WAY Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- WAY Foundation gives priority to the Hanover, PA area, so a request is most likely to fit if your work serves that community or one of its stated themes: children and youth, overall health, veteran trauma treatment or next-generation leadership.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its 87 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $8,000 and $100,000, so a request in that range is typical, though its largest grant was $300,000.
- Because 78% of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, existing relationships and collaboration with like-minded partners appear to count for a great deal, so a first approach should show how your project will work with others and how you will measure results.
- Applications are made by letter containing a specific proposal, and the filing gives no deadlines and directs applicants to the Foundation's website for further information, so check there before writing.
- Organisations outside its stated eligibility of 501(c)(3) non-profits, educational bodies and government agencies should not expect to qualify.
Overview
WAY Foundation is a US private foundation based in New Oxford, PA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The WAY Foundation makes grants for time-limited or project-specific expenses of charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organisations, educational bodies and government agencies. It prioritises children and youth, including leadership and civic engagement development, trauma prevention and international studies; overall health, including research, healthy eating and fitness; trauma treatment for veterans; and a core legacy programme emphasising the Hanover, PA area. It is particularly interested in projects of strategic importance with proven potential for lasting, significant impact, projects that engage like-minded partners, and those that leverage emerging resources to accomplish community priorities. Its approach includes networking and collaboration where possible, active involvement in projects it underwrites, and opportunities for the next generation of foundation leadership.
Themes
- Children and youth
- Overall health
- Veteran trauma treatment
- Next-generation leadership
Geographic Focus
Priority: Hanover, PA area. From its grants, not stated by the foundation: Pennsylvania; Maryland; Illinois; New Jersey; Delaware.
How to apply
Submit an application as a letter containing a specific proposal; the filing directs applicants to the Foundation's website for further information.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 78% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 87 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation favours projects of strategic importance with proven potential for a lasting, significant impact.
- It values projects that engage like-minded partners in cooperative efforts.
- It values projects that leverage emerging resources to accomplish community priorities.
- Applicants should describe anticipated outcomes, indicators of success and how they will measure results.
- It considers requests for a site visit when one would be helpful, subject to availability.
- Applicants should explain how they will collaborate with other organisations and avoid duplication of services.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 16% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to organisations WAY Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation · Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Centers & Community Enhancement Project$272,5002024 tax year
- Young Womens Christian Association · YWCA Hanover Capital Campaign$200,0002024 tax year
- Food Fix Campaign · General & Unrestricted$125,0002024 tax year
- Shining Stars Therapeutic Riding Program · Capital Campaign$100,0002024 tax year
- Orchard Friends School · Communication is Connection$70,0002024 tax year
- Training Leaders Through Athletics · Everyday Champions - Community Leadership Development center$67,5002024 tax year
- For the Love of a Veteran · Helping Heroes Heal$65,0002024 tax year
- College Settlement of Philadelphia · College Settlement's Summer Camper Fund and Nutrition Program$57,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Steven Yelland — Director, President, Vice President
- Amy Yelland — Director, Secretary
- Susan Rupp — Member-at-Large
- Michael Adornetto — Director, Treasurer
- Ann Adornetto — Dir, VP, Pres
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,316,828 | $1,150,000 | $22,584,308 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,306,674 | $1,148,000 | $29,563,377 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,721,416 | $1,500,000 | $36,052,095 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to WAY Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (610) 927-4550
- trustees@wayfoundationfamily.org
- New Oxford, PA
- wayfoundationfamily.org
Applying to WAY Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (610) 927-4550
- trustees@wayfoundationfamily.org
- New Oxford, PA
- wayfoundationfamily.org