Herscher Foundation Inc
Herscher Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Charleston, West Virginia. The foundation is administered through United National Bank Trust Department. Established in 1962, it operates as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$160K
+4.2% YoY
Grant Count
29
-3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+7.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herscher Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $135K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily within West Virginia.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in West Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Charleston area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $2,267,844 (2024)
- Total giving: $160,250 (2024)
- Total assets: $2,147,762 (2023)
- Total revenues: $111,257 (2023)
- Total expenses: $175,743 (2023)
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $70,173
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $41,084
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,267,844 | $2,147,762 | $2,177,507 |
| Revenue | $340,405 | $111,257 | $-76,307 |
| Expenses | $183,888 | $175,743 | $175,207 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $160,250 | $153,850 | $150,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $316,767 | $92,864 | $38,909 |
| Distributable Amount | $134,723 | $126,564 | $134,074 |
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
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clay Center ($15,000), University of Charleston ($15,000), University of Charleston Health Care Bootcamp ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CHARLESTON, WV | SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CHARLESTON, WV | SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES | $5,000 |
| APPALACHIAN CHILDENS CHORUS CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| ARTS AMPLIFIED - GKVF CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| BLACK DIAMOND GIRL SCOUTS CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $500 |
| BUCKSKIN COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| CHARLESTON BALLET CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $2,500 |
| CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE CENTER CHARLESTON, WV | SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES | $1,000 |
| CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY CHARLESTON, WV | SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES | $5,000 |
| CLAY CENTER CHARLESTON, WV | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN SALISBURY | PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL WEHRLE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| W MARSTON BECKER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| THOMAS A HEYWOOD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| H DILL BATTLE III | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NANCY BRUNS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herscher Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • **Education** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** The foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily within West Virginia.
How do I apply for a grant from Herscher Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$15,000 • Average annual giving: Approximately $160,250 (based on 2024 data) • The foundation makes grants to approximately 32 organizations annually **Recent Grantees (2023):** • The University of Charleston — $15,000 (Education) • Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia — $15,000 (Cultural Activities) • West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) — $15,000 (Cultural Activities)
Where does Herscher Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in West Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Charleston area.
What size grants does Herscher Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Herscher Foundation Inc awarded 29 grants totaling $160K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Herscher Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herscher Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $135K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herscher Foundation Inc's EIN?
Herscher Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-6018744. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Herscher Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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