The McGee Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Charleston, WV EIN: 55-0720406

The McGee Foundation is a private foundation, based in Charleston, WV. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $17.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $539K. Net investment income was $1.6M.

The McGee Foundation at a glance

In short: The McGee Foundation gave $539K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $77K), mostly in West Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$538,703
-7.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
7
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$76,958
-7.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$100,000
Total assets
$17,278,435
+5.2% vs 2023
Primary geography
West Virginia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The McGee Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

Greater Kanawha Valley: $160KGreater Kanawha Valley$160KGlenville State University: $100KGlenville State University$100KBluefield State University: $100KBluefield State University$100KKanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy: $10KKanawha Valley Council onPhilanthropy$10KPhilanthropy West Virginia: $3KPhilanthropy West Virginia$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Greater Kanawha Valley ($160K). Together the top 5 received $373K.

Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($166,203), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

32 grants across all recorded years

8<$50K5$50–100K18$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 18 grants of 32 (56%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

CharlestonBluefieldGlenvilleClaremontMorgantownSilver SpringInstituteMount Gay

How The McGee Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K6 grants2020 6 grants2021 6 grants2022 7 grants2023 7 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $503K (2020) to $680K (2021). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $539K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Greater Kanawha Valley Charleston, WVDeveloping, improving, and restoring economic vitality in the west side community$160,000
2 individual scholarships Recipients not named —$166,203
Glenville State University Glenville, WVDirect Benefit for Students Through Needs Based Scholarships$100,000
Bluefield State University Bluefield, WVDirect Benefit for Students Through Needs Based Scholarships$100,000
Kanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy Charleston, WVDeveloping, improving, and restoring economic vitality in the west side community$10,000
Philanthropy West Virginia Morgantown, WVPromoting philanthropy throughout West Virginia and across the nation$2,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$17,278,435$1,777,476$1,062,869$538,7037$815,663$1,591,549$985,654
2023$16,421,363$313,927$1,239,443$581,0097$941,771$137,741$930,154
2022$17,218,477$1,123,169$1,109,695$572,7636$835,196$965,937$926,693
2021$17,206,041$5,787,348$1,035,561$680,2456$855,103$5,620,350$849,584
2020$13,148,116$121,714$804,827$503,0826——$759,977

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McGee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $986K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The McGee Foundation is led by William Deberniere Mebane Jr., Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William Deberniere Mebane Jr.

    Chairman & President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2020) → $15K (2024)

  • Emory Kinder Wright

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2022) → $8K (2024)

  • Christopher Alexander

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    $6K (2022) → $8K (2024)

  • J. Michael Hines

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2020) → $8K (2024)

  • John Kuykendall

    Director Emeritus

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2022) → $8K (2024)

  • Stephen E. Kawash CPA

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: John Kuykendall Davidson College (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Emory Kinder (2021) — Director
  • Former: Stephen E. Kawash Brown Edwards Co (2020) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

William Deberniere Mebane Jr — Chairman & President: $15KWilliam Deberniere…Chairman & President$15KJ Michael Hines — Secretary: $8KJ Michael HinesSecretary$8KJohn Kuykendall — Director Emeritus: $8KJohn KuykendallDirector Emeritus$8KEmory Kinder Wright — Director: $8KEmory Kinder WrightDirector$8KChristopher Alexander — Director: $8KChristopher AlexanderDirector$8K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $15K, to William Deberniere Mebane Jr (Chairman & President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The McGee Foundation

How much does The McGee Foundation give each year?

The McGee Foundation gave $539K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $581K across 7 grants.

What is The McGee Foundation's typical grant size?

The McGee Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $76,958, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The McGee Foundation give grants?

The McGee Foundation gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, WV (2 grants).

Does The McGee Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The McGee Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Direct Benefit for Students Through Needs Based Scholarships" (4 grants).

Who are The McGee Foundation's largest grantees?

The McGee Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Greater Kanawha Valley ($160,000), Glenville State University ($100,000) and Bluefield State University ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($166,203), which are not listed by name. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The McGee Foundation?

The McGee Foundation reported $17.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $816K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $986K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is The McGee Foundation's EIN?

The McGee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0720406. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The McGee Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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