024
Lancaster County ConservancyLancaster, PA$575442024
American Foundation for Suicide PreventionWashington, DC$500112024
Ephrata Ambulance AssocEphrata, PA$500112021
Pioneer Fire CompanyEphrata, PA$500112023
Leukemia & Lymphoma SoceityHarrisburg, PA$450112020
ExcentiaLancaster, PA$400112020
Stratosphere CheerabilitiesLancaster, PA$400222024
Boulevard Baptist ChurchAnderson, SC$350112021
Handi VangelismEphrata, PA$300222024
Pa SPCA Lancaster CenterLancaster, PA$275112020
American Heart AssocLancaster, PA$250112020
American LegionEphrata, PA$250112022
Arm of Hope - GhanaMount Joy, PA$250112020
Berks HeimLeesport, PA$250112020
Iglesia Misionera La SendaReading, PA$250112024
Mental Health of AmericaLancaster, PA$250112021
Uzrc Benevolent FundLititz, PA$250112022
Warren General HospitalWarren, PA$250112022
West Earl Fire CoBownstown, PA$250112020
Wounded WarriorWormleysburg, PA$250112022
Leo's Helping PawsLancaster, PA$217552024
Acorn Acres Wildlife RehabilitationMillersville, PA$200112023
Boy Scouts of AmericaLancaster, PA$200112022
Brittany's HopeElizabethtown, PA$200112024
God's Love We DeliverNew York, NY$200112024
Humane League of LancasterLancaster, PA$200112021
Lancaster Early EducationLancaster, PA$200112021
Warwick Educational FoundationLititz, PA$152442024
Conner Kleffel Memorial FoundationEphrata, PA$150112023
Faith FriendshipMountville, PA$150222023
Lititz Fire CompanyLititz, PA$150332022
Make a Wish FoundationWashington, DC$126222024
Mennonite Disaster ServiceLititz, PA$126112024
Childrens Miracle NetworkHershey, PA$106112024
Lititz Warwick Community ChestLititz, PA$101332023
Catholic Charities USALancaster, PA$100112020
East Randolph Fire DepartmentRandolph, VT$100112023
First Landmark Baptist ChurchKokomo, IN$100112020
Food Bank of DeNewark, DE$100112020
Fresenius Kidney CareHarrisburg, PA$100112021
Heiffer InternationalLittle Rock, AR$100112021
Homeland HospiceHarrisburg, PA$100112020
Lancaster Public LibraryLancaster, PA$100112020
Lititz Springs ParkLititz, PA$100222023
Lutheran Camping CorporationArendtsville, PA$100112021
Mohler ChurchEphrata, PA$100112024
Rheems Fire DepartmentElizabethtown, PA$100112023
Shenango Valley Animal ShelterHermitage, PA$100112022
St Jude Children's HospitalMemphis, TN$100112023
Union City Presbyterian ChurchUnion City, PA$100112022
United Churches Elizabethtown AreaElizabethtown, PA$100112024
Warwick Community AmbulanceLititz, PA$100222022
Community Action PartnershipLancaster, PA$60112022
University of Mt OliveMt Olive, NC$60112024
Centerville Pet RescueLancaster, PA$50112023
Ephrata Pioneer Fire CoEphrata, PA$50112023
Hope InternationalLancaster, PA$50112021
OrcaLancaster, PA$50112021
Pet Pantry- LancasterLancaster, PA$50112021
Venture LititzLititz, PA$50112021
Raven Ridge WildlifeWashington Boro, PA$42112022
Wolf Sanctuary of PaLiititz, PA$27112024
Chesapeake Bay FoundationAnnapolis, MD$26112024
Mennonite Central CommitteeAkron, PA$26112022
Shriners Hospital for ChildrenPhiladelphia, PA$26112024
American Heart AssociationLancaster, PA$25112020
Central Penn Food BankHarrisburg, PA$25112020
Guiding Eyes for the BlindYorktown Heights, NY$25112020
Humane Society of the USWashington, DC$25112020
World Wildlife FundWashington, DC$25112020
Robeson ElementaryBirdsboro, PA$23112022

61 of 141 (43%) 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 42%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

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.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 87 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Education
19 grants
Human Services
16 grants
Animal Welfare
10 grants
Health Care
8 grants
Religion
7 grants
Environment
6 grants
Arts & Culture
5 grants
Public & Societal Benefit
3 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202066$61,225$400
202168$68,865$400
202247$114,021$500
202357$49,890$400
202430$39,167$200

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

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 91% of this one's giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Pennsylvania
$302K
Connecticut
$10K
Virginia
$4K
Delaware
$4K
Illinois
$4K
Maryland
$4K
Florida
$2K
California
$1K

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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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Lancaster County Community Foundation31 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund26 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc26 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program21 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc21 shared recipientsAmerican Endowment Foundation19 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $400. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Foundations funding education in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding human services in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Gooding Group Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 345 South Reading Road, Ephrata, PA, 17522. 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 23-2516754 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.