The Columbus Phipps Foundation
The Columbus Phipps Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 and designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The foundation is located in Clintwood, Virginia, and maintains operations focused on educational grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.3M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
63
-10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+24.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Columbus Phipps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 66 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending March 2024). Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending March 2024:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,856,799 |
| Total Revenues | $2,013,733 |
| Total Expenses | $1,274,011 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $503,059 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
The foundation operates with no paid staff. Investment income represents a significant revenue source, with a 34.5% increase in investment income and dividends compared to the prior fiscal year.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,322,899 | $17,856,799 | $17,052,409 |
| Revenue | $1,728,618 | $2,013,733 | $1,248,304 |
| Expenses | $1,335,427 | $1,274,011 | $1,457,188 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,170,019 | $1,076,955 | $1,225,790 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,582,592 | $1,848,214 | $1,033,439 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,081,890 | $1,206,059 | $1,199,038 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Mountain Empire Community College ($193,750), University of Va College at Wise ($183,500), Appalachian School of Pharmacy ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JONNIE B DEEL MEMORIAL LIBRARY CLINTWOOD, VA | GRANT TO ASSIST LIGHTING | $1,500 |
| DICKENSON COUNTY VA COOPERATIVE EXT CLINTWOOD, VA | GRANT FOR 4-H CAMPS | $27,125 |
| TOWN OF CLINTWOOD CLINTWOOD, VA | OPERATIONAL EXPENSES | $25,000 |
| DICKENSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLINTWOOD, VA | SUPPORT VARIOUS SCHOOLS' | $10,000 |
| DICKENSON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE CLINTWOOD, VA | NUTRITION PROGRAM | $2,000 |
| HAYSI PUBLIC LIBRARY HAYSI, VA | BOOKS & AUDIO/VISUAL | $1,500 |
| LONESOME PINE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION CLINTWOOD, VA | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
| RIDGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL CLINTWOOD, VA | GRANT TO SUPPORT | $38,650 |
| RIDGEVIEW NURSING PROGRAM-RIDGEVIEW HS CLINTWOOD, VA | GRANT FOR STATE BOARDS FOR | $9,600 |
| RIDGEVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL CLINTWOOD, VA | GRANTS FOR SCHOOL MATERIALS | $6,128 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Paul D Buchanan — Director (volunteer position, $0 compensation)
- Dr. Jewell Askins — Trustee
- Michael A Strough — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL D BUCHANAN | TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR | 20 | — |
| DR JEWELL ASKINS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MR MICHAEL A STROUGH | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MR JERRY ARTRIP | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MR CLARENCE PHILLIPS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Columbus Phipps Foundation?
The foundation made 66 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending March 2024). Recent grants include: • Lincoln Memorial University: $69,000 (Educational Grants) • University of Pikeville: $38,000 (Educational Grants) • Liberty University: $32,500 (Educational Grants) • University of Virginia College at Wise (among other grantees) The foundation distributed approximately $245,977 across its documented grants in the most recent reporting period.
What size grants does The Columbus Phipps Foundation award?
In 2025, The Columbus Phipps Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Columbus Phipps Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Columbus Phipps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Columbus Phipps Foundation's EIN?
The Columbus Phipps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6338751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Columbus Phipps 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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