The Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund is a private foundation established in 1941 and based in Martinsville, Virginia. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and operates as an independent foundation focused on educational philanthropy. The fund was created to honor the vision of Charles B. Keesee and his wife Olivia Helms Simmons Keesee, who sought to assist worthy young men and women in obtaining education at Baptist institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$74.1M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+10.8% YoY
Grant Count
14
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$281K
+10.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles B Keesee Educational Fund reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund's primary purpose is to provide financial assistance to qualified students attending designated beneficiary schools who are preparing to enter vocational Baptist ministry or undertake religious work in the Baptist denomination.
Core focus areas include:
- Higher education
- Graduate and professional education
- Religious and theological studies
- Baptist ministry preparation
Grantmaking
The Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund awards two primary types of grants:
Grant Range
of $968. Total grants awarded in 2024 were approximately $3.6 million.
Average Grant
of $968. Total grants awarded in 2024 were approximately $3.6 million.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund provides funding to students across multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $70.1 million
- Total Revenue: $2.54 million
- Total Expenses: $4.24 million
- Total Liabilities: $102,000
The fund's expense level exceeds annual revenue, reflecting distributions from its substantial asset base to support its grantmaking mission.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $74,114,251 | $70,097,765 | $70,142,557 |
| Revenue | $6,677,263 | $2,542,830 | $3,017,440 |
| Expenses | $4,699,885 | $4,241,655 | $4,416,608 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,227,192 | $3,838,701 | $3,962,933 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,250,915 | $2,109,998 | $2,561,072 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,518,136 | $3,346,865 | $3,488,231 |
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
97 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charles B Keesee Educational Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Southeastern Baptist Theological Se ($2,254,743), Southern Baptist Theological Semina ($505,819), Rawlings School of Divinity at Libe ($262,502).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL DURHAM, NC | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $127,325 |
| GARDER-WEBB DIVINITY SCHOOL BOILING SPRINGS, NC | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $195,227 |
| MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMI KANSAS CITY, MO | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $29,700 |
| NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEM NEW ORLEANS, LA | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $181,728 |
| SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SE WAKE FOREST, NC | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $2,254,743 |
| SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINA LOUISVILLE, KY | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $505,819 |
| SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SE FORT WORTH, TX | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $40,150 |
| FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY FORK UNION, VA | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC | $100,000 |
| AVERETT UNIVERSITY DANVILLE, VA | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $32,500 |
| BLUEFIELD UNIVERSITY BLUEFIELD, VA | STUDENT GRANTS FOR TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, ETC. | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Ryan R. Hutchinson, President
- Douglas T. Ramsey, Vice President
Board of Trustees:
- David D. Burhans
- G. Paul Fletcher
- John T. Fulcher
- Martha W. Medley
- Betty B. Pigg
- Andrew H. Wakefield
The organization maintains a staff of 3 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOUGLAS T RAMSEY | Vice President | 25 | $52,850 |
| GEORGIA P COMPTON | Treasurer/SECRE | 5 | $15,200 |
| G PAUL FLETCHER | Trustee | 5 | $12,438 |
| JOHN T FULCHER | Trustee | 5 | $13,200 |
| RYAN R HUTCHINSON | President | 5 | $14,000 |
| MARTHA W MEDLEY | Trustee | 5 | $11,562 |
| BETTY B PIGG | Trustee | 5 | $11,000 |
| ANDREW H WAKEFIELD | Trustee | 5 | $11,000 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.cbkeesee.com
- Address: PO Box 431, Martinsville, VA 24114-0431
- Phone: 276-632-2229
- EIN: 54-0490435
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since November 1943
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles B Keesee Educational Fund fund?
The fund's primary purpose is to provide financial assistance to qualified students attending designated beneficiary schools who are preparing to enter vocational Baptist ministry or undertake religious work in the Baptist denomination. Core focus areas include: • Higher education • Graduate and professional education • Religious and theological studies • Baptist ministry preparation
How do I apply for a grant from Charles B Keesee Educational Fund?
The Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund awards two primary types of grants: **Master's Grants**: Available for qualified students enrolled in eligible Master's degree programs at beneficiary schools. **Doctoral Grants**: Available for qualified students enrolled in eligible doctoral programs at beneficiary schools. **Eligibility Requirements**: • Applicant must be a resident of North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia for a minimum of 12 months prior to entering school • Applicant must be pre…
Where does Charles B Keesee Educational Fund make grants?
The fund provides funding to students across multiple states, with primary focus on: • Virginia • North Carolina • South Carolina • Kentucky • Louisiana • Missouri • Texas
What size grants does Charles B Keesee Educational Fund award?
In 2025, Charles B Keesee Educational Fund awarded 14 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $281K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles B Keesee Educational Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Charles B Keesee Educational Fund reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles B Keesee Educational Fund's EIN?
Charles B Keesee Educational Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0490435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles B Keesee Educational Fund'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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