The Steinman Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Lancaster County with a strong emphasis on civic life and community stewardship. Its largest investments fund journalism and civic engagement through the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement, while significant support also goes to land conservation and local community development initiatives. The foundation appears mission-driven toward preserving local assets (farmland, neighborhoods) and strengthening public information and civic institutions.
The Steinman Foundation’s most distinctive recent commitment is a $7,000,000 grant to the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement for local journalism and media literacy. That award sits within a broader pattern of funding that ties public information, civic life, and community stewardship to Lancaster County. The foundation also made a $5,000,000 grant to the same institute in the prior year, showing sustained support for the organization rather than a one-time project. Beyond journalism, its recent grants extend into land preservation, neighborhood stewardship, early childhood development, STEM education, and local institutions serving residents across Lancaster County. The foundation’s work is anchored in place and in practical community-building. In recent grant records, Lancaster Farmland Trust received $1,438,805 for grant support, and HDC MidAtlantic received $750,000 for community stewardship. Smaller awards appear alongside large institutional grants, including support for colleges, health, youth, and community organizations. The result is a funder profile shaped by recurring support for local capacity, civic infrastructure, and organizations that maintain Lancaster County’s social and physical landscape.
Local journalism and media literacy are a central priority. The Steinman Foundation gave $7,000,000 to the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement for local journalism and media literacy, and a separate $500,000 grant to Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund. Community stewardship is another visible theme. HDC MidAtlantic received $750,000 for community stewardship, while Lancaster Conservancy received $125,000 for community stewardship in 2024. Economic and workforce development appears through education-linked grants. Lancasterhistoryorg received $400,000 for economic & workforce development, and Elizabethtown College received $156,000 for STEM. Early childhood development also sits in the portfolio. Community Action Partnership received $118,675 for early childhood development, aligning with the foundation’s stated focus on programs for young children and families.
The Steinman Foundation’s recent grants show a wide spread, from a p25 of $7,500 to a median of $11,625 and a p75 of $35,000. That distribution sits alongside a smaller number of much larger strategic awards, which shape the upper end of the portfolio. The pattern also suggests continuity rather than isolated giving: the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement received grants in consecutive years, and Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster appears multiple times across recent years. The foundation uses a mix of program support, operating support, scholarship funding, and project-based grants. Its general grant programs are invitation-based after a letter of inquiry, while some thematic programs accept unsolicited requests.
$25.4M
$111.5M
$38.2M
$11.8M
Most grants fall between $8K and $35K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 90% of grants go to recipients in PA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Steinman Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 349 | $25.4M | 99.7% |
| 2 | Canada | 1 | $8K |
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Highly concentrated giving: a few very large grants dominate total giving, including multi‑million awards to a flagship civic journalism institute and sizable investments in local conservation and community development. The foundation shows repeat, major support for core local organizations rather than many small, dispersed grants.
Notable grantees: Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement, Lancaster Farmland Trust, HDC MidAtlantic
Grant dollars are heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, with 90% of grants going to recipients in the state and the top giving state also Pennsylvania. Lancaster is the most common city among named recipients, including Lancaster City Alliance, Lancaster Conservancy, and Lancaster General Health Foundation. Other Pennsylvania locations appear as well, such as Harrisburg, Strasburg, Elizabethtown, and Hershey. The recipient-country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with one grant to Canada in the dataset.
The foundation’s active grant programs emphasize local journalism and media literacy, early childhood development, economic and workforce development with a STEM emphasis, and community stewardship. Recent grants also show support for farmland preservation, water projects, scholarships, and emergency or rapid-relief needs.
Yes. Ninety percent of its grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania, and Lancaster County is the center of its giving. Named recipients in the recent grants list are concentrated in Lancaster and nearby Pennsylvania cities such as Harrisburg, Strasburg, Elizabethtown, and Hershey.
Its typical grant size is $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $11,625 at the median, and $35,000 at the 75th percentile. The foundation uses both invitation-based general grantmaking and thematic programs, and some programs accept unsolicited requests while others do not.
Yes. The Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement received a $5,000,000 grant in 2024 and a $7,000,000 grant in 2025. Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster also appears more than once in the recent grants list, including awards in 2024 and 2025.
No. The general grant program begins with a letter of inquiry and only invited applicants move to full application. Some thematic programs, including Economic & Workforce Development (STEM), Community Journalism and Media Literacy, Early Childhood Development, and Local Journalism & Media Literacy, are marked as accepting unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEINMAN INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | HARRISBURG, PA | $7,000,000 | 2025 | LOCAL JOURNALISM & MEDIA LITERACY |
| LANCASTERHISTORYORG | LANCASTER, PA | $400,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| TOUCHSTONE FOUNDATION | LANCASTER, PA | $229,419 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE | ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | $156,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $120,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP | LANCASTER, PA | $118,675 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT |
| LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE | LANCASTER, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH FOUNDATION | LANCASTER, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| PENN STATE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HERSHEY, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| UNITED WAY OF LANCASTER COUNTY | LANCASTER, PA | $75,750 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| COCALICO SCHOOL DISTRICT | DENVER, PA | $75,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| THE FILM COLLABORATIVE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| HORIZONS AT LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | LANCASTER, PA | $74,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| LANCASTER SCIENCE FACTORY | LANCASTER, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LANCASTER CLEAN WATER PARTNERS | LANCASTER, PA | $65,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| CENTRAL MARKET TRUST | LANCASTER, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY | MILLERSVILLE, PA | $54,021 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LANCASTER LEBANON EDUCATION | LANCASTER, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LANCASTER, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CO OF LANC CO | LANCASTER, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| THE LITERACY COUNCIL | LANCASTER, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LUTHERCARE FOR KIDS | LITIZ, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT |
| PRECISION COBOTICS | LITITZ, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| MUSIC FOR EVERYONE | LANCASTER, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP & STEM |
| LANCASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY | LANCASTER, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $26,103 | 2025 | STEM |
| SUSAN P BYRNES HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER | YORK, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| SPANISH AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION | LANCASTER, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| ASSETS | LANCASTER, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| FOUNDATION OF LANCASTER CHAMBER | LANCASTER, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LA ACADEMIA PARTNERSHIP | LANCASTER, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY | HARRISONBURG, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LEADERSHIP LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $18,750 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| LET'S GO 1-2-3 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $18,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST | STRASBURG, PA | $16,666 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| LANCASTER LEBANON IU13 | LANCASTER, PA | $16,500 | 2025 | STEM |
| PLANT THE SEED OF LEARNING | EPHRATA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE CAPITAL REGION | HARRISBURG, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY FOR BIOMEDICAL | CAMP HILL, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| K FICKLES ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE | ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | $11,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MR MITCHELL FOR MATHEMATICS | LANCASTER, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| A DEDE MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY | MILLERSVILLE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNITED CHURCHES ELIZABETHTOWN AREA | ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| LIGHTHOUSE VOCATIONAL SERVICES | NEW HOLLAND, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE-LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| ASSIST | SUFFIELD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-LANCASTER | LANCASTER, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
| THE EDIBLE CLASSROOM | WASHINGTON BORO, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | STEM |
| ST JOSEPHS CHILDRENS HEALTH | LANCASTER, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP |
STEINMAN INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
$7,000,000LOCAL JOURNALISM & MEDIA LITERACY
LANCASTERHISTORYORG
$400,000ECONOMIC & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
TOUCHSTONE FOUNDATION
$229,419COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE
$156,000STEM
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LANCASTER
$120,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
$118,675EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE
$100,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
$100,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
PENN STATE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$100,000STEM
UNITED WAY OF LANCASTER COUNTY
$75,750COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
COCALICO SCHOOL DISTRICT
$75,000STEM
THE FILM COLLABORATIVE
$75,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
HORIZONS AT LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
$74,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
LANCASTER SCIENCE FACTORY
$70,000STEM
LANCASTER CLEAN WATER PARTNERS
$65,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
CENTRAL MARKET TRUST
$60,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
$54,021FELLOWSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS
LANCASTER LEBANON EDUCATION
$50,000STEM
LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CO OF LANC CO
$50,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
THE LITERACY COUNCIL
$40,000STEM
LUTHERCARE FOR KIDS
$40,000EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
PRECISION COBOTICS
$40,000STEM
MUSIC FOR EVERYONE
$35,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP & STEM
LANCASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
$30,000STEM
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER
$26,103STEM
SUSAN P BYRNES HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER
$25,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
SPANISH AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
$25,000STEM
ASSETS
$25,000GRANT
FOUNDATION OF LANCASTER CHAMBER
$25,000STEM
LA ACADEMIA PARTNERSHIP
$25,000STEM
GIRLS ON THE RUN OF LANCASTER
$20,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY
$20,000STEM
LEADERSHIP LANCASTER
$18,750COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
LET'S GO 1-2-3
$18,000STEM
LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST
$16,666COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
LANCASTER LEBANON IU13
$16,500STEM
PLANT THE SEED OF LEARNING
$15,000STEM
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE CAPITAL REGION
$15,000STEM
PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY FOR BIOMEDICAL
$15,000STEM
K FICKLES ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE
$11,000SCHOLARSHIP
MR MITCHELL FOR MATHEMATICS
$10,000STEM
A DEDE MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
UNITED CHURCHES ELIZABETHTOWN AREA
$10,000STEM
LIGHTHOUSE VOCATIONAL SERVICES
$10,000STEM
NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE-LANCASTER
$10,000STEM
ASSIST
$10,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-LANCASTER
$10,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
THE EDIBLE CLASSROOM
$10,000STEM
ST JOSEPHS CHILDRENS HEALTH
$10,000COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP