Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation
The Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation is a private foundation based in Charleston, West Virginia. In its 2025 filing, it reported 25 grants totaling $435,000, all to recipients in West Virginia. Listed grant purposes included education, animal welfare, relief, civic improvement, culture, health, and youth programs.
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation at a glance
In short: Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation gave $435K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in West Virginia. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $435,000
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- -10.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,400
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $4,557,658
- +6.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (9 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Trustee Christopher J Winton. No specific application form is required. The filing states that there are no restrictions on awards, while noting a preference for organizations in West Virginia or the Kanawha Valley. Trustees generally meet quarterly to consider grant requests.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher J Winton Trustee
Mailing address: 109 Capitol Street Suite 700, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 342-1141
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was West Virginia State Univ ($100K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $300K.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 125 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in West Virginia. The foundation’s filing also states a preference for organizations in West Virginia or the Kanawha Valley.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 23 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 43% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 171% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $435K (2025) to $484K (2022). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $435K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia State Univ Institute, WV | Education | $50,000 |
| West Virginia State Univ Institute, WV | Education | $50,000 |
| Kanawha Charleston Humane Charleston, WV | Animal Welfare | $40,000 |
| Library Foundation Charleston, WV | Educational | $25,000 |
| Union Mission Ministries Charleston, WV | Relief | $20,000 |
| City of Charleston Beautif Institute, WV | Civic improvement | $20,000 |
| Clay Center for Arts and Science Charleston, WV | Education | $20,000 |
| WV Symphony Orchestra Charleston, WV | Culture | $20,000 |
| WV Humanities Council Charleston, WV | Culture | $20,000 |
| REA of Hope Inc Charleston, WV | Health | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,557,658 | $705,477 | $442,538 | $435,000 | 25 | $415,147 | $684,317 | $243,232 |
| 2024 | $4,279,996 | $390,364 | $492,763 | $456,000 | 28 | $461,655 | $370,619 | $236,967 |
| 2023 | $4,382,395 | $430,245 | $463,097 | $435,200 | 25 | $440,385 | $411,164 | $223,285 |
| 2022 | $4,415,247 | $251,548 | $522,800 | $483,645 | 25 | $495,174 | $218,717 | $241,827 |
| 2021 | $4,686,499 | $378,671 | $487,784 | $449,000 | 22 | $453,893 | $348,506 | $291,830 |
| 2020 | $4,795,612 | $418,682 | $499,956 | $470,000 | 32 | — | $393,932 | $256,949 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $243K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, the arts and culture, animal welfare, relief, health, civic improvement, and youth programs.
Among the 2025 grantees, Union Mission Ministries described its mission as providing shelter, clothing, food, counseling, and structured programs for people in need across West Virginia. Covenant House said it champions West Virginians’ rights to food, housing, and health care. Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home described a program intended to help residents become contributing members of society. Daymark said it was formed by its community to address children at risk of moving into a “street” existence. Appalachian Children’s Chorus described its work as providing music education and opportunities for West Virginia youth.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $435,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest awards were two $50,000 grants to West Virginia State University for education and a $40,000 grant to Kanawha Charleston Humane for animal welfare. Other notable 2025 grants included $25,000 to Library Foundation for educational purposes; $20,000 each to Union Mission Ministries for relief, City of Charleston Beautif for civic improvement, Clay Center for Arts and Science for education, WV Symphony Orchestra for culture, and WV Humanities Council for culture; and $15,000 each to REA of Hope for health, Boy Scouts Buckskin Council for a youth program, and Girl Scouts Black Diamond for a youth program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher J Winton, Mark W Kelley, and Anne R Silbernagel as personal trustees.
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne R Silbernagel
Pers. Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher J Winton
Pers. Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark W Kelley
Pers. Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation
How much does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation give each year?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation gave $435K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $456K across 28 grants.
What is Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's typical grant size?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,400, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation give grants?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, WV (22 grants) and Institute, WV (3 grants).
Does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health" (7 grants), "Education" (5 grants) and "Youth program" (4 grants).
Who are Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's largest grantees?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include West Virginia State Univ ($100,000 across 2 grants), Kanawha Charleston Humane ($40,000) and Library Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $415K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $243K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, the arts and culture, animal welfare, relief, health, civic improvement, and youth programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation?
Contact Trustee Christopher J Winton. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's EIN?
Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-6014902. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-h-and-blanche-e-jacobson-foundation-morg_22a38994fdff4ba49a0e147c5fdbfc15
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_556014902_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-h-and-blanche-e-jacobson-foundation-morg_22a38994fdff4ba49a0e147c5fdbfc15},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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