Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust
The Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Bluefield, Virginia. In 2026, it made 10 grants totaling $65,900, including grants for educational purposes and support to organizations in Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust gave $66K across 10 grants in 2026 (avg $7K), mostly in Virginia. 30% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $65,900
- +11.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 10
- +25.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $6,590
- -10.8% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $840,534
- -6.4% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (78% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust
- Review Cycle
- None listed on the filing.
- Deadline
- None listed on the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Gary And Laura Cornwell
Mailing address: 314 Brierwood Drive, Bluefield, VA 24605
Phone: (276) 326-1806
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Blacksburg High School ($25K). Together the top 10 received $66K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 57 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 17% to West Virginia, 4% to Georgia, and 1% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 50% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 97% 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 (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 $49K (2023) to $66K (2026). In 2026 it made 10 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg High School Blacksburg, VA | Educational | $25,000 |
| Graham High School Bluefield, VA | Educational | $13,100 |
| Bluefield Union Mission Bluefield, WV | Support | $6,500 |
| Community Health Center Christiansburg, VA | Support | $6,250 |
| Children's Home Society Princeton, WV | Support | $5,000 |
| Virginia Tech University Blacksburg, VA | Educational | $5,000 |
| Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA | Educational | $2,500 |
| Feeding Southwest VA Salem, VA | Support | $1,000 |
| Kids Soar Roanoke, VA | Support | $900 |
| Consumer Reports Washington, DC | Support | $650 |
Ready to take the next step with Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust?
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 | $840,534 | $96,228 | $153,918 | $65,900 | 10 | $65,900 | — | $68,219 |
| 2025 | $898,224 | $99,067 | $157,145 | $59,100 | 8 | $59,100 | — | $68,238 |
| 2024 | $957,302 | $82,039 | $136,204 | $63,431 | 16 | $63,431 | $9,141 | $69,908 |
| 2023 | $1,011,467 | $90,364 | $127,201 | $48,500 | 13 | $48,500 | $11,698 | $66,128 |
| 2022 | $1,047,763 | $124,265 | $148,811 | $60,250 | 10 | $60,250 | $2,509 | $60,552 |
| 2021 | $1,072,309 | $86,831 | $129,023 | $53,355 | 13 | — | $10,063 | $61,078 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2026 — 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 is provided. The 2026 grants show funding for educational purposes and support, including grants to schools, colleges, and community organizations.
Agnes Scott College, which received $2,500 in 2026, describes its mission as educating women to think deeply, live honorably, and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. KIDS SOAR, which received $900, describes its mission as “Breaking the cycle of poverty through education and service.”
Grantmaking
In 2026, the trust awarded 10 grants totaling $65,900. Grants ranged from $650 to $25,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $25,000 to Blacksburg High School for educational purposes, $13,100 to Graham High School for educational purposes, and $6,500 to Bluefield Union Mission for support.
The trust’s 2025 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Gary and Laura Cornwell as contacts for applying; no form or materials are required, and no restrictions on awards are listed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Gary Cornwell, Laura Cornwell, and Megan Thomas as trustees.
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's 2026 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Gary Cornwell
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Cornwell
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Thomas
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust
How much does Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust give each year?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust gave $66K across 10 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $59K across 8 grants.
What is Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,590, across 10 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust that year got $2K on average.
Where does Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust give grants?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Virginia: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was West Virginia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Blacksburg, VA (2 grants).
Does Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (6 grants) and "Educational" (4 grants).
Who are Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Blacksburg High School ($25,000), Graham High School ($13,100) and Bluefield Union Mission ($6,500), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust reported $841K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (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 Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2026 grants show funding for educational purposes and support, including grants to schools, colleges, and community organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6305643. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
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 2026 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cornwell-bireley-family-charitable-trust-morg_8c653ef1e7754de69e498b9500ccc65a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_546305643_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cornwell-bireley-family-charitable-trust-morg_8c653ef1e7754de69e498b9500ccc65a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Cornwell-Bireley Family Charitable Trust'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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