The English Foundation
The English Foundation is a private foundation established in 1956, based in Altavista, Virginia. The organization operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
+2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$50K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
16
+6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The English Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief
- STEM Education
Grantmaking
The foundation actively funds projects and maintains openness to new grant applications.
Grant Range
$250–$10,000
Average Grant
amount: $15
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary activity in:
- Virginia (including Altavista, Lynchburg, and Virginia Beach)
- Tennessee
- New York
- North Carolina
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $1,246,011–$1,271,046
- Annual expenses: $80,400
- Annual revenue: $76,765
- Expense ratio: 104.7% of total revenue spent on programs
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,271,046 | $1,246,011 | $1,256,741 |
| Revenue | $91,512 | $76,765 | $89,914 |
| Expenses | $71,827 | $80,400 | $87,192 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $54,350 | $55,300 | $61,030 |
| Net Investment Income | $74,035 | $51,665 | $63,752 |
| Distributable Amount | $145,865 | $127,538 | $129,871 |
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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Altavista Area Ymca ($10,000), Dawn ($10,000), First Baptist Church ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACOVA MUSEUM ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| ALTAVISTA AREA YMCA ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| ALTAVISTA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| DAWN ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $8,000 |
| GOD'S PIT CREW DANVILLE, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY BIG ISLAND, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| REMOTE AREA MEDICAL VOLUNTEER CORP ROCKFORD, TN | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| SALVATION ARMY LYNCHBURG, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTHY VETERANS ALTAVISTA, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by three trustees, all serving without compensation:
- ER English Jr
- Stephen English
- Rita T English
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ER ENGLISH JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN ENGLISH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RITA T ENGLISH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 205 River Oaks Drive, Altavista, VA 24517-2015
Telephone: 434-369-4771
Tax ID (EIN): 54-6036409
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The English Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief • STEM Education
How do I apply for a grant from The English Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $49,000–$50,000 • Typical grant range: $250–$10,000 • Average grant amount: $15 • Total grants awarded (2024): 15 grants • Open to new applicants: Yes • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% The foundation actively funds projects and maintains openness to new grant applications.
Where does The English Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary activity in: • Virginia (including Altavista, Lynchburg, and Virginia Beach) • Tennessee • New York • North Carolina • Connecticut
What size grants does The English Foundation award?
In 2024, The English Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $50K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The English Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The English Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The English Foundation's EIN?
The English Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6036409. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The English 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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