Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia is a Charleston-based public charity offering arts, science, and educational experiences. Its mission is to serve people in West Virginia and the region through programming that inspires creativity, learning, and wonder.
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $111,178,320
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $13,165,116
- +162.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $7,273,370
- +388.3% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $8,602,708
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 561-3500
Website: https://theclaycenter.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc funds
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated mission serves people in West Virginia and the region. Its 2020 listed grantees are based in West Virginia, including Charleston, Berkeley Springs, Elkins, and other communities.
States
Cities
How Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc gives
- 20% of 2020 grantees were also funded in 2019. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020). 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 2019 to 2020, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2019) to $137K (2020). In 2020 it made 10 grants totaling $137K.
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization’s 2023 filing says donor-restricted endowment funds are held in perpetuity, with earnings used for operations, building maintenance, and strategic initiatives.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $111,178,320 | $13,165,116 | $8,602,708 | — | — | $7,273,370 |
| 2024 | $107,655,583 | $5,007,941 | $8,406,682 | — | — | $1,489,495 |
| 2023 | $104,916,433 | $6,522,725 | $9,604,506 | — | — | $1,621,516 |
| 2022 | $104,991,627 | $9,740,232 | $8,705,447 | — | — | $4,738,183 |
| 2021 | $117,444,990 | $7,906,903 | $6,805,125 | — | — | $5,776,499 |
| 2020 | $108,726,125 | $5,383,208 | $8,970,379 | $136,500 | 10 | $1,876,892 |
| 2019 | $111,425,132 | $12,352,066 | $9,895,944 | $65,300 | 4 | $537,666 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s 2023 filing states its mission is to provide educational, entertaining, and inspirational experiences in the arts and sciences for people of West Virginia and the region. The filing describes on- and off-site programming that includes performances, residencies, workshops, art exhibitions, planetarium demonstrations, large-format films, science demonstrations, tours, and community events. Educational materials are aligned with relevant state and national academic standards.
The filing also describes a permanent art collection of approximately 900 items, used to support visual arts education. The collection includes American and European art, with an emphasis on works on paper; the organization says it will focus future acquisitions on works connected to West Virginia and Appalachia, as well as large outdoor sculptures.
Past grants listed for 2020 went to organizations with varied missions. The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra said its mission is to make great music to enrich and inspire people in its region. The Morgan Arts Council described offering artistic creativity in a welcoming environment. The Partnership of African American Churches described work in community empowerment, individual well-being, education, health, and substance-use prevention and recovery. ArtsBank said it provides art in Randolph County schools without art teachers. Step by Step described work in southern West Virginia through dialogue, education and the arts, wellness, local leadership, and services.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports zero grants, as do the 2024 and 2023 filings. The supplied 2020 grant records include $15,000 to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, $13,000 to the Morgan Arts Council, $11,500 to the Partnership of African American Churches, and $10,000 each to ArtsBank and Step by Step. These are listed grants, not a stated total for the year.
The website describes the Annual Fund as supporting the Clay Center’s own operations, programs, exhibits, and performances.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ellen Cappellanti as chairperson; Rob Aliff as first vice chair; Donald F. Mock III as second vice chair; Missy Ruddle as immediate past chair; Joshua Cross as secretary; and Horace Emery as treasurer. It also lists JB Akers, Maribeth Anderson, Frank Baer, and Tim Bailey as directors.
The organization’s website identifies Rebecca Gillispie as interim president and chief executive officer.
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc is led by Munkith Al-Najjar, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 3 of 53 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Munkith Al-Najjar
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$210K (2019) → $227K (2025)
Ellen Cappellanti
Chairperson
First Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
Chair → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Shuler Goodwin
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew B. Cooke
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Rowe
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Kinder
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry H. Esbenshade III
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew J. Watts
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Fidler
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nina Peyton
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Payne
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Wallace
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Burton
Director
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2022
Vice Chairperson → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Walker
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Johnstone
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Crotty Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Isaac
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz Weisberg
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Roth
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marty Becker
Director
Chairsperson → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Clark
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Barth Graney
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Massinople
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Bailey
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Sporck
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hollis Lewis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jb Akers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey McIntosh
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margo Teeter
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Walker
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alys Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Pack
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bradley Harris
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Persinger
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Lavenski
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Mays
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Briana Warner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carly Chapman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emma Busse Conrad
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Baer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Dever
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Slotnick
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maribeth Anderson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Tennant
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger Nicholson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Saxe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Bush
Vice President of Development
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $138K (2025)
Rebecca Gillispie
COO
COO → COO & CFO, 2021
COO & CFO → COO, 2022
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $127K (2025)
Horace Emery
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Missy Ruddle
Immediate Past Chair
Chairperson → Chair, 2023
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Cross
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Aliff
First Vice Chair
Director → Second Vice Chair, 2023
Second Vice Chair → First Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald F. Mock III
Second Vice Chair
Director → Second Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: Ben Salango (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Cindy McGhee (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Dee Kapourales (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Eric Nelson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Fred Clark (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Georgette George (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kristen Anderson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert Douglas (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Emma Busse (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Tim O'Neal (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Toney Stroud (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Adam Krason (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Charles Avampato (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Chris Beam (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Sara Busse (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Scott Freshwater (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Steve Robey (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Nathaniel Orders (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Rory Perry (2022) — Director
- Former: Bobby Blakley (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Claire Barth (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Douglas Skaff Jr. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Gayle Manchin (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Graney (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Steve Hedrick (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Kittredge (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Tracy Wilkerson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Yvette Underdue Murph (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: McKinley Miles (2021) — Director
- Former: Srini Matam (2021) — Director
- Former: Alisa Bailey (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gaston Caperton (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Leah Curry (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Loren Claypool (2019–2020) — 1st Vice Chairperson
- Former: Marston Becker (2019–2020) — Chairperson
- Former: Mary Jean Davis (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michelle Easton (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Pat Graney (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Patricia Moyers (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Stephen Dexter (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jacqueline Stump (2020) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Isaac (2020) — Director
- Former: Patricia Clark (2020) — Director
- Former: David Haden (2019) — Director
- Former: Kyle Mork (2019) — Director
- Former: Tim Gibson (2019) — Director
- Former: Virginia King (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $227K, to Munkith Al-Najjar (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc
How large is Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc?
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc reported $111.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.2M.
What does Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc fund?
The organization’s 2023 filing states its mission is to provide educational, entertaining, and inspirational experiences in the arts and sciences for people of West Virginia and the region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc?
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check theclaycenter.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc make grants?
The organization’s stated mission serves people in West Virginia and the region. Its 2020 listed grantees are based in West Virginia, including Charleston, Berkeley Springs, Elkins, and other communities.
What is Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc's EIN?
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0702401. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 22, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?