Willow Creek Foundation

## How to Approach the Willow Creek Foundation

The Willow Creek Foundation is a family-run private foundation established in late 2023 by the Lynch family in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. With its tagline "Lifting Lives Locally," this foundation prioritizes community-level impact in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, with a strong preference for organizations serving Richland Township.

Alignment signals to emphasize: - Local impact: The foundation explicitly prioritizes Richland Township and the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Organizations with deep local roots and demonstrated community presence will have a significant advantage. Show concrete local outcomes rather than broad, national-scope programming. - Core focus areas: Basic needs, education, healthcare, and emotional support are the four pillars. Frame your work within these categories, even if your primary mission spans multiple areas. - Theory of change: As a new foundation still developing its grantmaking philosophy, Willow Creek likely values straightforward, tangible outcomes. Present clear logic models that show direct community benefit rather than abstract systemic change. - Family foundation dynamics: With Thomas Lynch as President and family members Laurie Lynch, Andrew Lynch, and Bridget Lynch (Executive Director) as officers, this is a close-knit family operation. Relationship-building matters — a warm, personal outreach style will resonate better than formal institutional language. - Modest scale: With ~$10M in assets and $297,000 in charitable disbursements in 2024, expect grant sizes to be modest. Position your ask appropriately, perhaps in the $5,000-$25,000 range for initial grants.

## Funding Patterns

The Willow Creek Foundation is in its early grantmaking phase, having been established in November 2023 and making its first charitable disbursements in 2024.

Financial profile: - Total assets (2024): $9,948,504 - Total revenue (2024): $1,287,478 (contributions: $782K, investment income: $505K) - Charitable disbursements (2024): $297,000 - Total liabilities: $0 - Payout rate: ~3% of assets (slightly below the required 5% minimum distribution for private foundations)

Funding trajectory: - 2023 (founding year): $9.4M contributed, $0 in grants — pure accumulation year - 2024 (first year of operations): $297,000 distributed, suggesting the foundation is ramping up gradually

Grant size indicators: - With $297,000 distributed in year one, individual grants likely range from $5,000-$50,000 depending on the number of recipients - The foundation has not published specific grant size ranges

Geographic distribution: - Richland Township (primary priority) - Greater Pittsburgh Area (secondary) - Pennsylvania (general)

Sector focus: - Basic needs assistance - Education programs - Healthcare services - Emotional support programs

## Peer Comparison

The Willow Creek Foundation operates in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, home to over 2,700 private foundations with combined assets of $19 billion. As a newer entrant with ~$10M in assets, it sits in the small-to-mid-size tier of Pittsburgh philanthropy.

Key distinctions: - Youngest foundation: At just over two years old, Willow Creek is still establishing its identity and grantmaking patterns, unlike peers with decades of track record. - Family-led governance: The all-volunteer Lynch family board (save for Bridget Lynch at $50K as ED) contrasts with larger foundations that employ professional program officers and grant managers. - Informal application process: While Pittsburgh Foundation and McCune Foundation have structured online portals and formal cycles, Willow Creek operates by email inquiry — reflecting its early-stage, relationship-driven approach. - Growth potential: The $9.9M asset base with minimal overhead suggests significant room for grant growth as the foundation matures its giving strategy.

## Application Tips for Willow Creek Foundation

1. Start with a warm email introduction. There is no formal application portal. Email bridget@willowcreekfoundationpa.org with a concise introduction of your organization. Include your 501(c)(3) status, mission, and a link to your website. Keep the initial outreach to 2-3 paragraphs — the foundation is small and relationship-driven.

2. Emphasize Richland Township and local Pittsburgh impact. The foundation explicitly prioritizes Richland Township. If your organization serves this community, lead with that. Even if you serve the broader Pittsburgh area, highlight any programs, events, or beneficiaries in the Richland/Gibsonia area.

3. Align with their four focus areas. Frame your request around one or more of their stated priorities: basic needs, education, healthcare, or emotional support. If your work spans multiple areas (e.g., a food bank that also provides mental health referrals), articulate how you address each.

4. Keep your ask proportional. With $297,000 in total 2024 disbursements and likely 10-20 grantees, individual grants are probably in the $10,000-$30,000 range. A first-time ask of $5,000-$15,000 is likely most appropriate to establish the relationship.

5. Demonstrate tangible, measurable outcomes. As a new foundation, the Lynch family is building their grantmaking track record. They will want to see that their investment creates visible, reportable impact. Include specific metrics: number of people served, meals distributed, students tutored, counseling sessions provided.

6. Be patient and build the relationship. This is a family foundation in its early years. Decision-making may be slower and less structured than larger institutional funders. Follow up politely after 2-3 weeks if you have not heard back, and be prepared for an informal conversation rather than a formal review process.

7. Show financial health and transparency. As a young foundation doing due diligence on potential grantees, they will likely want to see that your organization is well-managed. Have your most recent 990, audited financials, and annual report ready to share upon request.

8. Consider timing around their fiscal year. The foundation operates on a calendar fiscal year (January-December). Reaching out in Q1 or Q2 may align with annual planning and budgeting cycles.