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J. William Warehime Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.0M
Decision Time
3mo

J. William Warehime Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,260,000 (2022)
  • Total Assets: $126 million (2021)
  • Number of Grants: 86 grants (2022)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $1,000,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
  • Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly deadlines
  • Founded: 1996

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
J. William Warehime Foundation
P.O. Box 109
York, PA 17405

Email: warehimefoundation@outlook.com
Website: https://warehimefoundation.org/
Grant Portal: Access through grantinterface.com (account required)

Overview

The Airie K., Harry V., and J. William Warehime Foundation, operating as the J. William Warehime Foundation, was incorporated in Pennsylvania on July 26, 1996, to continue the philanthropic legacy of J. William "Bill" Warehime (1927-2008). The son of the founders of Hanover Foods Corporation, Warehime was a lifelong philanthropist and community leader who served on multiple boards and supported local institutions throughout his life.

With total assets of approximately $126 million and annual giving of over $7.2 million, the foundation awards approximately 86 grants annually, primarily supporting education, health education, performing arts, and organizations addressing basic human needs in the Hanover, York, and Adams County regions. The foundation has awarded 454 individual grants totaling over $51.4 million since 2016. The foundation emphasizes strategic, time-limited project support that leverages partnerships and demonstrates lasting community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Operational Grants

  • Amount: $2,500 - $50,000
  • Purpose: Support for non-profits addressing basic human needs
  • Restriction: Cannot exceed 10% of organization's annual revenue
  • Renewable: Annually, with minimum 12-month intervals between submissions
  • Eligibility: Limited to organizations serving York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania

Project Grants

  • Amount: $5,000 - $1,000,000 (median: $25,000)
  • Purpose: Time-limited, project-specific initiatives
  • Applicants: 501(c)(3) organizations, educational bodies, government agencies
  • Application Type:
    • Condensed Application: Requests under $25,000 with annual revenues below $1 million
    • Standard Application: Larger requests
  • Decision Schedule: Four annual review rounds with rolling submissions

Priority Areas

The foundation gives primarily to organizations that:

  • Advance education and educational institutions
  • Support health education centers
  • Fund performing arts centers and cultural programs
  • Address basic human needs in the community
  • Demonstrate strategic importance with proven potential for lasting, significant impact
  • Engage new partners in cooperative efforts
  • Leverage new resources (time, money, or know-how) to accomplish community priorities

Geographic Focus

Strict Geographic Limitation: Operational grants are exclusively for organizations with service locations in York and Adams Counties who offer services and programs to residents of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. The foundation maintains a primary focus on the Hanover and York areas.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not support:

  • Projects unrelated or marginally related to the goals of each particular grant program
  • Budget shortfalls or general operating deficits
  • Multiple projects from the same grant program simultaneously
  • Organizations with discriminatory employment or program practices
  • Association dues

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

James Bergdoll, CPA/PFS – Chairman
Linda A. Lohr – Secretary/Treasurer (compensation: $13,500 in 2024)
Elizabeth Carson – Board Member
Oliver Hoar – Board Member
Dave Meckley – Board Member
Alex Snyder, Esquire – Board Member
Michael Stick – Board Member

Honorary Members:

  • Mrs. Elizabeth W. Stick – Honorary Chairman (deceased 2024)
  • J. William Warehime – Founder (deceased 2008)

About the Founder

J. William "Bill" Warehime (1927-2008) was the son of Harry V. and Airie (Knipel) Warehime, who founded Hanover Canning Company (now Hanover Foods Corporation) in 1924. A graduate of Gettysburg College (1950) and U.S. Army veteran, Warehime served as Secretary/Treasurer of the family business until his retirement in 1987. He subsequently led Warehime Enterprises and served on the Board of Directors of Snyder's of Hanover. An avid antique collector, he donated the historic Myers Mansion to the Hanover Area Historical Society in 2007. The foundation states it was "formed to continue Mr. Warehime's tradition of advancing public well being through civic commitment and support of charitable institutions."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Create Account: Establish an account on the foundation's grant management portal at grantinterface.com
  2. Select Application Type:
    • Condensed Application: For requests under $25,000 with organizational revenue below $1 million
    • Standard Application: For larger requests or larger organizations
  3. Submit Online: All applications must be submitted through the online portal (note: prior paper applications are not visible on the portal)
  4. Contact for Questions: Email warehimefoundation@outlook.com

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with four annual decision rounds:

RoundApplication DeadlineDecision Notification
Round 1February 15By April 30
Round 2May 15By July 31
Round 3August 15By October 31
Round 4November 15By January 30

Processing Time: Approximately 2.5 months from deadline to decision notification

Note: Upon receipt of a complete application, consideration will be made in the round with the closest upcoming submission due date.

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation awarded 86 grants in 2022 from total assets of $126 million. With annual giving of $7.2 million distributed across 86 organizations, this suggests a selective but active grantmaking approach. The median grant of $25,000 indicates most successful applications fall in the mid-range of their funding spectrum.

Reapplication Policy

  • Operational Grants: Renewable annually with a minimum 12-month interval between submissions
  • Project Grants: No specific restrictions mentioned; applicants may reapply for new projects

Application Success Factors

Foundation Priorities

The foundation explicitly prioritizes projects that demonstrate three key characteristics:

  1. Strategic Importance: Activities with "proven potential to make a lasting, significant impact"
  2. Collaborative Partnerships: Projects that "engage new partners in cooperative efforts"
  3. Resource Leverage: Initiatives that "leverage new resources – time, money or know how – to accomplish community priorities"

Geographic Alignment is Critical

For operational grants, organizations must have service locations in York and Adams Counties AND serve residents of York and Adams Counties. Geographic eligibility is strictly enforced.

Project-Specific vs. Operating Support

The foundation shows a strong preference for "time-limited, project-specific expenses" over general operating support. While operational grants are available for organizations addressing basic human needs, they are capped at 10% of the organization's annual revenue and range from $2,500-$50,000. Larger grants appear to be project-focused.

Recent Funding Examples

2024 Activities:

  • ECHO (Every Child Has Opportunities): The foundation provided philanthropic support for this early childhood education initiative, contributing to nearly $1 million in awards to York County education centers, projected to serve roughly 500 more children and support hiring of 75 new educators
  • Miss Pennsylvania 2024: Presented by the J. William Warehime Foundation at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts
  • Welcoming Communities Hanover: Grants of up to $2,000 each for selected community events (May 2024-May 2025), administered by the Cultural Alliance in partnership with Main Street Hanover

2023 Activities:

  • Partnered with York County Community Foundation and Powder Mill Foundation to invest in a comprehensive Nonprofit Resiliency Survey and interactive dashboard for York County's nonprofit landscape

Relationship with Community Foundations

The foundation maintains collaborative relationships with both York County Community Foundation and Adams County Community Foundation, including establishing:

  • Warehime Foundation Operations Fund (2023)
  • Warehime Fund for Greater Hanover
  • J. William Warehime Fund for Adams County

These partnerships suggest the foundation values collaborative approaches and may be receptive to projects that involve community foundation partnerships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable: Your organization must have service locations in York or Adams Counties and serve residents of these counties. Do not apply if you fall outside this geographic area.

  • Emphasize the three priority factors: Clearly articulate how your project demonstrates (1) strategic importance with lasting impact, (2) collaborative partnerships, and (3) leveraged resources. These are the foundation's explicitly stated priorities.

  • Time-limited projects are preferred: Frame requests as specific, bounded projects with clear timelines rather than ongoing general support. If applying for operational support, ensure you serve basic human needs and request no more than 10% of annual revenue.

  • Plan for quarterly cycles: With four annual decision rounds and ~2.5-month processing times, build these timelines into your funding strategy. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis but batched to the nearest quarterly deadline.

  • Mid-range requests appear most common: With a median grant of $25,000 and 86 grants totaling $7.2 million annually, most successful applications likely fall in the $10,000-$50,000 range. Very large grants (approaching $1 million) are possible but appear exceptional.

  • Collaborative projects may have an edge: Recent funding examples show foundation support for initiatives involving multiple partners (ECHO program, Nonprofit Resiliency Survey). Demonstrating how your project brings together diverse stakeholders may strengthen your application.

  • Use the online portal system: The foundation has fully transitioned to an online grant management system. Familiarize yourself with grantinterface.com and note that previous paper applications are not accessible through the new system.

References

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