Proteus Foundation

WINCHESTER, VA EIN: 54-2013543 Website

Proteus Foundation is a private foundation based in Winchester, Virginia, established in 2003. The foundation supports local charities and promotes conservation initiatives, with a particular focus on higher education, scientific research, urban initiatives, urban forest growth, theatres, and educational programs.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$8.7M

+8.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$416K

-7.6% YoY

Grant Count

+28.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-28.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Proteus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $464K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is to support local charities in Highland County, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while promoting conservation programs and activities.

The foundation also engages in computer programming in support of academic research in the area of complex adaptive systems, with plans to publish scientific papers on these findings upon completion.

Grantmaking

The foundation provides general operating and project support to nonprofit organizations.

Grant Range

$5,000–$265,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's primary geographic areas of interest are:

Highland County, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Grant Distribution by State

Virginia $1.2M (52%)

Pennsylvania $367K (16%)

New Mexico $210K (9%)

Massachusetts $175K (8%)

California $125K (6%)

Colorado $75K (3%)

Indiana $75K (3%)

Kentucky $25K (1%)

+2 more states

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Indiana Kentucky Massachusetts New Mexico Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia

Cities

BlacksburgBostonBoulderCambridgeCharlottesvilleCoronaDoe HillEncinitasFairfaxFranklinHarrisonburgHomesteadHopeLexingtonMcdowellMontereyPittsburghRoanokeSanta FeSewickley

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total assets: $8,669,837
Total revenues: $1,179,832
Total expenses: $525,387

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$8,669,837	$8,015,392	$8,051,153
Revenue	$1,179,832	$517,637	$616,364
Expenses	$525,387	$553,398	$604,588
Qualifying Distributions	$416,000	$450,000	$475,000
Net Investment Income	$1,088,248	$431,136	$523,191
Distributable Amount	$464,326	$444,133	$465,294

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

118 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Sweetwater Center for Arts ($87,500), Center for Open Science ($50,000), Mediators Foundation ($50,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA	SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION	$5,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC	SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF	$5,000
CENTER FOR OPEN SCIENCE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA	SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH	$50,000
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL BLUE RIDGE STAUNTON, VA	FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS	$27,500
FERN HOLLOW NATURE CENTER SEWICKLEY, PA	SUPPORT ENVIROMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS	$5,000
FUTURE GENERATIONS UNIVERSITY FRANKLIN, WV	SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH	$16,000
GREEN FORESTS WORK HOPE, IN	SUPPORT APPALACHIAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS	$25,000
HEIFETZ MUSIC INSTITUTE STAUNTON, VA	SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION	$5,000
HIGHLAND ARTS COUNCIL 3RD SPACE MONTEREY, VA	SUPPORT ARTS COUNCIL	$5,000
HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTEREY, VA	SUPPORT CHILDREN'S HOUSE	$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
JAMES P RUTT	DIRECTOR	5	—
CELIA W RUTT	DIRECTOR	10	—
KATHLEEN WALKER	DIRECTOR	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Proteus Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary purpose is to support local charities in Highland County, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while promoting conservation programs and activities. The foundation also engages in computer programming in support of academic research in the area of complex adaptive systems, with plans to publish scientific papers on these findings upon completion.

How do I apply for a grant from Proteus Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 23 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) • Total giving: $416,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$265,000 **Recent Grantees:** • Sweetwater Center for the Arts ($87,500, 2024) • Center for Open Science ($50,000, 2024) • Community Foundation of Central Blue Ridge **Types of Support:** The foundation provides general operating and project support to nonprofit organizations.

Where does Proteus Foundation make grants?

The foundation's primary geographic areas of interest are: • Highland County, Virginia • Staunton, Virginia • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What size grants does Proteus Foundation award?

In 2024, Proteus Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $416K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Proteus Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Proteus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $464K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.