Shentel Foundation
Shentel Foundation is a private foundation established in 1990 and based in Edinburg, Virginia. The foundation is affiliated with Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel), a telecommunications holding company headquartered in the same location. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation is designated for religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$90K
-8.3% YoY
Grant Count
106
-13.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$846.811
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shentel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, education, health, youth development, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 106 grants in its most recent tax year (2024), with a median grant size of $500 and a maximum grant of $13,000. Total distributions in 2024 were approximately $90,000.
Grant Range
of $500 and a maximum grant of $13,000. Total distributions in 2024 were approximately $90,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total Assets: $2.58 million
- Total Liabilities: $3,890
- Total Revenue: $91,800
- Total Expenses: $98,628
- Investment Income and Dividends: $91,800
Historical Trend
The foundation's assets have grown from approximately $1 million in 2011 to $2.58 million in 2024. The organization operates with zero employees and relies on investment income rather than contributions to fund its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,582,581 | $2,589,409 | $2,599,137 |
| Revenue | $91,800 | $86,697 | $73,845 |
| Expenses | $98,628 | $99,625 | $68,143 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $89,762 | $97,838 | $68,143 |
| Net Investment Income | $91,800 | $86,697 | $73,745 |
| Distributable Amount | $221,315 | $187,092 | $193,166 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Vpm Pbs ($2,500), Boy Scouts of America ($2,500), Central Pennsylvania Food Bank ($1,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL QUICKSBURG, VA | General Charitable Support | $100 |
| SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC RICHLANDS, VA | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION ROANOKE, VA | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| WYTHEVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC WYTHEVILLE, VA | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| WVU AT PARKERSBURG FOUNDATION INC VIENNA, WV | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| SOUTHERN WV COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC MOUNT GAY, WV | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| MOUNTAIN GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLIFTON FORGE, VA | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| BRIDGEVALLEY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE CHARLESTON, WV | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| CVCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC LYNCHBURG, VA | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
| EASTERN WV COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE MOOREFIELD, WV | General Charitable Support | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christopher E. French – Executive Chairman (1 hour per week, $0 compensation)
- James J. Volk – Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer (1 hour per week, $0 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER E FRENCH | Executive Chairman | 1 | — |
| JAMES J VOLK | SR. VP CFO & TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Shentel Foundation continues its grantmaking activities focused on local charitable organizations. The foundation's parent company, Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, has demonstrated broader community engagement through employee volunteer initiatives, with staff logging 572 volunteer hours for local charities.
Shentel\u2019s Employee Volunteer Initiative Gives Back to Local CharitiesFrequently Asked Questions
What does Shentel Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, education, health, youth development, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from Shentel Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Patterns** The foundation made 106 grants in its most recent tax year (2024), with a median grant size of $500 and a maximum grant of $13,000. Total distributions in 2024 were approximately $90,000. **Recent Grant Recipients (2024)** Notable recent grants include: • United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley: $5,000 • Shenandoah County Library Foundation: $3,018 • Vietnam Veterans of America - 936 VVA Chapter: $2,500 The foundation distributed a total of $39,400 across 52 docum…
Where does Shentel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia and surrounding areas.
What size grants does Shentel Foundation award?
In 2024, Shentel Foundation awarded 106 grants totaling $90K — an average of about $846.811 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shentel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shentel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shentel Foundation's EIN?
Shentel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1549765. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shentel 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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