Skewes Family Foundation
The Skewes Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Blue Ridge, Virginia. Started in 2004 by William G. Skewes, Sr., it provides charitable financial support for community development projects in the coalfields of Southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
Key facts about Skewes Family Foundation
In short: Skewes Family Foundation gave $281K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Virginia. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-1978793
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $281,200
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- Average grant
- $7,811
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (20 of 36, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,925,463
- Primary geography
- Virginia (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None stated.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.9M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$281K
-7.5% YoY
Grant Count
36
+28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-28.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Skewes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $325K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Skewes Family Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 20 of 36 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it seeks proposals from organizations working in health, environment, arts, education, and human services. Its website also describes support for projects involving animal shelters, schools, churches, building restorations, historical societies, the YMCA, and local sports clubs.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Big Creek People in Action says its mission is to foster a community where people learn, work, play, and grow together. West Virginia Health Right describes providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and health education services to uninsured and underinsured people. JCS Ministries says it operates a food bank and provides supplies and training for people in need. Other 2025 grantees described missions involving Appalachian music and dance traditions, historic preservation, cultural heritage, active lifestyles, and organizing the Mercer County Fair.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $281,200. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $80,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $80,000 to Child Abuse Reporting and Enforcement in Tazewell, Virginia, for general operations; $25,500 to Mission Dental of Virginia in Abingdon, Virginia, for a building fund; and $20,000 to Big Creek People in Action in War, West Virginia, for general operating support. Other notable awards included $15,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Piedmont and $10,000 each to Five Loaves Two Fishes Food Bank, ITMAN Food Bank, Stop Abusive Family Environments, The Salvation Army Princeton Corps, and West Virginia Health Right.
Review Cycle
None stated.
How to Apply
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing says to submit a letter with information about tax-exempt status and the charitable program; its website also provides a community grant application and requests a 501(c)(3) tax form. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Ready to take the next step with Skewes Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its service area as Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties in West Virginia, and Tazewell and Bland counties in Virginia. Its website names communities including Bluefield, Bramwell, Princeton, War, Welch, Mullens, Tazewell, Richlands, and Rocky Gap, among others. In 2025, 49% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 45% to West Virginia, and 6% to North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2022) to $304K (2024). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $281K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Child Abuse Reporting and Enforcemt ($80K). Together the top 10 received $198K.
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 150 grants of 156 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Child Abuse Reporting and Enforcemt Tazewell, VA | General Operatin | $80,000 |
| Mission Dental of Virginia Inc Abingdon, VA | Building Fund | $25,500 |
| Big Creek People in Action Inc War, WV | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Piedmon Statesville, NC | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Five Loaves Two Fishes Food Bank Welch, WV | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Itman Food Bank Mullens, WV | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Stop Abusive Family Enviroments Inc Welch, WV | General Operating | $10,000 |
| The Salvation Army Princeton Corps Princeton, WV | General Operating | $10,000 |
| West Virginia Health Right Charleston, WV | General Operating | $10,000 |
| JCS Ministries Inc Bradshaw, WV | General Operating | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,925,463 | $217,095 | $332,499 | $281,200 |
| 2024 | $5,039,510 | $515,696 | $351,194 | $303,976 |
| 2023 | $4,875,008 | -$286,774 | $338,065 | $299,809 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,925,463 | $5,039,510 | $4,875,008 |
| Revenue | $217,095 | $515,696 | $-286,774 |
| Expenses | $332,499 | $351,194 | $338,065 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $311,296 | $290,280 | $321,959 |
| Net Investment Income | $146,708 | $404,415 | $77,453 |
| Distributable Amount | $325,250 | $299,554 | $269,942 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these directors: William G. Skewes, Ronald Campbell, Martha Callaway, Elizabeth Skewes, Laura Skewes, Leah Skewes, Michael Patton, Shirley Weaver, Carla Keene, and James Mulkey.
Skewes Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 10 officers; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth A. Skewes
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
James C. Mulkey
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Laura C. Skewes
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Leah M. Skewes
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Martha Callaway
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ronald Campbell
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
William G. Skewes
Director
Chairman of the Board → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Carla Keene
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Michael Patton
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Shirley Weaver
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jennifer Austin (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Matthew Martin (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Connie Boardwine
Mailing address: P O Box 1014, Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: (276) 326-1418
Website: https://skewesff.org
Frequently asked questions about Skewes Family Foundation
How much does Skewes Family Foundation give each year?
Skewes Family Foundation gave $281K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $304K across 28 grants.
What is Skewes Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Skewes Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,811, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Skewes Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Skewes Family Foundation give grants?
Skewes Family Foundation's top state is Virginia, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were West Virginia (45%) and North Carolina (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mullens, WV (4 grants), Bluefield, WV (4 grants), Welch, WV (3 grants) and Tazewell, VA (2 grants).
Does Skewes Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of Skewes Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Skewes Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Skewes Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Child Abuse Reporting and Enforcemt ($80,000), Mission Dental of Virginia Inc ($25,500) and Big Creek People in Action Inc ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Skewes Family Foundation?
Skewes Family Foundation reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $311K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $325K (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 Skewes Family Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it seeks proposals from organizations working in health, environment, arts, education, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Skewes Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Skewes Family Foundation's EIN?
Skewes Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1978793. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Skewes Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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