FundersPennsylvania

Quest for the Best

Wayne, PA · EIN 35-7019969. Reported 232 grants totalling $2,025,829 to 143 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$2,500median grant
$2,025,829granted, 2021-2024
143organizations funded
62%of grantees funded again the next year
$10.3Massets, 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. Quest for the Best 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 $2,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $25 and the largest $110,500. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
7 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
133 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
31 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
38 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
15 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
6 grants
$100,000 and Up
2 grants

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
Lifetime Wells InternationalAston, PA$314,063442024
Elmwood Park ZooNorristown, PA$312,500442024
Quest Therapeutic Services IncWest Chester, PA$112,000442024
Nurturing MindsNewtonville, MA$92,492442024
Williamson College of the TradesMedia, PA$71,410442024
Dccc Educational FoundationMedia, PA$69,500442024
Trellis for TomorrowPhoenixville, PA$52,500332024
Friends AssociationWest Chester, PA$51,525222024
Montgomery County Community College FoundationMedia, PA$51,292332024
Allegheny County Police Chiefs' AssociationGibsonia, PA$41,554442024
The Garage Community & Youth CenterKennett Square, PA$40,985332024
Building Youth Around the WorldWest Jordan, UT$40,000332024
Wetlands InstituteStone Harbor, NJ$35,875222024
Good FriendsMorrisville, PA$32,901332024
Cristo Rey Philadelphia SchoolPhiladelphia, PA$32,314332024
Community College of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$30,000442024
MannaPhiladelphia, PA$30,000112023
Player's Club of SwarthmoreSwarthmore, PA$27,000112021
Foundation for Indiana University of PaIndiana, PA$26,680222024
Orion CommunitiesPhoenixville, PA$26,030442024
All for All AgencyEast Lansdowne, PA$26,000332024
Roman Catholic High SchoolPhiladelphia, PA$25,815112024
Eyecare for KidsMidvale, UT$25,000112022
Mom's House of Greater PhiladelphiaPhoenixville, PA$25,000112024
Horizons at Greene Street Friends SchoolPhiladelphia, PA$19,285222024
Drueding CenterPhiladelphia, PA$19,250222024
Bringing Hope HomeMalvern, PA$18,500442024
Pennsylvania State System of Higher EducationHarrisburg, PA$16,500332024
Foundation for Pottstown EducationPottstown, PA$15,228112024
Coatesville Center for Community HealthCoatesville, PA$15,000112024
Kennett Area Community ServicesKennett Square, PA$14,530332024
Camp DreamcatcherKennett Square, PA$11,816222024
KencrestBlue Bell, PA$11,030222024
Community Warehouse ProjectWest Chester, PA$10,000112022
Germantown Ave Crisis MinistryPhiladelphia, PA$9,540112023
Minority Center for Participation & EmpowermentPhiladelphia, PA$9,033112024
Riverton United Methodist ChurchRiverton, WV$8,418332023
West Chester Communities That CareWest Chester, PA$8,066332024
TombePhiladelphia, PA$8,000112022
Every Good GiftAbington, PA$7,052112024
Norristown Hospitality CenterNorristown, PA$7,000332024
IHM Center for LiteracyPhiladelphia, PA$6,530222024
Community Shelter ServicesErie, PA$6,021222023
A Woman's PlaceDoylestown, PA$6,000222023
Astral ArtistsPhiladelphia, PA$6,000222024
BournelyfWest Chester, PA$6,000112024
Family and Community ServicesMedia, PA$5,500332023
Mattie Dixon Community CupboardAmbler, PA$5,500332023
The Concept SchoolWesttown, PA$5,324222023
New London Counseling CenterLincoln Univeristy, PA$5,004112024
Allegheny Police Chiefs IncMckees Rocks, PA$5,000112022
Easterseals of Se PaPhiladelphia, PA$5,000112023
In a HeartbeatWallingford, CT$5,000112023
Pa Sinfonia OrchestraAllentown, PA$5,000112024
St Mary's Franciscan ShelterPhiladelphia, PA$5,000112021
Operation WarmGlen Mills, PA$4,560112021
Good SamaritanPhoenixville, PA$4,543332024
Honey Brook Food PantryHoney Brook, PA$3,529222023
LibertaeBensalem, PA$3,521222023
Disaster Relief FundRaleigh, NC$3,500112024
Emergency Relief Assoc L Bucks CoLevittown, PA$3,500222023
Family Promise MontcoAmbler, PA$3,500222023
Harwood HouseUpper Darby, PA$3,500222023
Heroic GardensPhiladelphia, PA$3,500222023
Martha's Choice MarketplaceNorristown, PA$3,500222023
Nasd Education FoundationNorristown, PA$3,500112024
Pathways PaWawa, PA$3,500222023
Pennsylvania Home of the SparrowExton, PA$3,500222023
Quakertown Food PantryQuakertown, PA$3,500222023
United Way of North CarolinaCary, NC$3,500112024
Wesley House Emergency ShelterChester, PA$3,500222023
Care Center FoundationWest Chester, PA$3,286112024
Jordan Baumeister Scholarship FoundationWest Chester, PA$3,200222022
Phoenixville Area Community ServicesPhoenixville, PA$3,030222023
Manna on MainLansdale, PA$3,010222023
United Way Asheville and Buncombe CountyAsheville, NC$3,000112024
The Senior LiftMedia, PA$2,724112022
BattleboneCenter Valley, PA$2,500112022
Cape HopeRio Grande, NJ$2,500112022
Family Service Bucks CountyLanghorne, PA$2,500112022
Good Deed RevolutionSalt Lake City, UT$2,500112021
Pottstown Cluster of Religions CommunitiesPottstown, PA$2,000112021
St Mary' Franciscan ShelterPhoenixville, PA$1,555222024
Radicubs RoboticsFrisco, TX$1,500112024
Ann's HeartPhoenixville, PA$1,030112023
Pottstown Cluster of Religious CommunityPottstown, PA$1,030112023
Trekking With KirkPottstown, PA$1,030112023
Historic SugartownMalvern, PA$1,023112023
Phoenixville Free ClinicPhoenixville, PA$1,023112023
Historical Society of PhoenixvillePhoenixville, PA$1,021112023
Young MomsKennett Square, PA$1,021112023
Ivy Hill Equestrian CenterPerkasie, PA$1,010112024
A Chance at LifePhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Action WellnessPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112023
Affordable Housing Centers of PaPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Ann Frances Outreach FoundationSpring City, PA$1,000112024
Bernadine CenterChester, PA$1,000112024
Bianca Nikol Merge With Mercy FoundationWest Chester, PA$1,000112023
Birthright of CoatesvilleCoatesville, PA$1,000112023
Black Light ProjectsPhoenixville, PA$1,000112023
Bucks for KidsDoylestown, PA$1,000112024
Canine Partners for LifeCochranville, PA$1,000112024
Caring for FriendsPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Cecil and Grace Bean's Soup KitchenNorristown, PA$1,000112024
Chester EastsideChester, PA$1,000112024
Common Ground VolunteersSpring City, PA$1,000112023
Ctr for Advocacy for Rights of ElderlyPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Delaware County Literacy CouncilChester, PA$1,000112024
Founders Campership FundLevittown, PA$1,000112023
Genesis Housing CorpNorristown, PA$1,000112024
Grands Stepping UpDrexel Hill, PA$1,000112024
Happy to Be HomeGilbertsville, PA$1,000112024
Hedwig HouseAbington, PA$1,000112024
Helping HandsBechtelsville, PA$1,000112024
Kate's CASAKimberton, PA$1,000112023
Literacy Council of NorristownNorristown, PA$1,000112024
Making a Change GroupChester, PA$1,000112024
Mother of Mercy HousePhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Mother's Home IncDarby, PA$1,000112024
Narberth Community Food BankNarbeth, PA$1,000112024
One House at a TimeAmbler, PA$1,000112024
Operation 143Pottstown, PA$1,000112024
Patrician Society of NorristownNorristown, PA$1,000112024
People's Kitchen PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Petra Community HousingSpring City, PA$1,000112024
Phoenixville Communities That CarePhoenixville, PA$1,000112023
Phoenxiville Women's OutreachPhoenixville, PA$1,000112023
Pkm Polish Folk DancePhiladelphia, PA$1,000112023
Players Club of SwarthmoreSwartmore, PA$1,000112023
Preserving the MessageDemascus, PA$1,000112023
Project Back to SchoolPerkasie, PA$1,000112024
Reins of LifeLandenberg, PA$1,000112024
Rock to the FuturePhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Royersford Outreach IncRoyersford, PA$1,000112024
Rubye's KidsElkins Park, PA$1,000112024
Saint Miriam Parish & SchoolFlourtown, PA$1,000112024
Teachers' TeammatesHavertown, PA$1,000112024
The Simple WayPhiladelphia, PA$1,000112024
Thistle HillsCoatesville, PA$1,000112023
West Chester Food CupboardWest Chester, PA$1,000112024
Love WorksKing of Prussia, PA$465112024
Pennsylvania Bar AssociationHarrisburg, PA$130332023
Tri County Chamber of CommercePottstown, PA$25112024

53 of 143 (37%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 62%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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 142 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
37 grants
Education
36 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
10 grants
Mental Health
9 grants
Food & Nutrition
9 grants
Diseases & Disorders
8 grants
Religion
5 grants
Housing & Shelter
4 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202124$343,363$5,000
202248$490,777$2,612
202375$550,873$1,023
202485$640,816$1,500

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. 89% 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
$1.8M
Massachusetts
$92K
Utah
$68K
New Jersey
$38K
North Carolina
$10K
West Virginia
$8K
Connecticut
$5K
Texas
$2K

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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.

American Online Giving Foundation Inc47 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program45 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund44 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc33 shared recipientsConnelly Foundation26 shared recipientsW W Smith Charitable Trust23 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $2,500. 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 human services in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding education in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Quest for the Best's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 295 E Swedesford Road 252, Wayne, PA, 19087. 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 35-7019969 · 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.