Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation
The Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation is a family foundation established in 1954 in West Virginia. Based in Charleston, WV, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting arts, sciences, education, health, social services, and Jewish organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$456K
+4.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
+12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $237K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving supports:
- A center for arts and sciences
- Education
- Health
- Social services
- Jewish organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to organizations aligned with its stated focus areas. Recent grant activity includes support to organizations such as the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, with a base of operations in Charleston.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,279,996 | $4,382,395 | $4,415,247 |
| Revenue | $390,364 | $430,245 | $251,548 |
| Expenses | $492,763 | $463,097 | $522,800 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $461,655 | $440,385 | $495,174 |
| Net Investment Income | $370,619 | $411,164 | $218,717 |
| Distributable Amount | $236,967 | $223,285 | $241,827 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include West Virginia State University Fnd ($75,000), West Virginia Health Right Inc ($50,000), Hope for Appalachia ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boy Scouts of America Buckskin Council Charleston, WV | Youth devel. | $20,000 |
| United Way of Central WV Charleston, WV | Community dev. | $10,000 |
| Appalachian Children's Chorus Charleston, WV | Cultural | $5,000 |
| Charleston Ballet Inc Charleston, WV | Cultural | $5,000 |
| Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home Charleston, WV | Health | $20,000 |
| Clay Center for Arts and Sciences Charleston, WV | Educational | $15,000 |
| Covenant House Inc Charleston, WV | Community dev. | $10,000 |
| WV Independent Colleges Charleston, WV | Educational | $10,000 |
| WV Humanities Council Charleston, WV | Historic preserv. | $15,000 |
| Festiv-All Charleston Charleston, WV | Cultural | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher J Winton | Pers. Trustee | 2 | — |
| Mark W Kelley | Pers. Trustee | 2 | — |
| Anne R Silbernagel | Pers. Trustee | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 300 Summers Street, Floor 2, Charleston, WV 25301
Telephone: 304-348-7000
EIN: 55-6014902
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving supports: • A center for arts and sciences • Education • Health • Social services • Jewish organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation?
**Financial Activity:** • Total assets: $4,279,996 • Total annual giving: $456,000 The foundation makes grants to organizations aligned with its stated focus areas. Recent grant activity includes support to organizations such as the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council.
Where does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, with a base of operations in Charleston.
What size grants does Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation award?
In 2024, Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $456K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bernard H and Blanche E Jacobson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $237K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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