Powell Charitable Foundation
The Powell Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1967 and based in Roanoke, Virginia. The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since June 2003. It operates as a private foundation distributing funds for public charitable purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.5M
+6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$550K
+11.1% YoY
Grant Count
58
+9.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+1.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Powell Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $611K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas:
- Education
- The Arts
- Conservation
- Human Services
- Health
The foundation distributes funds with a direct impact within its geographic zone of interest.
Grantmaking
The Powell Charitable Foundation considers funding requests for:
Grant Range
s and Activity
Grant Types
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Ready to take the next step with Powell Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Powell Charitable Foundation focuses its funding on:
- Harris County, Texas
- Travis County, Texas
- Walker County, Texas
Recent grant recipients also indicate activity in Virginia, including organizations in Roanoke, Salem, Lynchburg, and Meadowview.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024)
- Total Assets: $10.8–$11.5 million
- Revenue: $1.57 million
- Expenses: $884,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Assets
- 2023: $10.0 million
- 2022: $9.5 million
- 2021: $10.9 million
- 2020: $10.2 million
- 2015: $7.8 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,475,225 | $10,791,475 | $9,950,861 |
| Revenue | $1,567,866 | $1,674,019 | $1,223,242 |
| Expenses | $884,116 | $833,405 | $808,364 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $611,688 | $560,513 | $523,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $74,197 | $46,276 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $610,850 | $549,491 | $550,174 |
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
236 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Redeemer Presbyterian ($75,000), Faith Christian Church ($40,000), E&h College ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 POINTS MUSIC SANCTUARY ROANOKE, VA | HEALTH AWARENESS | $6,000 |
| ANDREW LEWIS MIDDLE SCHOOL SALEM, VA | EDUCATIONAL | $12,000 |
| APPLE RIDGE FARM ROANOKE, VA | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | $2,500 |
| BLUE RIDGE WOMEN'S CENTER ROANOKE, VA | ADVOCACY | $10,500 |
| BONHOEFFER HAUS RADFORD, VA | RELIGIOUS | $5,000 |
| BOULDER VALLEY YOUNG LIFE BOULDER, CO | YOUTH MINISTRY | $2,500 |
| BROTHER WOLF ANIMAL RESCUE ASHEVILLE, NC | ANIMAL WELFARE | $3,000 |
| GW CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SALEM, VA | EDUCATION | $12,000 |
| CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL ROANOKE, VA | RELIGIOUS | $10,000 |
| DEEPER STILL KNOXVILLE, TN | RELIGIOUS | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Paul A. Powell Jr. – Trustee (compensation: $138,000)
- Waid B. Powell – Trustee (compensation: $60,000)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL A POWELL JR | TRUSTEE | — | $138,000 |
Contact Information
- Phone: 713-523-5557
- Website: powellfoundation.org
- Location: Roanoke, Virginia (also listed as Salem, Virginia in some filings)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Powell Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas: • **Education** • **The Arts** • **Conservation** • **Human Services** • **Health** The foundation distributes funds with a direct impact within its geographic zone of interest.
How do I apply for a grant from Powell Charitable Foundation?
The Powell Charitable Foundation considers funding requests for: • Operating costs • Agency programs • Specific projects within areas of interest • Capital projects (considered on a case-by-case basis; historically represent less than 2% of annual grant awards) To be eligible, requesting organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable entities as described in Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes public charities, government organizations, and eligible…
Where does Powell Charitable Foundation make grants?
The Powell Charitable Foundation focuses its funding on: • **Harris County, Texas** • **Travis County, Texas** • **Walker County, Texas** Recent grant recipients also indicate activity in Virginia, including organizations in Roanoke, Salem, Lynchburg, and Meadowview.
What size grants does Powell Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Powell Charitable Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $550K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Powell Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Powell Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $611K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Powell Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Powell Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-1175747. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Powell Charitable Foundation'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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