Ethel N Bowen Foundation
The Ethel N Bowen Foundation is a private foundation established around 1968-1969 and based in Bluefield, West Virginia. The foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with a primary focus on educational scholarships and support for institutions in the Appalachian region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.6M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$795K
+20.8% YoY
Grant Count
321
+8.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+11.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ethel N Bowen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $718K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide scholarships to further the education of students in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia. Beyond scholarships, the foundation also supports:
- Higher education institutions
- Secondary education
- Municipal initiatives
- Sports program equipment
- Robotics programs
- Food distribution programs for children
Grantmaking
The foundation offers undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 each with 20 scholarships available annually. Applicants must be residents of southern West Virginia or southwestern Virginia counties and maintain a top 20% class standing. The scholarship deadline is April 30.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $2,000
Review Cycle
is April 30.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- West Virginia (primary focus)
- Virginia (primary focus)
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
Grantmaking reaches organizations across 9 states, with West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky accounting for 99% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total assets: $14,555,160
- Total revenues: $1,327,384
- Total expenses: $885,589
- Investment income and dividends: $395,270
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $915,114
Historical Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $8.1 million in 2011 to $14.6 million in 2024.
Annual Distribution History:
- 2020-2023: Distributed between $593,000 and $1.4 million annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,555,160 | $13,649,763 | $12,626,663 |
| Revenue | $1,327,384 | $367,492 | $575,257 |
| Expenses | $885,589 | $738,999 | $819,121 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $800,764 | $662,402 | $691,135 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,225,584 | $300,383 | $481,751 |
| Distributable Amount | $717,581 | $643,756 | $663,068 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blessings in a Backpack ($15,000), Bluefield State University ($5,000), Abigail J Jenkins ($3,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABIGAIL BISHOP DAVY, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| ABIGAIL J JENKINS BLUEFIELD, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ABIGAIL PETERSON BLUEFIELD, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ABIGAIL RICHARDSON SOMERVILLE, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ABIGAIL SHOEMAKER BLUEFIELD, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ABIGAIL STOVALL PRINCETON, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ADALINE NOLLEY ROCKY GAP, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ADAM DAVIS BLUEFIELD, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| ADISON LUSK PINEVILLE, WV | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| AIDAN STOUT BLUEFIELD, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
First National Bank of Bluefield serves as the principal officer and scholarship administrator for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J RONALD HYPES | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| B K SATTERFIELD | SECRETARY/TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HENRY C BOWEN | VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 525 Federal Street Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: 304-324-3246
EIN: 23-7010740
Scholarship Officer Contact: First National Bank of Bluefield PO Box 1559 500 Federal Street Bluefield, WV 24701
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ethel N Bowen Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide scholarships to further the education of students in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia. Beyond scholarships, the foundation also supports: • Higher education institutions • Secondary education • Municipal initiatives • Sports program equipment • Robotics programs • Food distribution programs for children
How do I apply for a grant from Ethel N Bowen Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $350 to $25,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $2,000 • Median grant amount: $2,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $200 to $35,000 **Recent Activity:** • Made 272 grants in 2024 • Distributed $794,750 in total giving (most recent reporting period) • Made 1,423 grants totaling $3.2 million across available records • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $1.4 million distributed across 588 grants • Has supporte…
Where does Ethel N Bowen Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • West Virginia (primary focus) • Virginia (primary focus) • Kentucky • South Carolina Grantmaking reaches organizations across 9 states, with West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky accounting for 99% of all grants.
What size grants does Ethel N Bowen Foundation award?
In 2024, Ethel N Bowen Foundation awarded 321 grants totaling $795K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ethel N Bowen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ethel N Bowen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $718K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ethel N Bowen Foundation's EIN?
Ethel N Bowen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7010740. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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