John Buford Watson Trust
John Buford Watson Trust is a private foundation, based in Richmond, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $944K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $62K. Net investment income was $81K.
John Buford Watson Trust at a glance
In short: John Buford Watson Trust gave $62K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,016
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,336
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,752
- Total assets
- $944,078
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who John Buford Watson Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Everbless Foundation ($31K). Together the top 6 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 30 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How John Buford Watson Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $56K (2020) to $62K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $62K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Everbless Foundation Henrico, VA | FBO Foreign Missions | $31,008 |
| American Cancer Society Salem, VA | Charitable | $7,752 |
| American Diabetes Association Richmond, VA | Charitable | $7,752 |
| American Red Cross Lynchburg, VA | Charitable | $7,752 |
| Hope Tree Family Services Salem, VA | Religious | $5,426 |
| Morgans Baptist Church Moneta, VA | Religious | $2,326 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $944,078 | $91,169 | $73,497 | $62,016 | 6 | $62,479 | $81,308 | $66,245 |
| 2024 | $926,406 | $81,218 | $70,618 | $60,168 | 6 | $60,929 | $71,443 | $62,094 |
| 2023 | $915,806 | $34,366 | $69,944 | $60,016 | 6 | $60,789 | $25,948 | $56,692 |
| 2022 | $951,384 | $62,304 | $71,178 | $59,913 | 6 | $60,613 | $53,038 | $57,502 |
| 2021 | $960,258 | $103,634 | $68,918 | $57,090 | 6 | $57,790 | $93,482 | $66,127 |
| 2020 | $926,542 | $79,453 | $65,903 | $55,977 | 6 | — | $70,227 | $55,807 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Buford Watson Trust reported a distributable amount of $66K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
John Buford Watson Trust is led by Everbless, Trustee on every filing since 2022 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Everbless
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$8K (2022) → $9K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Virginia Baptist Foundation (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $9K, to Everbless (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about John Buford Watson Trust
How much does John Buford Watson Trust give each year?
John Buford Watson Trust gave $62K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $60K across 6 grants.
What is John Buford Watson Trust's typical grant size?
John Buford Watson Trust's median grant in 2025 was $7,752, and its average grant was $10,336, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John Buford Watson Trust give grants?
John Buford Watson Trust gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Salem, VA (2 grants).
Does John Buford Watson Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on John Buford Watson Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (3 grants).
Who are John Buford Watson Trust's largest grantees?
John Buford Watson Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Everbless Foundation ($31,008), American Cancer Society ($7,752) and American Diabetes Association ($7,752), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Buford Watson Trust?
John Buford Watson Trust reported $944K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $62K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is John Buford Watson Trust's EIN?
John Buford Watson Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6476024. 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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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