The Betty and Wes Foster
The Betty and Wes Foster Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation located in Chantilly, Virginia. Established in January 1999, the foundation operates as a family philanthropy dedicated to charitable giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.6M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$602K
+16.0% YoY
Grant Count
42
-8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+27.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Betty and Wes Foster reported a distributable amount of $253K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general purpose charitable initiatives. Recent grantmaking reflects a focus on food security and community support organizations, with grants distributed to food banks and community service providers.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, distributing 44 grants in 2024. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s range from $29,000 to $52,000 based on recent activity.
Ready to take the next step with The Betty and Wes Foster?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented grants to organizations in North Carolina and the Washington, D.C. area, reflecting a multi-state funding approach.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,608,018
- Total Revenues: $886,630
- Total Expenses: $635,535
- Total Liabilities: $57,000
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Total grants and contributions: $500,000
- Investment income and dividends: $84,771
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with assets exceeding $4.6 million and demonstrates consistent annual giving capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,608,018 | $4,340,247 | $4,219,631 |
| Revenue | $886,630 | $731,793 | $528,985 |
| Expenses | $635,535 | $550,748 | $604,135 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $609,556 | $527,239 | $573,878 |
| Net Investment Income | $360,109 | $208,055 | $44,539 |
| Distributable Amount | $253,044 | $217,253 | $221,293 |
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
229 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Americares ($75,000), Beloved Asheville ($52,000), Bishop Walker School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AMERICARES STAMFORD, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| ARLINGTON FOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| BELOVED ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $52,000 |
| BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| BRANFORD LAND TRUST BRANFORD, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $29,000 |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR HARLAN, IA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| CIVIC NATION CAROL STREAM, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $40,000 |
| CONSUMER REPORTS YONKERS, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is named after P. Wesley "Wes" Foster, Jr., who co-founded Long & Foster Companies in 1968. Wes Foster passed away in March 2023 at age 89. The foundation continues to operate under the stewardship of the Foster family.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETTY FLANDERS FOSTER | PRES/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PHILIP RODNEY LAWRENCE JR | VP/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| AMANDA FOSTER SPAHR | VP/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PAUL WESLEY FOSTER III | VP/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JULIA HEATHER HANKS | VP/SEC/DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Betty and Wes Foster fund?
The foundation primarily funds general purpose charitable initiatives. Recent grantmaking reflects a focus on food security and community support organizations, with grants distributed to food banks and community service providers.
How do I apply for a grant from The Betty and Wes Foster?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, distributing 44 grants in 2024. Recent grants include: • Beloved Asheville: $52,000 • MANNA Food Bank: $50,000 • Capital Area Food Bank: $29,000 Additional grants totaling approximately $205,000 were distributed to approximately 20 other organizations in 2024. Grant sizes range from $29,000 to $52,000 based on recent activity.
Where does The Betty and Wes Foster make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented grants to organizations in North Carolina and the Washington, D.C. area, reflecting a multi-state funding approach.
What size grants does The Betty and Wes Foster award?
In 2024, The Betty and Wes Foster awarded 42 grants totaling $602K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Betty and Wes Foster required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Betty and Wes Foster reported a distributable amount of $253K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Betty and Wes Foster's EIN?
The Betty and Wes Foster's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1902260. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Betty and Wes Foster's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Wolf Family Charitable Trust
OAKTON, VA
Assets
$385K
Grants
5
Total Given
$189K
Stone Ridge Foundation
ALTAVISTA, VA
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
2
Total Given
$15K
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
ARLINGTON, VA
Assets
$236K
Grants
12
Total Given
$8K
Iraqi Children Foundation Inc
FAIRFAX, VA
Assets
$101K
Grants
2
Total Given
$610K
Heartfelt Humans
ASHBURN, VA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Krumbein Charities Inc
RICHMOND, VA
Assets
$440K
Grants
14
Total Given
$34K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Betty and Wes Foster on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Betty and Wes Foster to a real strategy.