Ephraim McDowell Foundation
The Ephraim McDowell Foundation is a private foundation based in Belfry, Kentucky. Its 2025 filing lists grants to individual recipients for tuition, while its 2024 filing identifies health-related majors as a priority for applicants.
Ephraim McDowell Foundation at a glance
In short: Ephraim McDowell Foundation gave $39K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in West Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $38,600
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,544
- -8.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,400
- Total assets
- $354,391
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ephraim McDowell Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit a letter with evidence of enrollment in a health-related field.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists June 10 for the fall semester and November 10 for the spring semester.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists June 10 for the fall semester and November 10 for the spring semester.
- Contact
Application contact: Paula Vaughan
Mailing address: 260 Hospital Drive, South Williamson, KY 41503
Phone: (606) 237-1755
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ephraim McDowell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 96 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia, 35% to recipients in Kentucky, and 6% to recipients in Tennessee. The 2024 filing says applicants or their families should be residents of the Tug Valley area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ephraim McDowell Foundation gives
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 242% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $27K (2022) to $39K (2024). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 25 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $38,600 |
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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 | $354,391 | $14,169 | $50,771 | $38,600 | 25 | $43,024 | $9,737 | $17,802 |
| 2024 | $382,717 | $15,552 | $48,137 | $38,800 | 23 | $43,096 | $13,505 | $18,813 |
| 2023 | $406,836 | $13,589 | $37,048 | $26,800 | 18 | $30,878 | $9,234 | $20,992 |
| 2022 | $424,892 | $21,848 | $37,220 | $26,700 | 15 | $30,546 | $15,388 | $23,373 |
| 2021 | $509,369 | $21,321 | $36,935 | $26,900 | 15 | — | $15,251 | $24,851 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ephraim McDowell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2025 — 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 information does not state a formal mission. The 2024 filing lists majors in health-related fields, financial need, and grade point averages as priorities. Several grants in 2025 were for tuition at universities, including the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and Marshall University.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $38,600. Grants ranged from $700 to $3,200, with a median of $1,400. The largest grants were $3,200 each to individual recipients for tuition at Marshall University, West Virginia University, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications should be submitted in letter form and include evidence of enrollment in a health-related field, such as a school acceptance letter or transcripts. Applicants or their families should be residents of the Tug Valley area. The filing lists priorities of health-related majors, financial need, and grade point averages.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paula Vaughan as chairperson, Lesia Sammons as secretary, and Dr. Charles Johnson, Dr. JW Endicott, and Dr. Joshua Leonard as directors.
Ephraim McDowell Foundation is led by Paula Vaughan, Chairperson on every filing since 2024; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paula Vaughan
Chairperson
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$3K (2024) → $3K (2025)
Charles Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jw Endicott
Director
Vice Chairman → Vice Chairperson, 2023
Vice Chairperson → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Leonard
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lesia Sammons
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$3K (2021) → $3K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Deborah Harris (2021–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Joshua Leonard D. D. S. (2021–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $3K, to Paula Vaughan (Chairperson). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ephraim McDowell Foundation
How much does Ephraim McDowell Foundation give each year?
Ephraim McDowell Foundation gave $39K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 23 grants.
What is Ephraim McDowell Foundation's typical grant size?
Ephraim McDowell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,400, and its average grant was $1,544, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ephraim McDowell Foundation give grants?
Ephraim McDowell Foundation gives mostly in West Virginia: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kentucky (35%) and Tennessee (6%).
Does Ephraim McDowell Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Ephraim McDowell Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Tuition for Marshall University" (3 grants), "Tuition for University of Kentucky" (3 grants) and "Tuition for Capella University" (3 grants).
How large is Ephraim McDowell Foundation?
Ephraim McDowell Foundation reported $354K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $43K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ephraim McDowell Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a formal mission. The 2024 filing lists majors in health-related fields, financial need, and grade point averages as priorities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ephraim McDowell Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit a letter with evidence of enrollment in a health-related field. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ephraim McDowell Foundation's EIN?
Ephraim McDowell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-0647946. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Ephraim McDowell 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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