Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S is a private foundation based in Charleston, West Virginia. Its 2025 filing says it supports health issues, nursing students, and students with financial need who choose a non-college degree path, such as vocational or technical training.
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S at a glance
In short: Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S gave $175K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in West Virginia. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $175,000
- +33.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,909
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,400,287
- -7.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S
- How to Apply
-
The filing says applicants may submit a letter describing educational and financial needs, or an educational institution may make a request. The filing names John Poffenbarger as the contact and says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: John Poffenbarger
Mailing address: 500 Lee St E, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 353-9000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ben Franklin Vocational Center ($35K). Together the top 9 received $128K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($47,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 48 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing limits awards to Kanawha County, West Virginia. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) 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 $15K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2019) to $175K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $175K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $47,500 |
| Ben Franklin Vocational Center Dunbar, WV | Student Needs Etc. | $35,000 |
| Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society Charleston, WV | Animal Care and Supplies | $25,000 |
| University of Charleston Charleston, WV | Student Needs Etc. | $20,000 |
| Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Charleston WV Charleston, WV | Student Supplies | $13,500 |
| Backpackbuddyorg Dunbar, WV | Student Supplies, Etc. | $10,000 |
| Bob Burdette Center Inc Charleston, WV | Student Supplies, Etc. | $10,000 |
| Shawnee Park Foundation Inc Charleston, WV | Student Needs Etc. | $5,000 |
| Childhood Language Center Charleston, WV | Child Care and Supplies | $5,000 |
| Dunbar - Institute Samaritan Center Dunbar, WV | Student Neeeds Etc. | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S?
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 | $1,400,287 | $73,735 | $194,586 | $175,000 | 11 | $175,000 | $56,349 | $171,520 |
| 2024 | $1,521,138 | $104,379 | $160,670 | $131,500 | 9 | $131,500 | $77,078 | $152,636 |
| 2023 | $1,577,429 | $111,746 | $157,596 | $131,500 | 9 | $131,500 | $85,650 | $126,504 |
| 2022 | $1,623,279 | $78,629 | $159,929 | $131,500 | 9 | $131,500 | $51,482 | $126,527 |
| 2021 | $1,704,579 | $155,915 | $161,204 | $131,500 | 10 | $131,500 | $129,613 | $133,621 |
| 2020 | $1,709,868 | $193,461 | $139,594 | $114,000 | 9 | — | $169,809 | $111,417 |
| 2019 | $1,656,001 | $89,276 | $128,386 | $105,000 | 9 | — | $65,890 | $106,671 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S reported a distributable amount of $172K 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 filing describes its direct charitable activity as supporting health issues, nursing students, and students in financial need who elect a non-college degree education path, such as vocational or technical training. Its 2025 grants included support for student needs and supplies, animal care, and child care.
Among its grantees, BackpackBuddyOrg Inc says it provides food and personal development items to students over summer break. Bob Burdette Center Inc says it operates free after-school educational programs for disadvantaged and high-risk children in kindergarten through grade 12. Shawnee Park Foundation Inc says it promotes and contributes to the educational and recreational welfare of Kanawha County residents and its service area.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 11 grants totaling $175,000. Grant amounts ranged from $4,000 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest awards included $40,000 to WV State University Foundation for school and student supplies; $35,000 to Ben Franklin Vocational Center for student needs; $25,000 to Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society for animal care and supplies; and $20,000 to University of Charleston for student needs. Other grants included $13,500 to Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Charleston WV and $10,000 each to BackpackBuddyOrg and Bob Burdette Center Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kelly Castleberry as advisor and John T. Poffenbarger, Susan Poffenbarger, and John G. Poffenbarger as trustees.
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John G. Poffenbarger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Poffenbarger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Castleberry
Advisor
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dan Kay (2019–2023) — Advisor
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S
How much does Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S give each year?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S gave $175K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $132K across 9 grants.
What is Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's typical grant size?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,909, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S that year got $15K on average.
Where does Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S give grants?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, WV (6 grants) and Dunbar, WV (3 grants).
Does Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Student Needs Etc." (4 grants).
Who are Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's largest grantees?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's largest 2025 grantees include Ben Franklin Vocational Center ($35,000), Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society ($25,000) and University of Charleston ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($47,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $175K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $172K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as supporting health issues, nursing students, and students in financial need who elect a non-college degree education path, such as vocational or technical training. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S?
The filing says applicants may submit a letter describing educational and financial needs, or an educational institution may make a request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's EIN?
Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0694974. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-w-poffenbarger-and-perry-s-morg_8d4c79af907f496f9510faaad1bb7ad4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_550694974_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-w-poffenbarger-and-perry-s-morg_8d4c79af907f496f9510faaad1bb7ad4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Helen W Poffenbarger and Perry S'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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