Carter Family Foundation
The Carter Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 1981 and based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The foundation was founded by Duane and Lynn Carter in 2019 with the original purpose of establishing a legacy of generosity and Christian charity within the Carter family. The foundation operates with no paid staff—all corporate officers, directors, and ambassadors serve on a voluntary basis, with each adult member of the Carter family contributing annually to cover operating expenses. One hundred percent of all charitable donations are distributed to mission fields.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.1M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$581K
-6.9% YoY
Grant Count
50
-7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $926K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: Live as ambassadors of God's grace in local communities, America and the world for His glory.
Mission: Preserve and promote every person's God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through education, rescue and rehabilitation, child protection, evangelism and missions.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Rescue & Rehabilitation
- Child Protection
- Evangelism & Missions
- Higher Education
- Community Development
- Community Service Projects
The foundation also provides scholarships and student loans to individuals willing to continue their education and teaching profession within West Virginia.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $105,776, with a median grant of approximately $5,000 and an average award of $10,000.
How to Apply
** Applicants should submit a letter and resume. The foundation prioritizes applications from Raleigh County residents who demonstrate a desire to become qualified in a selected area of educational pursuit and perform those skills for a period of time in the local community.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in West Virginia, with particular emphasis on Raleigh County. Grants have also been distributed to organizations in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $13,143,943
Annual Giving: $581,065 (most recent filing)
Total Revenues: $571,151 (FYE 06/2025)
Total Expenses: $745,019 (FYE 06/2025)
Investment Income: $486,916 (FYE 06/2025)
Annual Distribution: The foundation has distributed between $494,000 and $572,000 annually from 2021 to 2023.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,143,943 | $13,319,114 | $13,404,295 |
| Revenue | $571,151 | $695,856 | $360,661 |
| Expenses | $745,019 | $779,951 | $715,980 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $690,914 | $725,542 | $666,712 |
| Net Investment Income | $517,046 | $644,412 | $350,463 |
| Distributable Amount | $925,902 | $850,816 | $779,844 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include University of Charleston ($75,000), Beckley Convention Center ($67,320), Raleigh County Veterans Association ($51,050).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA BECKLEY, WV | OPERATIONS | $6,500 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS BECKLEY, WV | OPERATING FUND | $5,000 |
| APPALACHIAN BIBLE COLLEGE MOUNT HOPE, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $25,000 |
| BECKLEY AREA FOUNDATION BECKLEY, WV | CITIZENS SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| BECKLEY AREA FOUNDATION BECKLEY, WV | FOUNDATION GRANT | $25,000 |
| BECKLEY AREA FOUNDATION BECKLEY, WV | VETERANS CEMETERY | $5,000 |
| BECKLEY CONCERT ASSOCIATION BECKLEY, WV | OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| BECKLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BECKLEY, WV | IIN MEMORY ELIZABETH CARTER | $5,000 |
| BLACK DIAMOND GIRL SCOUTS CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Duane Carter - Founder and patriarch of the Carter family
- Lynn Carter - Founder and matriarch of the Carter family
- Chris Kyser - Principal Officer (United Wealth Management)
The foundation is governed by one officer or trustee and includes three sons, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren as part of the Carter family structure.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED BANK | TRUSTEE | 2 | $143,183 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Carter Family Foundation has partnered with the Beckley Area Foundation to empower local students. The foundation continues to expand its reach by developing partnerships, recruiting ambassadors, and intentionally raising funds for targeted mission fields.
Carter Family Foundation partners with Beckley Area Foundation to empowerFrequently Asked Questions
What does Carter Family Foundation fund?
**Vision:** Live as ambassadors of God's grace in local communities, America and the world for His glory. **Mission:** Preserve and promote every person's God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through education, rescue and rehabilitation, child protection, evangelism and missions. **Primary funding focus areas include:** • Education • Rescue & Rehabilitation • Child Protection • Evangelism & Missions • Higher Education • Community Development • Community Service Projects…
How do I apply for a grant from Carter Family Foundation?
**Grant Size:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $105,776, with a median grant of approximately $5,000 and an average award of $10,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** According to the most recent available records, the foundation has made 103 grants totaling $1.1 million. Recent grants include: • The University of Charleston: $75,000 (Beckley Extension Program) • Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center: $67,320 (Construction) • Raleigh County Veterans Association: $51,050 (Operations) **Applica…
Where does Carter Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in West Virginia, with particular emphasis on Raleigh County. Grants have also been distributed to organizations in the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Carter Family Foundation award?
In 2025, Carter Family Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $581K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Carter Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Carter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $926K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Carter Family Foundation's EIN?
Carter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0606479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carter Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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