Chris Hess Foundation
The Chris Hess Foundation is a private foundation based in Wheeling, West Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports $582,000 in grants to charitable organizations; the listed recipients include organizations working in parks, education, health, and community services.
Chris Hess Foundation at a glance
In short: Chris Hess Foundation gave $582K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in West Virginia. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $582,000
- +93.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +55.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,571
- +24.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $11,254,891
- +5.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (6 of 14, 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 Chris Hess Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Joseph N. Gompers as the contact for applications. Applicants should submit a written form describing the charitable purposes and provide evidence of charitable or exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Awards are limited to distributions for charitable purposes under Section 501(c)(3).
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph N Gompers
Mailing address: 117 Edgington Lane, Wheeling, WV 26003-1534
Phone: (304) 242-9300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chris Hess Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oglebay Foundation Inc ($220K). Together the top 10 received $550K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 61 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The listed 2025 grants are centered in Wheeling and nearby West Virginia communities. The filing’s recipient-state summary reports 100% of grant dollars in West Virginia and less than 1% in Texas. However, a separate grantee description identifies the American Heart Association Inc. in Dallas, Texas, as receiving $2,000 in 2025.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Chris Hess Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 14 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 66% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $301K (2024) to $582K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $582K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oglebay Foundation Inc Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $220,000 |
| YMCA of Wheeling Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $110,000 |
| Wheeling Central Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $75,000 |
| The Linsly School Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Think Pink Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Oglebay Institute Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Faith in Action Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Orchard Park Hospital Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard Moundsville, WV | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Ohio Valley Wellnes Coalition Wheeling, WV | Charitable | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chris Hess 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 | $11,254,891 | $1,354,249 | $770,893 | $582,000 | 14 | $682,344 | $1,265,700 | $729,663 |
| 2024 | $10,677,903 | $878,617 | $462,899 | $301,000 | 9 | $392,739 | $808,457 | $704,921 |
| 2023 | $10,288,503 | $370,998 | $452,747 | $310,000 | 9 | $391,170 | $309,421 | $653,159 |
| 2022 | $10,379,480 | $170,781 | $520,268 | $350,000 | 12 | $431,456 | $349,011 | $569,704 |
| 2021 | $10,748,318 | $1,398,523 | $707,610 | $546,450 | 17 | $637,894 | $1,328,807 | $686,620 |
| 2020 | $10,057,787 | $706,176 | $688,484 | $552,500 | 19 | — | $647,558 | $653,956 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chris Hess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $730K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Oglebay Foundation says it raises private funds for the welfare, maintenance, and future development of Oglebay and Wheeling parks and their affiliated organizations and programs. The Linsly School describes itself as an independent day and boarding school for grades 5 through 12. Oglebay Institute says it offers programming in performing and visual arts, dance, history, and nature.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $582,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $220,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest grants were $220,000 to Oglebay Foundation Inc., $110,000 to YMCA of Wheeling, $75,000 to Wheeling Central, $50,000 to The Linsly School, and $30,000 to Think Pink. The filing lists each of these grants’ purpose as “charitable.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph N. Gompers, Security National Trust Company, John E. Gompers, William V. Busick, and Kelly A. Gompers as trustees.
Chris Hess Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John E. Gompers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $7K (2025)
Joseph N. Gompers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Security National Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$117K (2020) → $75K (2025)
William V. Busick
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $7K (2025)
Kelly A. Gompers
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $4K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $75K, to Security National Trust Company (Trustee). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chris Hess Foundation
How much does Chris Hess Foundation give each year?
Chris Hess Foundation gave $582K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $301K across 9 grants.
What is Chris Hess Foundation's typical grant size?
Chris Hess Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $41,571, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chris Hess Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Chris Hess Foundation give grants?
Chris Hess 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 Wheeling, WV (12 grants).
Does Chris Hess Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Chris Hess Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are Chris Hess Foundation's largest grantees?
Chris Hess Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oglebay Foundation Inc ($220,000), YMCA of Wheeling ($110,000) and Wheeling Central ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chris Hess Foundation?
Chris Hess Foundation reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $682K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $730K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Chris Hess Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chris Hess Foundation?
The filing names Joseph N. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chris Hess Foundation's EIN?
Chris Hess Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-6225742. 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 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chris Hess Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chris Hess Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chris-hess-foundation-morg_a29befd2d4224bfb99a33bad1674b940
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_016225742_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chris Hess Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chris-hess-foundation-morg_a29befd2d4224bfb99a33bad1674b940},
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 Chris Hess 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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