The Graham Foundation concentrates its funding on higher education institutions—frequently supporting capital projects, campus buildings, galleries, and programmatic expansions—while also making targeted investments in local York-area nonprofits. Grants skew toward large, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar gifts for facility construction and endowed program support (including sustainability and innovation initiatives), and the foundation repeatedly funds a small set of university partners alongside select community organizations.
The Graham Foundation’s largest recent commitments center on campus buildings and field houses, with $1.2 million to The Trustees of Dartmouth College for a field house in 2025 and $1 million to Dartmouth College for a building in 2023. That same construction-oriented pattern appears in its support for the University of Pennsylvania’s Egyptian Galleries and the University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute, showing a preference for visible institutional projects as well as named academic programs. The foundation also backs a smaller but recurring set of York-area organizations, including the York Jewish Community Center, York College of PA, Crispus Attucks York, and United Way of York County. Its giving reaches higher education, museum spaces, sustainability work, scholarships, and local community facilities. The recent record suggests a funder that combines large capital gifts with program support and targeted operating aid, especially for universities and local organizations in Pennsylvania. Across the latest grants, the same institutions often receive support in more than one year, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Higher education capital work is a clear thread. The Graham Foundation gave $750,000 in 2024 to the University of Pennsylvania for the Egyptian Galleries and followed with another $500,000 in 2025 for The Egyptian Galleries Fund. It also gave $500,000 in 2024 to the University of Michigan for an expansion project, operating support, and deanship fund. University-based sustainability is another area: the foundation awarded $525,000 in 2023 to the University of Michigan for the Graham Sustainability Institute and $500,000 in 2025 for the Graham Sustainability Institute Operating Support Fund. In York, it supported student-focused innovation through $337,500 to York College of PA for the Graham Innovation Scholars Program, Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows, and Graham Center for Collaborative Innovations. Scholarship support also appears through YSC Academy and Logos Academy.
The typical grant size is $1,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $21,250 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes seven-figure gifts. The pattern is highly recurring: Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, York College of PA, United Way of York County, Logos Academy, and YSC Academy each appear more than once across the recent grants list. The foundation gives as an independent private foundation and also funds individuals. Its awards mix capital support, operating support, scholarships, and project-specific grants, with several recipients receiving follow-on funding across multiple years.
$3.2M
$32.8M
$5.2M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $2K and $21K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants primarily to a handful of repeat university grantees (Dartmouth, Penn, Michigan) with occasional sizable local investments; mix of capital/building gifts and endowed/operating support rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, York Jewish Community Center, York College of Pennsylvania
Giving is heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, with 92% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s top giving state. York appears repeatedly, including York Jewish Community Center, York College of PA, Crispus Attucks York, United Way of York County, YMCA of York County, and Logos Academy. Philadelphia also appears through the University of Pennsylvania’s Egyptian Galleries. Outside Pennsylvania, the recent grant list includes Hanover, New Hampshire, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, while the country distribution shown is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants favor higher education institutions and local York-area nonprofits. Universities appear repeatedly through Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, Penn State, and York College of PA, while York-based community organizations such as the York Jewish Community Center and United Way of York County also receive support.
The grant-size distribution is $1,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $21,250 at the 75th percentile. That sits alongside much larger awards in the recent list, including seven-figure gifts for university capital projects.
Yes. Dartmouth appears in multiple years, as do the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, York College of PA, United Way of York County, Logos Academy, and YSC Academy. The repeated grants suggest ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The foundation’s giving is local in scope, and 92% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania. Most of the recent grants are to York and Philadelphia organizations, with additional awards to Hanover, New Hampshire, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The grants include capital campaigns, building and field house projects, gallery funding, operating support, scholarships, and innovation programs. Recent examples range from university construction and museum gallery work to scholarship funding and collaborative innovation fellowships.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $1,200,000 | 2025 | FIELD HOUSE |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | GRAHAM SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE OPERATING SUPPORT FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500,000 | 2025 | THE EGYPTIAN GALLERIES FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | THE EGYPTIAN GALLERIES FUND |
| YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA | YORK, PA | $150,000 | 2025 | GRAHAM COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM |
| YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA | YORK, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | GRAHAM CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATIONS |
| YSC ACADEMY | CHESTER, PA | $85,000 | 2025 | PA EITC |
| CRISPUS ATTUCKS YORK | YORK, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| LOGOS ACADEMY | YORK, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | PA OSTC |
| SILVERBACK EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONFOR THE ARTS DANCE & ATHLETICS | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | PA EITC |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | MEN'S ICE HOCKEY PROGRAM |
| UNITED WAY OF YORK COUNTY | YORK, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SQUAM LAKES CONSERVATION SOCIETY | HOLDERNESS, NH | $25,000 | 2025 | FOREVER SQUAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| APPELL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | YORK, PW | $20,000 | 2025 | CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $20,000 | 2025 | PHILIP HANLONG SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF YORK COUNTY | YORK, PA | $14,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BYRNES HEALTH EDUCATION | YORK, PA | $12,000 | 2025 | 25TH BIRTHDAY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| LOGOS ACADEMY | YORK, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| UNITED WAY OF YORK COUNTY | YORK, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FAMILY FIRST HEALTH | YORK, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YWCA YORK | YORK, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | BE THE CHANGE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| LEG UP FARM | MT WOLF, PA | $8,000 | 2025 | SECURING THE DREAM TOGETHER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PAPPUS HOUSE | THOMASVILLE, PA | $8,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE AMERICAN RED CROSS | LANCASTER, PA | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| KEYSTONE KIDSPACE | YORK, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | PLAY WITH PURPOSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | YORK, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | FAMILY SERVICES RENOVATIONS |
| LOGOS ACADEMY | YORK, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | PA OSTC |
| WEECONNECT - ELC INC | YORK, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| WHITE ROSE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE DBA GIVE LOCAL YORK | YORK, PA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| UPMC PINNACLE FOUNDATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YORK CITY PARKS CONSERVANCY | YORK, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | VETERANS MEMORIAL / FOUR CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL PROJECT |
| MAIN STREET YORK INC (DOWNTOWN YORK INC) | YORK, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG LIFE | YORK, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YORK COUNTY LIBRARIES | YORK, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YORK LITERACY INSTITUTE | YORK, PA | $1,500 | 2025 | LITERACY EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION | YORK, PA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TENNIS FOR KIDS INC | YORK, PA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE BILL AND HILDA GOODLING TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP | YORK, PA | $500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| SUSQUEHANNA SCORE | YORK, PA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YORK COUNTY HONORS CHOIR | YORK, PA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PINK POWER | YORK, PA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE GARDEN CLUB OF YORK | YORK, PA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| OLIVIA'S HOUSE | YORK, PA | $250 | 2025 | OLIVIAN GALA AND AUCTION EVENT |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $1,000,000 | 2024 | FIELD HOUSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $750,000 | 2024 | EQYPT GALLERIES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | EXPANSION PROJECT, OPERATING SUPPORT, DEANSHIP FUND |
| YORK JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | YORK, PA | $500,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| YSC ACADEMY | CHESTER, PA | $250,000 | 2024 | PA EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION PROGRAM. |
| YORK COLLEGE OF PA | YORK, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | GRAHAM COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION FELLOWS |
| YORK COLLEGE OF PA | YORK, PA | $125,000 | 2024 | GRAHAM CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATIONS |
THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$1,200,000FIELD HOUSE
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$500,000GRAHAM SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE OPERATING SUPPORT FUND
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA
$500,000THE EGYPTIAN GALLERIES FUND
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA
$250,000THE EGYPTIAN GALLERIES FUND
GRAHAM CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATIONS
YSC ACADEMY
$85,000PA EITC
CRISPUS ATTUCKS YORK
$50,000CULTURAL CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
SILVERBACK EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONFOR THE ARTS DANCE & ATHLETICS
$40,000PA EITC
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$35,000MEN'S ICE HOCKEY PROGRAM
SQUAM LAKES CONSERVATION SOCIETY
$25,000FOREVER SQUAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
APPELL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$20,000CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN
THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$20,000PHILIP HANLONG SCHOLARSHIP FUND
BYRNES HEALTH EDUCATION
$12,00025TH BIRTHDAY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
LEG UP FARM
$8,000SECURING THE DREAM TOGETHER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
PAPPUS HOUSE
$8,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
$7,500GENERAL FUND
THE SALVATION ARMY
$5,000FAMILY SERVICES RENOVATIONS
WEECONNECT - ELC INC
$5,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
UPMC PINNACLE FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL FUND
YORK CITY PARKS CONSERVANCY
$2,500VETERANS MEMORIAL / FOUR CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL PROJECT
MAIN STREET YORK INC (DOWNTOWN YORK INC)
$2,000GENERAL FUND
YOUNG LIFE
$2,000GENERAL FUND
YORK COUNTY LIBRARIES
$2,000GENERAL FUND
YORK LITERACY INSTITUTE
$1,500LITERACY EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION
$1,500GENERAL FUND
TENNIS FOR KIDS INC
$500GENERAL FUND
THE BILL AND HILDA GOODLING TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP
$500SCHOLARSHIP FUND
SUSQUEHANNA SCORE
$500GENERAL FUND
YORK COUNTY HONORS CHOIR
$500GENERAL FUND
PINK POWER
$250GENERAL FUND
THE GARDEN CLUB OF YORK
$250GENERAL FUND
OLIVIA'S HOUSE
$250OLIVIAN GALA AND AUCTION EVENT
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$1,000,000FIELD HOUSE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$500,000EXPANSION PROJECT, OPERATING SUPPORT, DEANSHIP FUND
YORK JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$500,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
YSC ACADEMY
$250,000PA EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION PROGRAM.
YORK COLLEGE OF PA
$150,000GRAHAM COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION FELLOWS