Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust
The Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund is a private foundation based in Charles Town, West Virginia. It awards scholarships to eligible students graduating from public high schools in Jefferson County who attend public colleges or universities in West Virginia.
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust at a glance
In short: Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust gave $124K across 24 grants in 2026 (avg $5K), mostly in West Virginia. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $124,439
- +46.6% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 24
- +20.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $5,185
- +22.2% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,330
- Total assets
- $1,811,684
- -3.1% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust
- How to Apply
-
Applicants should contact Potomac Bank, Co-Trustee, and complete a detailed application. Required materials include school records, financial information showing need, a record of community service, honors and awards, two letters of recommendation, and an essay explaining why the applicant should receive the scholarship. Applicants must graduate from high school with a “B” average. Recipients must attend a West Virginia public college or university full time and maintain a “B” average each year. The maximum award is $10,000 per semester. Federal Pell Grants and WV PROMISE Scholarship amounts are subtracted from tuition and room-and-board amounts awarded by the scholarship. Children of Potomac Bank directors, the president, or vice presidents, and children of principals in the law firm of F. Samuel Byrer, are ineligible.
- Review Cycle
- February 20 each year.
- Deadline
- February 20 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Potomac Bank Co-Trustee
Mailing address: Po Drawer 40, Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: (304) 728-2435
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Goode Hannah M ($16K). Together the top 8 received $76K.
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($48,261), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 144 grants of 144 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Scholarship applicants must graduate from a public high school located in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and attend a public college or university in West Virginia. In filing year 2026, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−18%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 97% 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2025) to $477K (2020). In 2026 it made 24 grants totaling $124K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Goode Hannah M Ranson, WV | Room and Board | $15,800 |
| Rodriguez Gabriela R Martinsburg, WV | Room and Board | $15,800 |
| Baker Kaitlyn M Ranson, WV | Room and Board | $13,408 |
| 16 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $48,261 |
| Duffy Ella H Charles Town, WV | Room and Board | $8,396 |
| Owens Elizabeth C Ranson, WV | Room and Board | $8,198 |
| Robinson Marcia K Charles Town, WV | Room and Board | $7,592 |
| Gwynn Lylah Ranson, WV | Room and Board | $6,609 |
| Patel Eesha D Charles Town, WV | Room and Board | $375 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,811,684 | $110,330 | $168,475 | $124,439 | 24 | $124,439 | $67,112 | $128,180 |
| 2025 | $1,869,829 | $120,665 | $126,802 | $84,870 | 20 | $84,870 | $80,617 | $123,766 |
| 2024 | $1,875,966 | $111,102 | $173,361 | $134,009 | 24 | $134,009 | $70,471 | $116,730 |
| 2023 | $1,938,225 | $-53,634 | $195,513 | $151,306 | 31 | $151,306 | $16,341 | $118,701 |
| 2022 | $2,187,372 | $304,170 | $278,404 | $234,446 | 45 | $234,446 | $260,212 | $135,904 |
| 2021 | $2,161,606 | $133,029 | $424,142 | $380,714 | 69 | — | $87,515 | $139,252 |
| 2020 | $2,452,719 | $194,880 | $523,723 | $477,482 | 84 | — | $148,639 | $148,408 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust reported a distributable amount of $128K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated scholarship program supports students based on grades, financial need, and good citizenship or community service. Awards may cover tuition and fees, and room and board.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the fund reported 24 grants totaling $124,439. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $15,800, with a median of $2,330. The largest listed awards included $15,800 each to Hannah M. Goode of Ranson and Gabriela R. Rodriguez of Martinsburg for room and board, and $13,408 to Kaitlyn M. Baker of Ranson for room and board.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
F. Samuel Byrer is listed as Co-Trustee.
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust is led by F. Samuel Byrer, Co-Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
F. Samuel Byrer
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2026)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $14K, to F Samuel Byrer (Co-Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust
How much does Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust give each year?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust gave $124K across 24 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $85K across 20 grants.
What is Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's typical grant size?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's median grant in 2026 was $2,330, and its average grant was $5,185, across 24 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust give grants?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ranson, WV (4 grants) and Charles Town, WV (3 grants).
Does Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Books and Supplies" (8 grants), "Tuition and Fees" (8 grants) and "Room and Board" (8 grants).
Who are Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's largest grantees?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Goode Hannah M ($15,800), Rodriguez Gabriela R ($15,800) and Baker Kaitlyn M ($13,408), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($48,261), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $124K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $128K (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 does Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust fund?
The fund’s stated scholarship program supports students based on grades, financial need, and good citizenship or community service. Awards may cover tuition and fees, and room and board. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust?
Applicants should contact Potomac Bank, Co-Trustee, and complete a detailed application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's EIN?
Robert W McCormick Scholarship Fund Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0734149. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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