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Kershner Sisters Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Kershner Sisters Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$25k
Granted FY2025still arriving
6
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Human Services$48kArts & Culture$34kYouth Development$25kPublic Safety & Disaster$18kHealth$11kCommunity Improvement$9kFood & Nutrition$8kRecreation & Sports$7kOther$0
02FY2025 · 6 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k5 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$4,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$552k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
First Hose Company of Boonboro Inc$10,000
Children In Need Inc$4,500
Mt Aetna Volunteer Fire Department Inc$4,000
Individual grant recipient$3,138
Washington Couty Museum of Fine Arts$2,000
Woman of Valor Ministries Inc$1,362
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–25, $50k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Star Community Inc: $10k → 12%The ARC of Washington County: $10k → 12%Star Community Inc: $5k → 12%Star Community Inc: $5k → 12%The ARC of Washington County: $5k → 12%Children In Need Inc: $5k → 12%Children In Need Inc: $5k → 12%Children In Need Inc: $4k → 12%Star Community Inc: $2k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

58%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$116k · 10 repeat orgs$83k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +50% since the first grant, against +18% for those funded once.

10 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
17

Total granted

$116k
$63k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+50%
+18%

Still filing today

90%
71%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 23% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $19k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentPublic Safety & DisasterEducationOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • SC
    STAR COMMUNITY INC
    4× · 2020–2024 · $22k · revenue +50%
  • WC
    WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
    3× · 2019–2021 · $21k · revenue +88%
  • AO
    ARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC
    2× · 2020–2024 · $15k · revenue +45%

Funded once

  • BG
    BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTYgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $13k · revenue +35%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2022 · $5k
  • MH
    MERITUS HEALTH FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $5k · revenue +468%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Washington County Chamber of Commerce Inc

The organization provides programs and services that meet the business and professional needs of its members while promoting efforts to make the community a great place to live and work.

—
2
The Washington County Humane Society Inc

Rescue and care for stray or unwanted animals.

Animals
3
Washington County Free Library

The mission of the washington county free library system is to continually improve our service to the public by:* providing the public with free access to library materials in a variety of formats* promoting community enrichment, economic…

Education
4
Washington County Arts Council Inc

Promotes the arts and related activities at local, state and national levels

—
5
Hospice of Washington County Inc

To work together with our interdisciplinary team to provide quality, coordinated, comprehensive patient and family-centered care that addresses the physical, spiritual, emotional and practical needs of our patients. we encourage our…

—
6
Howard County Chamber of Commerce

To represent the business community of howard county, maryland

—
7
Historical Society Harford Cou

Preserve the history of Harford County, Maryland

—
8
Harford Volunteer Fire Company

To provide fire protection, rescue and ambulance services to a community of approximately 4000 people.

—
9
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County Maryland Inc

To create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

Youth Development
10
Washington County Chamber of Commerce

To promote and advance the interest of the washington county business community.

Community Improvement
11
Boys & Girls Club of Washington County Inc

Provide behavioral guidance and promote health, social, educational and vocational development of boys and girls six to eighteen years of age.

Youth Development
12
Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association of Md Inc

To provide training and support to local member fire and rescue companies.

Public Safety & Disaster
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Boys & Girls Club of Washington County; the most unlike its peers is First Hose Company of Boonsboro Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 31 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
14/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

STAR COMMUNITY INC: $22,000 · Human ServicesSTAR COMMUNITY INCARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $14,800 · Human ServicesARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INCCHILDREN IN NEED INC: $13,000 · Human ServicesCHILDREN IN NEED INCCHILDREN'S VILLAGE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $9,900 · OtherCHILDREN'S VILLAGE OF WASHING…United Way of Washington County: $6,933 · OtherUnited Way of Washington Coun…Individual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientMason-Dixon Council BSA: $5,000 · OtherMason-Dixon Council BSASharpsburg Volunteer Fire Company Inc: $4,850 · OtherSharpsburg Volunteer Fire Com…The Interfaith Service Center: $3,250 · OtherThe Interfaith Service CenterIndividual grant recipient: $3,138 · OtherIndividual grant recipientIndividual grant recipient: $2,500 · OtherWashington Couty Museum of Fine Arts: $2,000 · OtherHUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INCORPORATED: $3,932 · OtherHUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON …WOMEN OF VALOR MINISTRIES INC: $3,862 · OtherWOMEN OF VALOR MINISTRIES INC+1 more: $1,000 · OtherWASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS: $21,346 · Arts & CultureWASHINGTON COUNTY…Friends of the Wash Co Rural Heritage Museum Inc: $3,900 · Arts & CultureFriends of the Wa…THE MARYLAND THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $3,835 · Arts & CultureTHE MARYLAND THEA…WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC: $1,500 · Arts & CultureBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY: $12,500 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS & GIRLS CL…GIRLS INCORPORATED OF WASHINGTON COUNTY: $12,065 · Youth DevelopmentGIRLS INCORPORA…FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $1,900 · Youth DevelopmentFELLOWSHIP OF C…FIRST HOSE COMPANY OF BOONSBORO INC: $10,000 · Public Safety & DisasterFIRST HOS…MT AETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT: $4,000 · Public Safety & DisasterMT AETNA …HANCOCK RESCUE SQUAD INC: $2,500 · Public Safety & DisasterHANCOCK R…MERITUS HEALTH FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · HealthBROOK LANE HEALTH SERVICES INC: $3,500 · HealthCOMMUNITY FREE CLINIC INC: $2,500 · HealthBOONSBORO AMBULANCE AND RESCUE SERVICE: $826 · HealthWASHINGTON COUNTY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INC: $8,500 · EducationBARBARA INGRAM SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS FOUNDATION INC: $3,120 · Education
Human Services$49,800Other$51,365Arts & Culture$30,581Youth Development$26,465Public Safety & Disaster$16,500Health$11,826Education$11,620

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSTAR COMMUNITY INC: $22,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetWASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS: $21,346 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $14,800 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN IN NEED INC: $13,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY: $12,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetGIRLS INCORPORATED OF WASHINGTON COUNTY: $12,065 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetFIRST HOSE COMPANY OF BOONSBORO INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetCHILDREN'S VILLAGE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $9,900 over 3y, 3.2% of budgetWASHINGTON COUNTY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INC: $8,500 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetMERITUS HEALTH FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetMT AETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT: $4,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetHUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INCORPORATED: $3,932 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFriends of the Wash Co Rural Heritage Museum Inc: $3,900 over 1y, 7.4% of budgetWOMEN OF VALOR MINISTRIES INC: $3,862 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetTHE MARYLAND THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $3,835 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBROOK LANE HEALTH SERVICES INC: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBARBARA INGRAM SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS FOUNDATION INC: $3,120 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITY FREE CLINIC INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHANCOCK RESCUE SQUAD INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $1,900 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetHagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetBOONSBORO AMBULANCE AND RESCUE SERVICE: $826 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Community Foundat…Albert E & Naomi B Si…The John R Hershey an…Nora Roberts Foundati…Alice V & David W Fle…Richard N Funkhouser …The Hamilton Family F…Nisource Charitable F…Holzapfel Family Char…Michael G Callas Char…The Jone L Bowman Fou…Firstenergy Foundation
The Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland IncMD38.9× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Inc · Albert E & Naomi B Sinnisen Foundation · The John R Hershey and Anna L Hershey Family Foundation Inc · Nora Roberts Foundation · Alice V & David W Fletcher Foundation Inc · Richard N Funkhouser Foundationinc · The Hamilton Family Foundation Inc · Nisource Charitable Foundation · Holzapfel Family Charitable Foundation C/O James Holzapfel · Michael G Callas Charitable Trust · The Jone L Bowman Foundation Inc · Firstenergy Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Kershner Sisters Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Kershner Sisters Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 3%
  • Meritus Health Foundation Inc: 94% of income from government
  • Boonsboro Ambulance and Rescue Service: 3% of income from government
  • Washington County Museum of Fine Arts: 2% of income from government
  • Star Community Inc: 2% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
14report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Kershner Sisters Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Kershner Sisters Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 31 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Kershner Sisters’ filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home