Beckley Area Foundation Inc
Beckley Area Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Beckley, West Virginia. Founded in 1985, it manages more than 500 funds and supports charitable giving and community projects, including work in education, health and human services, the arts, public recreation, animal services and community beautification.
Key facts about Beckley Area Foundation Inc
In short: Beckley Area Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 81 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in West Virginia. 41% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 31-1125328
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,778,788
- Grants made (2025)
- 81
- Average grant
- $21,960
- Median grant
- $10,097
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (33 of 81, 2025)
- Total assets
- $79,172,107
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The website directs applicants to use the foundation’s grant portal. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The published Community Grant Program cycle listed an application deadline of February 15, 2026, for projects running…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$79.2M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+138.5% YoY
Grant Count
81
+92.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+23.7% YoY
Is Beckley Area Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 33 of 81 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to inspire and facilitate generous charitable giving that advances our community.” Its 2024 filing describes community benefit grants from unrestricted funds, scholarships awarded through a competitive process, and grantmaking from other restricted funds, including donor-advised funds. The filing says endowment income supports charitable needs in education, health and human services, the arts, public recreation and beautification. Its website also identifies animal services and economic development among the Community Grant Program’s areas.
The Community Grant Program considers requests from 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, schools and municipalities. Funded programs must directly benefit Raleigh County, although applicant organizations need not be headquartered there. The foundation’s 2026 Field of Interest opportunities also invited nonprofits, schools, municipalities and qualifying public organizations to apply, with eligibility varying by fund.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Humane Society of Raleigh County describes its work as providing a safe haven for homeless and neglected animals, including adoption, spay/neuter and community outreach services. Hospice of Southern West Virginia says it serves people with life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers. United Way of Southern West Virginia describes its focus as health, education and financial stability in the region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 81 grants totaling $1,778,788. Individual grants ranged from $5,042 to $141,525, with a median of $10,097. Its largest reported awards included $141,525 to the City of Beckley for the Bill Withers Project, $117,158 to the Humane Society of Raleigh County for an annual distribution and spay/neuter program, and $88,805 to the Raleigh County Veterans Museum for program support. Other notable grants included $71,184 to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, $58,097 to the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and $35,638 to Helping Hands Resource Center for a food pantry.
The foundation’s website describes annual discretionary grants for Raleigh County-serving charitable organizations, alongside separate Field of Interest opportunities tied to donor purposes and available fund dollars. It identifies priorities such as projects serving many residents or underserved groups, projects that help organizations secure ongoing support, matching grants and innovative special projects. Its 2024 filing says specific-purpose grant recipients must document expenditures with invoices and submit a final project report; recipients of unrestricted financial-assistance grants must sign a contract and document expenses.
Review Cycle
The published Community Grant Program cycle listed an application deadline of February 15, 2026, for projects running May 1, 2026–March 31, 2027. The 2026 Field of Interest cycle listed June 30, 2026, as its deadline. Both dates have passed.
How to Apply
The website directs applicants to use the foundation’s grant portal. For the Community Grant Program, applicants create an account or use their previous login, then select the relevant application. The published eligibility rules require a qualifying nonprofit or public applicant, a project that directly benefits Raleigh County, and submission of required materials by the deadline. Religious organizations may receive support only for programs open to the broader public and nonsectarian in nature. The published 2026 Field of Interest instructions likewise directed applicants to the portal, with eligibility and project requirements varying by fund.
Open Grants
83 open opportunities from Beckley Area Foundation Inc
American Legion Post #70 Scholarship Grant
Beckley Area Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Beckley Area Foundation Community Grant Program
Beckley Area Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Beckley Area Foundation: Second Chance Scholarship Grant
Beckley Area Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Beckley Area Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Community Grant Program requires funded programs to directly benefit Raleigh County. The foundation also describes its Field of Interest grants as supporting projects throughout its region and strengthening communities across Southern West Virginia. In filing year 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia; the remainder went to recipients in Ohio, Virginia, New York and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $573K (2020) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 81 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City of Beckley - Bill Withers Project ($142K). Together the top 10 received $711K.
Grant Size Distribution
261 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 245 grants of 261 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Beckley - Bill Withers Project Beckley, WV | Project Support | $141,525 |
| Humane Society of Raleigh County Beckley, WV | Annual Distribution and Spay / Neuter Program | $117,158 |
| Raleigh County Veterans Museum Beckley, WV | Program Support | $88,805 |
| Hospice of Southern West Virginia Inc Beckley, WV | Annual Distribution and Progam Support | $71,184 |
| Beckley Presbyterian Church Beckley, WV | Annual Distribution | $63,670 |
| West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation Charleston, WV | Annual Distribution | $58,097 |
| St Andrews Episcopal Church Oak Hill, WV | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Away Beckley, WV | Annual Distribution | $43,735 |
| The Salvation Army Beckley, WV | Annual Distribution, Program Support | $39,609 |
| Three Rivers Avian Center Hinton, WV | Program Support | $36,908 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,172,107 | $9,354,960 | $3,952,546 | $1,778,788 across 81 grants |
| 2024 | $74,023,113 | $9,766,173 | $2,300,697 | $745,736 across 42 grants |
| 2023 | $60,688,007 | $4,467,832 | $2,341,381 | $668,737 across 45 grants |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $79,172,107 | $74,023,113 | $60,688,007 |
| Revenue | $9,354,960 | $9,766,173 | $4,467,832 |
| Expenses | $3,952,546 | $2,300,697 | $2,341,381 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,819,768 | $3,996,700 | $2,025,102 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jereme Evans as president, Jenni Canterbury as vice president, Ann Worley as secretary and Sabrina Triplett as treasurer. Directors listed are John Beasley, Richard Jarrell, Sabrina Jenkins, Lisa Killmer, Kacy Korczyk-Bailey and Rick Lay.
Beckley Area Foundation Inc is led by Dena Cushman, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dena Cushman
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $126K (2025)
Jereme Evans
President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Ramsden
Director
Treasurer → President, 2023
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Beasley
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clyde Stepp
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Leftwich
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sabrina Jenkins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Lay
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jared Underwood
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kacy Korczyk-Bailey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Killmer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Jarrell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Williams
CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Ann Worley
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sabrina Triplett
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenni Canterbury
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Deena Salon (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gavin Ward (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Steven Ballard (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Julie Kominsky (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Kevin H. Bailey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Raymond Morton (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Amanda Sauchuck (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Vaught (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Lee Milam (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tom Lemke (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Beth Jarrell (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Robert N. File (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Cynthia Turner (2020) — President
- Former: Patty Johnston (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $126K, to Dena Cushman (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1210 S Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801
Phone: (304) 253-3806
Website: https://bafwv.org
Frequently asked questions about Beckley Area Foundation Inc
How much does Beckley Area Foundation Inc give each year?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 81 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $746K across 42 grants.
What is Beckley Area Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,097, and its average grant was $21,960, across 81 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Beckley Area Foundation Inc that year got $26K on average.
Where does Beckley Area Foundation Inc give grants?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc gives mostly in West Virginia: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Beckley, WV (39 grants), Charleston, WV (8 grants), Oak Hill, WV (5 grants) and Fayetteville, WV (4 grants).
Does Beckley Area Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 81 grants with a stated purpose on Beckley Area Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (52 grants), "Annual Distribution" (17 grants) and "Food Pantry" (3 grants).
Who are Beckley Area Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include City of Beckley - Bill Withers Project ($141,525), Humane Society of Raleigh County ($117,158) and Raleigh County Veterans Museum ($88,805), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Beckley Area Foundation Inc?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc reported $79.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.4M.
What does Beckley Area Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to inspire and facilitate generous charitable giving that advances our community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Beckley Area Foundation Inc?
The website directs applicants to use the foundation’s grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Beckley Area Foundation Inc's EIN?
Beckley Area Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1125328. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Beckley Area Foundation Inc by hand.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Beckley Area Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Beckley Area Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?