The Imperial Charitable Trust

LYNCHBURG, VA EIN: 51-0172334

The Imperial Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Established in 1975, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is classified as a private independent foundation. The organization has no employees and distributes income from its assets to charitable organizations according to the discretion of its trustees.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.1M

+5.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$118K

-3.9% YoY

Grant Count

-5.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

+1.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Imperial Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $121K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's stated purpose is to distribute income to charitable organizations in amounts and for purposes determined by its trustees. The organization has demonstrated a primary focus on educational initiatives and support for educational institutions.

Grantmaking

The Imperial Charitable Trust made 24 grants totaling $118,150 in its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024). Recent grantees include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in Lynchburg, Virginia and operates within the Central Virginia region. Its grantmaking extends to educational institutions and charitable organizations throughout Virginia and beyond.

Grant Distribution by State

Virginia $407K (73%)

Pennsylvania $50K (9%)

North Carolina $38K (7%)

West Virginia $33K (6%)

South Carolina $30K (5%)

States

North Carolina Pennsylvania South Carolina Virginia West Virginia

Cities

AmherstChapel HillCharlestonConcordCovingtonForestHartsvilleLynchburgMartinsburgMediaMerrifieldRichmondRoanokeWinchesterWinstonsalem

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year Ending September 2024)

Total Assets: $2,115,800
Total Revenue: $244,621
Investment Income & Dividends: $90,700
Total Expenses: $133,671
Total Liabilities: $0
Total Giving: $118,150

The foundation maintains a stable financial position with investment income as its primary revenue source. The organization operates with no debt and maintains reserves significantly exceeding its annual distribution levels.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$2,115,800	$2,004,850	$2,043,716
Revenue	$244,621	$105,399	$240,737
Expenses	$133,671	$144,264	$134,435
Qualifying Distributions	$118,807	$123,668	$115,545
Net Investment Income	$229,757	$91,081	$225,054
Distributable Amount	$120,858	$119,321	$125,106

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

180 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges ($19,000), Academy Center of the Arts ($10,000), Coker University ($10,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ACADEMY CENTER OF THE ARTS LYNCHBURG, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$10,000
ANNE SPENCER HOUSE AND GARDEN MUSEUM INC LYNCHBURG, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$1,000
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$1,000
BOONSBORO FIRE AND RESCUE COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$400
BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA COVINGTON, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$1,600
BUCKSKIN COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CHARLESTON, WV	EDUCATIONAL	$2,500
CENTRA HEALTH FOUNDATION LYNCHBURG, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$2,500
COKER UNIVERSITY HARTSVILLE, SC	EDUCATIONAL	$10,000
DECORATIVE ARTS TRUST MEDIA, PA	EDUCATIONAL	$10,000
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT MERRIFIELD, VA	EDUCATIONAL	$400

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
C L CHRISTIAN III	TRUSTEE	—	—

Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 638 Lynchburg, VA 24505-0638

EIN: 51-0172334

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Imperial Charitable Trust fund?

How do I apply for a grant from The Imperial Charitable Trust?

**Grant Activity & Distribution** The Imperial Charitable Trust made 24 grants totaling $118,150 in its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024). Recent grantees include: • Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) — $19,000 (Educational) • United Way of Central Virginia — $10,000 (Educational) • Coker University — $10,000 (Educational) The foundation's grantmaking reflects a consistent commitment to educational organizations and charitable causes aligned with its trustees' pri…

Where does The Imperial Charitable Trust make grants?

What size grants does The Imperial Charitable Trust award?

In 2024, The Imperial Charitable Trust awarded 37 grants totaling $118K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Imperial Charitable Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Imperial Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $121K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.