Smyth County Charitable Fund
Smyth County Charitable Fund is a public charity based in Marion, Virginia, formed in 1999. It supports programs and projects intended to improve health, wellness, and education in Smyth County and surrounding communities.
Smyth County Charitable Fund at a glance
In short: Smyth County Charitable Fund gave $3.3M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $272K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,268,838
- +163.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $272,403
- +163.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,641
- Total assets
- $57,185,785
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Smyth County Charitable Fund
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s filing describes an application process in which organizations submit requests for review by an internal committee, with approval by the full board. It does not specify application materials, restrictions, or a deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 Health Way, Marion, VA 24354
Phone: (276) 781-2743
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smyth County Charitable Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Appalachian Center for Hope Inc ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 37 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated mission refers to Smyth County and surrounding communities. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia; listed recipients include organizations in Smyth County and other Virginia locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Smyth County Charitable Fund gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2020) to $3.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Center for Hope Inc Marion, VA | Funding for Renovation of Addiction Rehabilitation Facility | $2,600,000 |
| Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands Bristol, VA | Support support for coverage in all middle and high schools in Smyth county | $316,965 |
| The Town of Saltville Saltville, VA | Golf Course Support | $87,670 |
| Atkins Elementary School Atkins, VA | Inclusive Playground for School and Surrounding Community | $75,000 |
| Mount Rogers Planning District Commission Marion, VA | Property Feasability Study | $33,434 |
| Smyth County Community Foundation Marion, VA | Smyth Promise | $33,282 |
| Project Crossroads Marion, VA | Ramp Construction | $30,000 |
| Mel Leaman Free Clinic Marion, VA | Support for Free Clinic | $29,122 |
| Mount Rogers Community Services Wytheville, VA | Smoking Cessation Program for Smyth County Residents | $25,000 |
| Rye Valley Water Sugar Grove, VA | Support for clean water for the rye valley community | $21,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,185,785 | $3,308,326 | $5,653,058 | $3,268,838 | 12 | $1,849,168 |
| 2024 | $57,574,641 | $2,670,521 | $3,318,973 | $1,242,353 | 12 | $1,333,407 |
| 2023 | $49,639,167 | $3,236,097 | $2,552,417 | $447,780 | 8 | $1,978,674 |
| 2022 | $46,121,991 | $35,613,438 | $1,960,651 | $142,764 | 4 | $34,369,152 |
| 2021 | $18,595,291 | $3,225,692 | $1,842,148 | $8,700 | 1 | $543,655 |
| 2020 | $15,886,872 | $1,423,330 | $1,600,427 | $6,000 | 1 | $216,755 |
| 2019 | $15,835,333 | $1,791,711 | $1,688,577 | $17,375 | 2 | $503,165 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated mission is to support the mission of Smyth County Community Foundation by identifying and supporting qualified programs and projects that improve overall health, wellness, and education across Smyth County and surrounding communities.
Its filing describes the wellness centers and golf course as promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and safe places to exercise. The filing also describes children’s programming at both wellness centers as an active option for working parents when children are not in school.
Among the 2025 grantees, Appalachian Center for Hope says its mission is to provide collaborative recovery plans and residential care for people battling substance addiction. Project Crossroads describes work that includes safe, affordable housing for low-income, elderly, and disabled families, firewood assistance, disaster response, and primary care for uninsured people in partnership with a local free clinic. Blue Ridge Discovery Center describes its mission as inspiring curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund reported 12 grants totaling $3,268,838. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $2,600,000, with a median grant of $31,641.
The largest award was $2,600,000 to Appalachian Center for Hope for renovation of an addiction rehabilitation facility. Other notable grants included $316,965 to Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands for coverage in all middle and high schools in Smyth County; $87,670 to the Town of Saltville for golf course support; and $75,000 to Atkins Elementary School for an inclusive playground for the school and surrounding community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Robinson, PhD, as chair; Paul Holcombe, Esq., as vice chair; Brian Cregger as treasurer; and Sandra Catalan as secretary. Directors listed are Emily Bralley, Dennis Carter, EdD, David Fields, John Graham, Esq., Chelsea Hamman, MD, and David Kiser, MD.
Smyth County Charitable Fund is led by Lynda Helton, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lynda Helton
Executive Director
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $109K (2025)
Michael Robinson PhD
Chair
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Thompson DMD
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Graham Esq.
Director
Chairman → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kiser MD
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Carter EdD
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Bralley
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chelsea Hamman MD
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Fields
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dickie Kegley
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Gillespie
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Vernon
CFO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$59K (2024) → $63K (2025)
Paul Holcombe Esq.
Vice Chair
Vice Chariman → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Catalan
Secretary
Secretary → Director, 2024
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Cregger
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Merrelle Ward (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert Watkins (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Brian Haynes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Snodgrass (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Dawn Archer (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Amanda Currin (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Amy Blue-Spiker (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Chelsea Hammonds (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Dara Watson (2019) — Director
- Former: Scott Richards (2019) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $109K, to Lynda Helton (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Smyth County Charitable Fund
How much does Smyth County Charitable Fund give each year?
Smyth County Charitable Fund gave $3.3M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 12 grants.
What is Smyth County Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
Smyth County Charitable Fund's median grant in 2025 was $31,641, and its average grant was $272,403, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Smyth County Charitable Fund give grants?
Smyth County Charitable Fund gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marion, VA (6 grants).
Does Smyth County Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Smyth County Charitable Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Smyth County Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
Smyth County Charitable Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Appalachian Center for Hope Inc ($2,600,000), Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands ($316,965) and The Town of Saltville ($87,670), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smyth County Charitable Fund?
Smyth County Charitable Fund reported $57.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.3M.
What does Smyth County Charitable Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission is to support the mission of Smyth County Community Foundation by identifying and supporting qualified programs and projects that improve overall health, wellness, and education across Smyth County and surrounding communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smyth County Charitable Fund?
The fund’s filing describes an application process in which organizations submit requests for review by an internal committee, with approval by the full board. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smyth County Charitable Fund's EIN?
Smyth County Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1650055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Smyth County Charitable Fund funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smyth County Charitable Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smyth County Charitable Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smyth-county-charitable-fund-morg_d08639f08f5f4b3e84395dd64f27dca6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311650055_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smyth County Charitable Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smyth-county-charitable-fund-morg_d08639f08f5f4b3e84395dd64f27dca6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Smyth County Charitable Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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