Foster Foundation
The Foster Foundation is a private foundation based in Brookneal, Virginia. Founded in 2018, it supports local organizations working toward a community where all citizens can thrive, with an emphasis on an individual recipient
Foster Foundation at a glance
In short: Foster Foundation gave $1.3M across 686 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Virginia. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,285,700
- +42.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 686
- +29.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,874
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $18,590,664
- +10.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (125 of 460, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Foster Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s 2026 application asks organizations to describe the amount requested, the need, the geographic area served, and expected outcomes. It permits one application per calendar year. The Foundation also states that an application may be made by sending a request letter; its filing lists no formal form and no deadline. The 2026 application says submissions after November 15, 2026, will not be considered until 2027.
- Review Cycle
- Applications submitted after November 15, 2026, will not be considered until 2027.
- Deadline
- Applications submitted after November 15, 2026, will not be considered until 2027.
- Contact
Application contact: Watt R Foster Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 190, Brookneal, VA 24528
Phone: (434) 376-2322
Email: watt.foster@fosterfuels.com
Website: https://foster-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foster Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Centra Foundation ($51K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $358K.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($16,585), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,479 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,476 grants of 2,479 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website identifies an individual recipient and Southside as areas served by Foster Fuels where organizations receive priority. In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 3% to North Carolina, 3% to Texas, and 2% to Maryland; the listed share for the District of Columbia was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 686 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Foster Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 125 of 460 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 58% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $344K (2020) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 686 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA | Equestrian Program | $50,000 |
| The Academy Center of the Arts Lynchburg, VA | Investment Fund, Endowment, Education | $35,000 |
| Centra Foundation Lynchburg, VA | (Gala), Scholarship, Maam | $28,000 |
| Free Clinic of Central Virginia Lynchburg, VA | Clinic Rebuild | $25,000 |
| Human Kind Lynchburg, VA | 1 Time Gift Classroom | $25,000 |
| Jubilee Family Lynchburg, VA | STEM Center | $25,000 |
| Miriam's House Lynchburg, VA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Brookneal Elementary School Brookneal, VA | Playground Equipment | $20,000 |
| Duke University School of Nursing Durham, NC | 4TH Year of 5 | $20,000 |
| Hampden-Sydney College Hampdensydney, VA | 4TH Year of 5 | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Foster 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 | $18,590,664 | $3,236,250 | $1,443,321 | $1,285,700 | 686 | $1,415,661 | $232,035 | $1,285,408 |
| 2024 | $16,797,735 | $4,835,221 | $1,029,654 | $900,280 | 530 | $1,014,223 | $279,479 | $961,442 |
| 2023 | $12,992,168 | $310,838 | $790,761 | $724,473 | 469 | $780,319 | $300,091 | $789,662 |
| 2022 | $13,472,091 | $3,139,192 | $873,339 | $812,072 | 462 | $862,050 | $170,302 | $636,048 |
| 2021 | $11,206,238 | $4,454,875 | $468,573 | $461,845 | 332 | $464,605 | $285,132 | $543,271 |
| 2020 | $7,219,936 | $1,621,908 | $348,088 | $343,985 | 211 | — | $114,139 | $333,507 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M 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
The Foundation’s mission is to support local organizations through engagement and donations. Its website also describes a commitment to improving the lives of children, women, and families, supporting children’s education and advocacy, addressing homelessness, and recognizing the role of arts in community life.
The Foundation’s 2025 grants included educational institutions and organizations serving health, housing, families, and community needs. For example, the Free Clinic of an individual recipient says its purpose is to provide free medical, dental, and pharmaceutical care to people in need. Miriam’s House describes its mission as ending homelessness by rebuilding lives and empowering vulnerable people. The University of Lynchburg says it aims to inspire independent thinkers and develop leaders who shape caring communities.
Organizations requesting funding must be tax-exempt legal entities under IRS Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation says it does not consider requests for routine operating expenses, capital expenses, debt reduction, or organizations whose focus is outside its priorities. Prior contributions do not guarantee future funding.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation made 686 grants totaling $1,285,700. Grant amounts ranged from $13 to $50,000, with a median of $500. Giving totaled $900,280 across 530 grants in 2024 and $724,473 across 469 grants in 2023.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $50,000 to the University of Lynchburg for its equestrian program; $35,000 to the Academy Center of the Arts for an investment fund, endowment, and education; $28,000 to Centra Foundation for a gala, scholarship, and MAAM; and $25,000 each to the Free Clinic of an individual recipient for a clinic rebuild, Human Kind for a one-time classroom gift, an individual recipient for a STEM center, and Miriam’s House as unrestricted support. The Foundation also gave $20,000 each to Brookneal Elementary School for playground equipment, Duke University School of Nursing, Hampden-Sydney College, Sweet Briar College, and the YMCA of an individual recipient
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Watt R. Foster Jr., Jennifer B. Foster, and Katherine F. Rolfe as trustees. The Foundation’s website says Jennifer Bryant-Foster oversees its giving and sponsorships.
Foster Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer B. Foster
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine F. Rolfe
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Watt R. Foster Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Foster Foundation
How much does Foster Foundation give each year?
Foster Foundation gave $1.3M across 686 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $900K across 530 grants.
What is Foster Foundation's typical grant size?
Foster Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,874, across 686 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Foster Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Foster Foundation give grants?
Foster Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lynchburg, VA (180 grants), Brookneal, VA (53 grants), Baltimore, MD (46 grants) and Rustburg, VA (34 grants).
Does Foster Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Foster Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 686) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (252 grants), "Greatest Need" (38 grants) and "Donation" (14 grants).
Who are Foster Foundation's largest grantees?
Foster Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Centra Foundation ($50,700 across 4 grants), University of Lynchburg ($50,000) and The Academy Center of the Arts ($40,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($16,585), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Foster Foundation?
Foster Foundation reported $18.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Foster Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support local organizations through engagement and donations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foster Foundation?
The Foundation’s 2026 application asks organizations to describe the amount requested, the need, the geographic area served, and expected outcomes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foster Foundation's EIN?
Foster Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3650679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foster Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Foster Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foster-foundation-morg_90c9244c40474367b6122dd2d1d8a4c4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823650679_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foster Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foster-foundation-morg_90c9244c40474367b6122dd2d1d8a4c4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Foster 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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