Maier Foundation Inc
The Maier Foundation Inc is a private, non-profit charitable corporation based in Charleston, West Virginia. Established in 1958 and granted tax-exempt status in 1959, the foundation was originally named the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation before being renamed in 2003. The foundation is dedicated to the furtherance of higher education in West Virginia and maintains membership in Exponent Philanthropy and Philanthropy West Virginia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.4M
+9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
25
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
+12.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maier Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to support higher education in West Virginia and advance educational opportunities for West Virginia residents pursuing higher education elsewhere. Secondary funding priorities include educationally-related cultural and community organizations in the Kanawha Valley region around Charleston.
The foundation focuses on:
- Scholarship endowments
- Current-use scholarships for immediate student support
- Challenge and matching grants to incentivize additional fundraising
- Institutional support grants for higher education institutions
Grantmaking
Average Grant
of approximately $70,000 and a median grant of $35,000.
Review Cycle
October 1 of each year
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Maier Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in West Virginia, with secondary activity in North Carolina and Virginia. The Kanawha Valley region around Charleston receives particular attention for cultural and community organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,390,190 |
| Annual Income | $12.1 million |
| Total Giving | $2,275,000 |
| Total Revenues (FY 2024) | $5,605,345 |
| Total Expenses (FY 2024) | $3,019,823 |
The foundation has supported 30 unique organizations with grants totaling $9.4 million based on available records. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $4.9 million distributed across 68 grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,390,190 | $27,804,668 | $27,908,273 |
| Revenue | $5,605,345 | $2,964,755 | $2,600,713 |
| Expenses | $3,019,823 | $3,068,360 | $3,177,528 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,276,933 | $2,428,749 | $2,446,084 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,927,256 | $2,212,919 | $2,061,140 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,495,749 | $2,291,305 | $2,401,819 |
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
124 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Maier Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wvu Foundation Inc ($500,000), Wv Emulation Endowment Trust ($412,000), Marshall University Foundation Inc ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN CHILDREN'S CHORUS INC CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $11,000 |
| CAMC FOUNDATION INC CHARLESTON, WV | DEAN'S PRIZES | $10,000 |
| CHARLESTON BALLET INC CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| CHARLESTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY INC CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $5,000 |
| CHARLESTON ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL CHARLESTON, WV | ETHICS PROGRAM | $8,000 |
| CHARLESTON LIGHT OPERA GUILD INC CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLESTON INC CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| CLAY CENTER FOR THE ARTS & SCIENCES OF WV CHARLESTON, WV | OPERATING FUNDS | $53,000 |
| CONCORD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC ATHENS, WV | SCHOLARSHIPS | $60,000 |
| FACULTY MERIT FOUNDATION OF WV INC CHARLESTON, WV | TEACHING AWARD | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bradley M. Rowe - President and Chairman of the Board
Edward H. Maier - Secretary and Director
The foundation is governed by a board of 10 officers and trustees, all of whom serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR BRADLEY M ROWE | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 12 | — |
| MS SARA M ROWE | VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MR J RANDY VALENTINE | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MR EDWARD H MAIER | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MS CHELSEA R KINZINGER | ASST. SECRETARY | 8 | — |
| HONORABLE JOHN T COPENHAVER JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DR J GREGORY ROSENCRANCE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MR EDWARD H MAIER JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MR THOMAS W ROWE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DR ELIZABETH MAIER CHERNOW | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MS ELIZABETH A CULWELL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**March 2026:** The Maier Foundation donated $150,000 to West Virginia State University for scholarships. The grant included $50,000 for direct scholarship support for West Virginia students during the 2026-2027 academic year and $100,000 to endow the existing Allan L. McVey Scholarship Fund.
The Maier Foundation Donates $150,000 to West Virginia State University for**2024:** Marshall University Foundation received multiple grants totaling $750,000, including $400,000 and $250,000 for scholarship endowments and $100,000 for writing awards.
The Maier Foundation Donates $150,000 to West Virginia State University for**2023:** The foundation gifted $1 million to Marshall University to establish the Sandra D. Thomas Scholarship Fund.
The Maier Foundation Donates $150,000 to West Virginia State University for**2017:** The foundation awarded $300,000 to West Virginia University to help students affected by summer flooding.
The Maier Foundation Donates $150,000 to West Virginia State University for**2016:** West Virginia State University received a $125,000 gift to further endow the Allan L. McVey Scholarship Fund, bringing the total endowment to $200,000.
The Maier Foundation Donates $150,000 to West Virginia State University forContact Information
Website: www.maierfoundation.org
Phone: (304) 343-2201
Mailing Address: PO Box 6190, Charleston, WV 25362-0190
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Maier Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to support higher education in West Virginia and advance educational opportunities for West Virginia residents pursuing higher education elsewhere. Secondary funding priorities include educationally-related cultural and community organizations in the Kanawha Valley region around Charleston. The foundation focuses on: • Scholarship endowments • Current-use scholarships for immediate student support • Challenge and matching grants to incentivize additional fund…
How do I apply for a grant from Maier Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $600,000, with an average grant of approximately $70,000 and a median grant of $35,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributes approximately $2.3 million annually across 25-35 grants. **Application Process:** • Deadline: October 1 of each year • Decision timeline: Approximately 2-3 months (decisions typically made in December) • Applications should address grant requirements available on the foundation's website **Grant Types:** • Sc…
Where does Maier Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in West Virginia, with secondary activity in North Carolina and Virginia. The Kanawha Valley region around Charleston receives particular attention for cultural and community organizations.
What size grants does Maier Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Maier Foundation Inc awarded 25 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Maier Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Maier Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Maier Foundation Inc's EIN?
Maier Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-6023833. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maier Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Carter Family Foundation
PARKERSBURG, WV
Assets
$13.1M
Grants
50
Total Given
$581K
The Daywood Foundationinc
CHARLESTON, WV
Assets
$18.4M
Grants
54
Total Given
$847K
Charles & Mary Fayne
CHARLESTON, WV
Assets
$5.6M
Grants
25
Total Given
$308K
Ralph & Virginia Homan Memorial Trust
WHEELING, WV
Assets
$180K
Grants
1
Total Given
$10K
Arthur and Joan Weisberg Family
HUNTINGTON, WV
Assets
$13.6M
Grants
54
Total Given
$1.6M
Tom C Smith Charitable Trust
HUNTINGTON, WV
Assets
$317K
Grants
1
Total Given
$40K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Maier Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Maier Foundation Inc to a real strategy.