Carter Family Foundation
Carter Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. In filing year 2025, it reported 50 grants totaling $581,065, supporting organizations in areas including education, community services, arts, and operations. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 41 grants totaling $886,050.
Carter Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Carter Family Foundation gave $886K across 41 grants in 2026 (avg $22K), mostly in West Virginia. 11% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $886,050
- +52.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 41
- -18.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $21,611
- +86.0% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $14,306,626
- +8.8% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 36, 2026)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carter Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists a letter and resume as application materials, with priority for Raleigh County residents who show 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.
- Review Cycle
- None is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Mike Lewis- United Wealth Managemen
Mailing address: 514 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 424-8850
Email: mike.lewis@bankwithunited.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Carter Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was YMCA of Beckley ($504K). Together the top 10 received $801K.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 230 grants of 244 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia and 3% to recipients in the District of Columbia. The 2024 filing states that priority is given to Raleigh County residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Carter Family Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 4 of 36 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 86% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 55% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $494K (2021) to $886K (2026). In 2026 it made 41 grants totaling $886K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA of Beckley Beckley, WV | Operations | $504,000 |
| Beckley Area Foundation Beckley, WV | Foundation Grant | $135,000 |
| Just for Kids Inc Beckley, WV | Operations | $26,550 |
| WV Professional Dance Company Beckley, WV | Operations | $22,000 |
| United Methodist Temple Beckley, WV | Operations | $20,000 |
| Salvation Army Beckley Beckley, WV | Operations | $20,000 |
| Beckley Area Foundation Beckley, WV | Citizens Scholarship | $15,000 |
| Theatre West Virginia Beaver, WV | Operations | $14,000 |
| United Way of Southern WV Beckley, WV | Operations | $13,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Charleston, WV | Operations | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carter Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $14,306,626 | $2,226,274 | $1,083,375 | $886,050 | 41 | $998,301 | $2,141,200 | $973,900 |
| 2025 | $13,143,943 | $571,151 | $745,019 | $581,065 | 50 | $690,914 | $517,046 | $925,902 |
| 2024 | $13,319,114 | $695,856 | $779,951 | $624,060 | 54 | $725,542 | $644,412 | $850,816 |
| 2023 | $13,404,295 | $360,661 | $715,980 | $572,022 | 54 | $666,712 | $350,463 | $779,844 |
| 2022 | $13,756,577 | $659,462 | $1,002,674 | $840,651 | 45 | $949,207 | $605,995 | $878,283 |
| 2021 | $14,104,923 | $661,669 | $649,688 | $494,095 | 49 | — | $610,323 | $876,055 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $974K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available statements do not give the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants include scholarships and other educational support, construction, and operating support. Among its grantees, the University of Charleston describes its mission as educating students for productive work, enlightened living, and community involvement. WV Professional Dance Company says it provides projects and performances statewide within the framework of West Virginia and 21st-century learning skills. Beckley Area Foundation says it inspires and facilitates charitable giving to advance the community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 50 grants totaling $581,065. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 41 grants totaling $886,050.
Notable grants included $75,000 to the University of Charleston for its Beckley Extension Program; $67,320 to Beckley Convention Center for construction; $51,050 to Raleigh County Veterans Association for operations; and $42,000 to WV Professional Dance Company for operations. The foundation also awarded $25,000 each to Appalachian Bible College, Concord University, an individual recipient, University of Charleston–Beckley, and WVU Foundation for scholarships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
United Bank is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Carter Family Foundation's only listed officer is United Bank, Trustee on every filing since 2021 (compensated).
Officers on the 2026 filing
United Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2021
$127K (2023) → $154K (2026)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $154K, to United Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Carter Family Foundation
How much does Carter Family Foundation give each year?
Carter Family Foundation gave $886K across 41 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $581K across 50 grants.
What is Carter Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Carter Family Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $21,611, across 41 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carter Family Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Carter Family Foundation give grants?
Carter Family Foundation gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Beckley, WV (29 grants) and Charleston, WV (8 grants).
Does Carter Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Carter Family Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (30 grants).
Who are Carter Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Carter Family Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include YMCA of Beckley ($504,000), Beckley Area Foundation ($158,000 across 4 grants) and Just for Kids Inc ($26,550), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Carter Family Foundation?
Carter Family Foundation reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $998K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $974K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Carter Family Foundation fund?
The available statements do not give the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants include scholarships and other educational support, construction, and operating support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carter Family Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Other open foundation grants in West Virginia
West Virginia Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carter Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Beckley Area Foundation Inc
Beckley, WV
The foundation supports nonprofits and public organizations working in education, health and human services, arts, recreation, animal services, beautification and other community needs. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $142,000, with a median near $10,000, and Community Grant Program projects must directly benefit Raleigh County, West Virginia; applications are submitted through its grant portal, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$79.2M
Grants
81
Total Given
$1.8M
United Way of Southern WV Inc
Beckley, WV
We improve lives in southern West Virginia by focusing on the building blocks for a good quality of life: health, education and financial stability. We work every day to mobilize the caring power of the people and organizations that have the passion, expertise and resources needed to make change.
Assets
$916K
Grants
1
Total Given
$350K
The Kelly Family Foundation Inc
Daniels, WV
The foundation supports charitable organizations, including community groups, arts organizations, and schools, primarily in Daniels and surrounding areas of West Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $400 to $20,000, with a median of $2,000. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations, but the available information does not explicitly say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$884K
Grants
12
Total Given
$62K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities Inc
Charleston, WV
The mission of wvicu is to advance collectively the interests of West Virginia's independent colleges and universities and their students.
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
6
Total Given
$438K
More similar funders
More Funders in West Virginia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carter Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carter-family-foundation-morg_3bb15519904146efb181a80dc3e00e0d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_550606479_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carter Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carter-family-foundation-morg_3bb15519904146efb181a80dc3e00e0d},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. 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 Carter Family 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.
Carter Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?