Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari is a private foundation based in Weirton, West Virginia. It provides scholarships for higher education and training to individuals who graduate from Weir Senior High School in Weirton, using criteria set by its trustees.
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari at a glance
In short: Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari gave $31K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in West Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $31,250
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,404
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $831,036
- +7.0% vs 2024
- 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.
How to apply to Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs prospective applicants to the Weir Senior High School guidance department. It says to use the attached two-page scholarship application and the selection criteria form provided to prospective applicants.
- Review Cycle
- March 20 each year. The 2024 filing describes this annual deadline; March 20, 2026, has passed.
- Deadline
- March 20 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Guidance Department Weir Senior Hi
Mailing address: 100 Red Rider Road, Weirton, WV 26062
Phone: (304) 748-7600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 64 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for filing year 2025 went to recipients in West Virginia. The stated scholarship program is for graduates of Weir Senior High School in Weirton.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2023) to $34K (2022). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $31K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 13 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $31,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $831,036 | $93,236 | $38,651 | $31,250 | 13 | $31,250 | $61,874 |
| 2024 | $776,451 | $50,256 | $36,271 | $29,500 | 15 | $29,500 | $43,485 |
| 2023 | $762,466 | $56,209 | $33,952 | $27,500 | 15 | $27,500 | $49,757 |
| 2022 | $740,209 | $66,474 | $41,705 | $34,000 | 12 | $34,000 | $58,769 |
| 2021 | $715,440 | $69,959 | $38,205 | $30,500 | 9 | — | $62,254 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes direct charitable activity as scholarships for higher education and training for graduates of Weir Senior High School in Weirton, based on criteria deemed appropriate by the trustees.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $31,250. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $3,500, with a median of $2,500. The listed grants were college scholarships to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bethany Fernbaugh, Sandy Yarter, Jonathan Beynon, and Anthony Viola as trustees.
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bethany Fernbaugh
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Anthony Viola
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Jonathan Beynon
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Sandy Yarter
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Nancy L. Wilson (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Krukowski (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: James R. Shockley (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jane Anderson (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari
How much does Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari give each year?
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari gave $31K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $30K across 15 grants.
What is Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's typical grant size?
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,404, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari give grants?
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "College Scholarship" (13 grants).
How large is Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari?
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari reported $831K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $93K.
What does Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes direct charitable activity as scholarships for higher education and training for graduates of Weir Senior High School in Weirton, based on criteria deemed appropriate by the trustees. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari?
The 2024 filing directs prospective applicants to the Weir Senior High School guidance department. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's EIN?
Joan B and Frank E McDonald Chari's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6478360. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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