Spartan Foundation
Spartan Foundation is a private foundation based in Vienna, West Virginia. In its 2025 filing, it reported 29 grants totaling $1,389,464 to charitable organizations, with recipients in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida.
Spartan Foundation at a glance
In short: Spartan Foundation gave $1.4M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), top state West Virginia. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,389,464
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,913
- +24.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $18,441,006
- +3.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (7 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Spartan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 166 60Th St, Vienna, WV 26105
Phone: (304) 295-3311
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Spartan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland Clinic ($360K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 134 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 46% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia, 43% to Ohio, 8% to Pennsylvania, 2% to New Jersey, and 1% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Spartan Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 29 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $60K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH | Contribution | $360,000 |
| YMCA of Parkersburg WV Parkersburg, WV | Contribution | $170,196 |
| Parkersburg Area Comm Foundation Parkersburg, WV | Contribution | $120,709 |
| WVU Foundation Morgantown, WV | Contribution | $110,000 |
| Memorial Health Foundation Marietta, OH | Contribution | $104,000 |
| Marietta College Marietta, OH | Contribution | $101,731 |
| Camden Clark Medical Center Parkersburg, WV | Contribution | $100,000 |
| Uniontown Public Library Uniontown, PA | Contribution | $63,578 |
| The Hill School Pottstown, PA | Contribution | $50,000 |
| Usga Liberty Corner, NJ | Contribution | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18,441,006 | $2,347,143 | $1,676,402 | $1,389,464 | 29 | $1,391,439 | $2,123,819 | $1,576,586 |
| 2024 | $17,770,265 | $2,829,412 | $1,511,879 | $1,269,121 | 33 | $1,271,576 | $2,593,379 | $1,406,089 |
| 2023 | $16,452,732 | $504,692 | $1,437,748 | $1,210,298 | 25 | $1,212,738 | $302,414 | $1,261,995 |
| 2022 | $17,385,788 | $57,839 | $1,791,546 | $1,527,594 | 22 | $1,529,864 | $119,076 | $1,268,790 |
| 2021 | $19,119,495 | $1,949,413 | $1,587,903 | $1,194,882 | 25 | $1,197,238 | $1,579,005 | $1,473,412 |
| 2020 | $18,757,985 | $849,969 | $1,354,977 | $1,152,681 | 20 | — | $656,053 | $1,193,387 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spartan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including healthcare providers and foundations, educational institutions, community foundations, a public library, a YMCA, and a community theater.
Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. Marietta College says it provides undergraduate liberal arts and graduate professional education to develop leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The Hill School says it prepares students for college, careers, and life through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum and a family school environment. The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation says it helps donors, nonprofits, and collaborative partners strengthen communities so people and places can thrive. These are statements from the grantees, not the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $1,389,464. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $360,000, with a median of $15,000.
The largest reported awards included $360,000 to Cleveland Clinic; $170,196 to YMCA of Parkersburg WV; $120,709 to Parkersburg Area Comm Foundation; $110,000 to WVU Foundation; $104,000 to Memorial Health Foundation; $101,731 to Marietta College; and $100,000 to Camden Clark Medical Center. Other reported grants included $63,578 to Uniontown Public Library, $50,000 to The Hill School, and $25,000 to USGA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Harry H. Esbenshade III as president; William D. Esbenshade and Rachel E. Reed as vice presidents; Bryan J. Ream as treasurer; and Katherine E. Hushion as secretary. Directors listed are Robert E. Kirkbride, Thomas A. Heywood, John L. Thomas, and Thomas R. Davies.
Spartan Foundation is led by Harry H. Esbenshade III, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harry H. Esbenshade III
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John L. Thomas
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert E. Kirkbride
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Davies
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas A. Heywood
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan J. Ream
Treasurer
Vice President & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine E. Hushion
Secretary
Vice President & Secretary → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel E. Reed
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William D. Esbenshade
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron L. Tice
Assitant Treasurer
Vice President → Assitant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail E. O'Keefe
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly H. E. Shaughnessy
Vice President
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel E. Ash
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Molly H. Esbenshade (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Marian T. Clowes (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard A. Hudson (2020–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Spartan Foundation
How much does Spartan Foundation give each year?
Spartan Foundation gave $1.4M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 33 grants.
What is Spartan Foundation's typical grant size?
Spartan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $47,913, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Spartan Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Spartan Foundation give grants?
Spartan Foundation's top state is West Virginia, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (43%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Parkersburg, WV (9 grants), Marietta, OH (5 grants), Charleston, WV (3 grants) and Vienna, WV (3 grants).
Does Spartan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Spartan Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (29 grants).
Who are Spartan Foundation's largest grantees?
Spartan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland Clinic ($360,000), YMCA of Parkersburg WV ($170,196) and Parkersburg Area Comm Foundation ($120,709), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Spartan Foundation?
Spartan Foundation reported $18.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (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 Spartan Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including healthcare providers and foundations, educational institutions, community foundations, a public library, a YMCA, and a community theater. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Spartan Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Spartan Foundation's EIN?
Spartan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4153385. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Spartan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work Spartan Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spartan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Spartan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/spartan-foundation-morg_d5d01a0d0ba341c8aaa87a66927f4406
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204153385_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Spartan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/spartan-foundation-morg_d5d01a0d0ba341c8aaa87a66927f4406},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Spartan Foundation'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.
Spartan Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?