The Joseph T. and Helen M. Simpson Foundation focuses on supporting local community services in the Harrisburg/Central Pennsylvania region, with a heavy emphasis on faith-based social service providers, youth programs, and civic cultural institutions. Their grants frequently go to front-line charities — food and shelter ministries, veteran services, YMCA/Camp programs, community libraries, arts organizations, and scholarship funds — often as recurring operating or general support. The foundation appears to favor organizations that deliver direct community impact (emergency services, youth development, therapeutic and educational programs) rather than large capital projects or national advocacy.
A defining feature of the Joseph T and Helen M Simpson Foundation is its steady support for Central Pennsylvania’s front-line charities, especially faith-based emergency ministries, youth-serving organizations, and local civic institutions. Recent grants show a pattern of repeated support for organizations that provide food, shelter, education, and community programming in the Harrisburg region, rather than one-time project funding. The foundation has also supported family- and community-linked institutions such as the Joseph T Simpson Public Library and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities JTS Scholarship, pointing to a local giving strategy that includes both direct services and long-term community assets. Several grants illustrate how the foundation works in practice. In 2025, it gave $25,500 to Pinnacle Health Auxiliary for general support, and in 2024 it awarded $27,000 to Joseph T Simpson Public Library for public support. Other recurring grantees include Veterans Outreach of PA Company, United Way of the Capital Region, New Hope Ministries, Camp Hebron, Wildheart Ministries, and YMCA Harrisburg Area, each appearing in multiple grant years. The picture is of a regional funder that favors organizations with ongoing community roles and frequent operating support.
Faith-based emergency and shelter ministries are a clear thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $19,500 to Sunshine Ministries in 2023 and $7,000 in 2025 for general support, while also giving $11,500 to Bethesda Mission in 2023 and $11,000 to Downtown Daily Bread in 2024. Youth development is another recurring area. The foundation gave $12,000 to Camp Hebron in 2025 and $10,000 in 2023 for general support, plus $7,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to YMCA Harrisburg Area. It also supported Capital Area School for the Arts with $10,500 in 2024. Its community and cultural giving includes $7,500 to Harrisburg Symphony Association in 2025 and $11,500 to Foundation for Enhancing Communities Jts Scholarship in 2025, showing support for both arts programming and scholarship aid.
Typical grants are modest: the p25 is $800, the median is $1,500, and the p75 is $3,000. The recent list also shows a smaller cluster of larger operating or public-support awards in the five-figure range. Recipients often appear across multiple years, which points to recurring support rather than one-off gifts. Examples across the data include multiple-year funding for organizations such as United Way of the Capital Region, New Hope Ministries, Wildheart Ministries, and YMCA Harrisburg Area. The foundation also funds individuals, and its program-related investments flag is false.
$290K
$3.6M
$807K
$480K
Most grants fall between $800 and $3K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$800
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$3K
About 4% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Relatively distributed, mid-size annual giving with many repeat, multi-year or recurring grants to the same local organizations; mostly operating/general support rather than one-off capital gifts. Grants are modest-to-midsize (typical single grants in the low- to mid-five figures) and concentrated geographically in the Harrisburg/Central PA area.
Notable grantees: Joseph T Simpson Public Library, New Hope Ministries, Bethesda Mission, Veterans Outreach of PA Company, Camp Hebron
The foundation gives regionally, with Pennsylvania as the top state by grant count. The recent grants cluster heavily in the Harrisburg/Central Pennsylvania area, including Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Enola, Carlisle, Dillsburg, Halifax, and nearby communities. Only 4% of grants go to recipients in New York, the foundation’s headquarters state. All recipient-country data shown is in the United States, with 246 grants and no non-U.S. recipients in the provided distribution.
The recent grants show support for faith-based emergency and shelter ministries, youth development and camp programs, veterans services, public libraries, scholarship funds, arts organizations, and community service groups. Examples include general support and public support awards to organizations serving food, shelter, education, recreation, and cultural programming in Central Pennsylvania.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple grant years, including United Way of the Capital Region, New Hope Ministries, Wildheart Ministries, YMCA Harrisburg Area, Camp Hebron, PA Dream House, and Joseph T Simpson Public Library. That pattern suggests recurring support is common.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small: the 25th percentile is $800, the median is $1,500, and the 75th percentile is $3,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards in the $10,000 to $27,000 range for operating, public support, or scholarship purposes.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants are concentrated in Central Pennsylvania communities such as Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Enola, Carlisle, Dillsburg, and Halifax. New York accounts for 4% of grants in the provided data.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and the topic taxonomy includes scholarship support. A recent example is the $11,500 JTS Scholarship grant through Foundation for Enhancing Communities in Harrisburg.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEALTH MINISTRIES OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH | HARRISBURG, PA | $22,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITIES JTS SCHOLARSHIP | HARRISBURG, PA | $21,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UPMC PINNACLE FOUNDATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF THE CAPITAL REGION (MA | ENOLA, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW HOPE MINISTRIES | DILLSBURG, PA | $13,333 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENLIGHT OPERATION | CAMP HILL, PA | $13,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOSEPH T SIMPSON PUBLIC LIBRARY | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VETERANS OUTREACH OF PA COMPANY | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA HARRISBURG AREA | HARRISBURG, PA | $9,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP HEBRON | HALIFAX, PA | $8,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILDHEART MINISTRIES | HARRISBURG, PA | $8,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL PA | HARRISBURG, PA | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PA DREAM HOUSE | HARRISBURG, PA | $6,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSQUEHANNA ART MUSEUM | HARRISBURG, PA | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIM BIBLE INSTITUTE & COLLEGE | LIMA, NY | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CARLISLE, PA | $5,800 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SONSHINE MINISTRIES | HARRISBURG, PA | $5,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSQUEHANNA CHORALE | HERSHEY, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HISTORIC HARRISBURG ASSOCIATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | HARRISBURG, PA | $4,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOMELAND CENTER | HARRISBURG, PA | $4,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD | HARRISBURG, PA | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK | HARRISBURG, PA | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL KEYSTONE AREA | HARRISBURG, PA | $3,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THREE STAR FOUNDATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CENTRAL PA | HERSHEY, PA | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CRACKED POT COFFEE SHOP | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAPITAL REGION LITERACY COUNCIL | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THEATRE HARRISBURG | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RENAISSANCE MECHANICSBURG (DOWNTOWN MECHANICSBURG PARTNERSHIP) | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA MISSION | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARRISBURG SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHRISTIAN SERVICES COUNSELING CENTER | CARLISLE, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOSPICE OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAPITAL AREA DREAM CENTER | HARRISBURG, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MECHANICSBURG AREA MEALS ON WHEELS INC | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA WEST SHORE | CAMP HILL, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WITF TV | HARRISBURG, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MCDANIEL COLLEGE | WESTMINSTER, MD | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARKET SQUARE CONCERTS | HARRISBURG, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SKI ROUNDTOP RACING CLUB | YORK, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY | HARRISBURG, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE LINK 4 YOUTH | NEW CUMBERLAND, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UCP CENTRAL PA | CAMP HILL, PA | $1,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARKET SQUARE CHURCH | HARRISBURG, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUMBERLAND PERRY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS (CIT) | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL PA YOUTH BALLET | CARLISLE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF CONNECTICUT CAMPERSHIP FUND | HARTFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK PENN STATE MS HERSHEY | HERSHEY, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
HEALTH MINISTRIES OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
$22,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITIES JTS SCHOLARSHIP
$21,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UPMC PINNACLE FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREENLIGHT OPERATION
$13,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOSEPH T SIMPSON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$12,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VETERANS OUTREACH OF PA COMPANY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA HARRISBURG AREA
$9,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP HEBRON
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WILDHEART MINISTRIES
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL PA
$7,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PA DREAM HOUSE
$6,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ELIM BIBLE INSTITUTE & COLLEGE
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,800GENERAL SUPPORT
SONSHINE MINISTRIES
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SUSQUEHANNA CHORALE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HISTORIC HARRISBURG ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$4,500GENERAL SUPPORT
HOMELAND CENTER
$4,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THREE STAR FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CRACKED POT COFFEE SHOP
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CAPITAL REGION LITERACY COUNCIL
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
THEATRE HARRISBURG
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
RENAISSANCE MECHANICSBURG (DOWNTOWN MECHANICSBURG PARTNERSHIP)
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHESDA MISSION
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CHRISTIAN SERVICES COUNSELING CENTER
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAPITAL AREA DREAM CENTER
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MECHANICSBURG AREA MEALS ON WHEELS INC
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA WEST SHORE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
MCDANIEL COLLEGE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
MARKET SQUARE CONCERTS
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SKI ROUNDTOP RACING CLUB
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
THE LINK 4 YOUTH
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UCP CENTRAL PA
$1,400GENERAL SUPPORT
MARKET SQUARE CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CUMBERLAND PERRY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS (CIT)
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTRAL PA YOUTH BALLET
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK PENN STATE MS HERSHEY
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT