George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust
The George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Wheeling, West Virginia. Established in 2001, the trust operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit initiatives across multiple sectors including education, health, human services, and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.2M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$340K
+11.1% YoY
Grant Count
36
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $350K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust awards grants to public, charitable, civic, and governmental organizations for civic improvement of the community, with particular emphasis on college scholarships.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education — including elementary, secondary, and higher education
- Health — including in-patient medical care, hospital care, and addiction services
- Human Services — basic and emergency aid, food assistance, food banks, and services for older adults
- Community Development — community improvement and economic development
- Arts and Culture — including historical activities
- Special Populations — support for vulnerable populations
Grantmaking
Grant applications are accepted annually through WesBanco Bank Inc., the trustee, located at One Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003. The application window runs from May 1 through June 15 each year.
Grant Range
s & Types:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, with particular emphasis on:
- Marion County
- Mannington
- Other key beneficiary cities include Buckhannon, Charleston, Fairmont, and Morgantown
Some funding also extends to Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filings:
- Total Assets: $5.8–$6.2 million
- Annual Giving: $306,000–$385,663 (revenue)
- Annual Expenses: $341,648–$386,000
The trust maintains active financial management to support its charitable activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,217,128 | $5,827,487 | $5,783,472 |
| Revenue | $765,282 | $385,663 | $574,575 |
| Expenses | $385,641 | $341,648 | $434,583 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $358,788 | $323,413 | $397,534 |
| Net Investment Income | $746,025 | $367,798 | $555,833 |
| Distributable Amount | $350,298 | $311,834 | $327,846 |
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
187 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mannington Board of Parks and ($50,000), Oglebay Foundation Inc ($30,000), Marion County Senior Citizens Inc ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE BUCKHANNON, WV | SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO | $4,000 |
| CRITTENTON FOUNDATON INC WHEELING, WV | WV DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES | $10,000 |
| THE DISABILITY ACTION CENTER FAIRMONT, WV | 2 ADA COMPLIANT WASHERS AND | $5,000 |
| BLACKSHERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MANNINGTON, WV | PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT | $10,000 |
| EASTER SEAL REHABILITATION CENTER INC WHEELING, WV | MEDICAL CARE AND THERAPY TO | $15,000 |
| FAIRVIEW FOOD BANK FAIRVIEW, WV | MILK TO FAMILIES | $5,000 |
| IDAMAY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IDAMAY, WV | ADA ACCESS RAMP | $5,000 |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION PITTSBURGH, PA | WISHMAKER GRANTS | $5,000 |
| MANNINGTON LAKE ASSOCIATION MANNINGTON, WV | CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING | $8,000 |
| MANNINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL MANNINGTON, WV | RELOCATE BOYS LOCKER ROOM | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The trust has awarded grants to various organizations in the region, including:
A $20,000 grant to a Fairmont-based charity
Fairmont charity granted $20,000 from Bowers TrustSupport for the Marion County Public Library System for vehicle replacement
Grant helps Marion County Public Library System replace 14-year ...Scholarship endowment funding at Fairmont State University
The trust continues to accept applications annually during its May 1–June 15 application window.
Bowers grant applications being acceptedSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust fund?
The trust awards grants to public, charitable, civic, and governmental organizations for civic improvement of the community, with particular emphasis on college scholarships. Primary funding areas include: • **Education** — including elementary, secondary, and higher education • **Health** — including in-patient medical care, hospital care, and addiction services • **Human Services** — basic and emergency aid, food assistance, food banks, and services for older adults • **Community Development*…
How do I apply for a grant from George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust?
**Grant Sizes & Types:** • Typical awards range from $3,000 to $50,000 • Types of support include: scholarships, general support, project support, building funds, equipment, technology and computers, and land and property acquisition **Application Process:** Grant applications are accepted annually through WesBanco Bank Inc., the trustee, located at One Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003. The application window runs from May 1 through June 15 each year. All applications must be submitted on the gra…
Where does George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, with particular emphasis on: • Marion County • Mannington • Other key beneficiary cities include Buckhannon, Charleston, Fairmont, and Morgantown Some funding also extends to Indiana.
What size grants does George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust awarded 36 grants totaling $340K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $350K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-6140783. 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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