The James W and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Foundation is a private foundation established by James W. McGlothlin, founder and CEO of The United Company, and his wife Frances Gibson McGlothlin. Based in Bristol, Virginia, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on improving communities through philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$61.7M
+17.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
+49.0% YoY
Grant Count
36
+44.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$115K
+3.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James W and Frances Gibson reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Higher Education Support — Scholarships and endowed chairs at universities
- Healthcare — Medical student scholarships and healthcare initiatives
- The Arts — Cultural programming and support
- Youth Services — The Camp for Kids program, which sends foster children, underprivileged and at-risk children to week-long Christian value summer camps providing safe haven environments in nurturing atmospheres
- Capital Projects and Infrastructure Development — Support for community infrastructure improvements
The foundation also provides funding for teaching award funds, leadership forum funds, general support, and responses to current community needs.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made to preselected charitable organizations by invitation only.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $25,000,000
Average Grant
$111,591
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in:
- Southwest Virginia
- Eastern Kentucky
- Northeast Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $61,690,026
- Total Revenue: $9,928,819
- Total Expenses: $5,356,324
- Total Liabilities: $298,000
- Number of Employees: 1
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $51,824,421
- Annual Giving: $2,789,784
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,690,026 | $52,382,939 | $50,108,022 |
| Revenue | $9,928,819 | $2,862,404 | $10,173,528 |
| Expenses | $5,356,324 | $3,850,369 | $3,666,213 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,394,547 | $3,021,179 | $3,256,661 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,922,782 | $2,604,335 | $4,971,587 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,840,300 | $2,481,764 | $2,291,582 |
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
142 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Appalacian College of Pharmacy ($1,000,000), William & Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law Foundation ($626,117), William & Mary Business School Foundation ($625,991).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOC INC CHARLOTTE, NC | SUPPORT 2024 WALK FUNDRAISER | $2,000 |
| APPALACHIAN LITERACY INITIATIVE BRISTOL, TN | SERVE UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN WITH BOOKS | $10,000 |
| APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW GRUNDY, VA | ASSIST LAW SCHOOL IN HIRING PROFESSORS, PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCREASING BAR PASSAGE, PROGRAMMING AND BUILDING | $100,000 |
| APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW GRUNDY, VA | ASSIST LAW SCHOOL IN HIRING PROFESSORS, PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCREASING BAR PASSAGE | $10,000 |
| APPALACIAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OAKWOOD, VA | PHARMACY EDUCATION TO ADDRESS HEALTH-RELATED NEEDS TO RURAL & UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES | $1,000,000 |
| ASCENSION ST VINCENT FOUNDATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT - PEYTON MANNING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | $15,000 |
| BACKPACK BLESSINGS INC GRUNDY, VA | BACKPACK PROGRAM OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, VA | $5,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA JOHNSON CITY, TN | SEQUOYAH COUNCIL CAPITAL PROGRAM - CAMP DAVY CROCKETT AND GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA JOHNSON CITY, TN | CAMP DAVEY CROCKETT | $25,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL APPALACHIA GRUNDY, VA | SUPPORT STEM, SIMULATED WORKFORCE PROGRAMS; ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James W. McGlothlin founded the foundation and served as its principal leader. He was the founder and CEO of The United Company and was recognized as Virginia Business Person of the Year in 2022 for his business acumen and extensive philanthropy. McGlothlin passed away in August 2025 at age 85.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES W MCGLOTHLIN | CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FRANCES G MCGLOTHLIN | VICE CHAIRMAN/VP/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ISRAEL D O'QUINN | PRESIDENT/CEO/DIRECTOR | 5 | $53,250 |
| BARBARA BJERKE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE DAVIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 10 | $37,500 |
| SAM F EWING | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LOIS A CLARKE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARTIN L KENT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| R BRAD MARTIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARTHA MCGLOTHLIN BOWMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FAY H STREET | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 295 United Ave, Bristol, VA 24201-3389 (also listed as 1005 Glenway Avenue, Bristol, VA 24201)
- Phone: 276-645-1436 or 276-645-1448
- Website: www.themcglothlinfoundation.com
- EIN: 26-3533035
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), ruling year 2009
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James W and Frances Gibson fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • **Higher Education Support** — Scholarships and endowed chairs at universities • **Healthcare** — Medical student scholarships and healthcare initiatives • **The Arts** — Cultural programming and support • **Youth Services** — The Camp for Kids program, which sends foster children, underprivileged and at-risk children to week-long Christian value summer camps providing safe haven environments in nurturing atmospheres • **Capital Projects an…
How do I apply for a grant from The James W and Frances Gibson?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 25 grants in 2023 • Annual giving: $2,789,784 (2023) • Grant range: $5,000 to $25,000,000 • Average grant size: $111,591 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • William and Mary Law School Foundation: $626,117 (Scholarship Fund) • MCV Foundation: $375,000 (Scholarship Funds for Medical Students) • Johns Hopkins University: Grant amount listed (specific amount not fully visible in source) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Gra…
Where does The James W and Frances Gibson make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in: • Southwest Virginia • Eastern Kentucky • Northeast Tennessee
What size grants does The James W and Frances Gibson award?
In 2024, The James W and Frances Gibson awarded 36 grants totaling $4.2M — an average of about $115K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James W and Frances Gibson required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James W and Frances Gibson reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James W and Frances Gibson's EIN?
The James W and Frances Gibson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3533035. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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