The Micawber Foundation
The Micawber Foundation is a private foundation based in Midlothian, Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports 20 grants totaling $17,500, and the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
The Micawber Foundation at a glance
In short: The Micawber Foundation gave $18K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $875), mostly in Virginia. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,500
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $875
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $360,373
- -0.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Micawber Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 13530 Stonegate Rd, Midlothian, VA 23113
Phone: (804) 379-7508
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Micawber Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Himalayan Foundation ($2K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 96 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 14% to California, 11% to New York, 9% to Minnesota, and 6% to New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Micawber Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 20 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $375; repeat grants $931. How we count
Medians: $375 first-time, $875 repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2025) to $23K (2020). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Himalayan Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Support | $2,000 |
| VPM Media Corporation Richmond, VA | General Support | $2,000 |
| Give Hope 2 Kids Waconia, MN | General Support | $1,500 |
| Breast Cancer Research Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield Midlothian, VA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Our Laughter in the Rain Glen Allen, VA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Support | $1,000 |
| Richmond Montessori School Richmond, VA | General Support | $1,000 |
| University of Dublin Fund New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| Collegiate School Richmond, VA | General Support | $750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $360,373 | $15,764 | $19,142 | $17,500 | 20 | $17,500 | $15,764 | $19,674 |
| 2024 | $360,584 | $21,175 | $23,825 | $21,500 | 20 | $21,500 | $21,175 | $19,395 |
| 2023 | $362,234 | $11,351 | $22,382 | $21,100 | 19 | $21,100 | $14,354 | $19,193 |
| 2022 | $373,265 | $-23,538 | $22,963 | $21,600 | 19 | $21,600 | $13,671 | $20,205 |
| 2021 | $422,446 | $36,305 | $23,596 | $22,350 | 18 | $22,350 | $36,305 | $22,261 |
| 2020 | $407,825 | $-3,848 | $25,186 | $23,100 | 18 | — | $19,316 | $20,858 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Micawber Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including schools, universities, a media corporation, a science museum fundraising partner, and humanitarian and child-focused organizations.
The grantees describe their work in varied terms: VPM Media Corporation says it uses public television and radio to educate, entertain, and inspire communities in central Virginia and other regions. Give Hope 2 Kids says it provides shelter, education, and a stable family upbringing for orphaned and abandoned children. The University of Dublin Fund says it supports the educational purposes of Trinity College. Richmond Montessori School says it provides Montessori-based education for children ages 18 months to 14. The Science Museum of Virginia Foundation says it raises funds for the Science Museum of Virginia, whose stated purpose is to raise public understanding of science and technology throughout the Commonwealth.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 20 grants totaling $17,500. Grants ranged from $350 to $2,000, with a median of $750. Its largest grants included $2,000 to American Himalayan Foundation and $2,000 to VPM Media Corporation; $1,500 to Give Hope 2 Kids; and $1,000 each to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield, Our Laughter in the Rain, Princeton University, Richmond Montessori School, and University of Dublin Fund. The listed grants were designated for general support.
Other reported 2025 awards included $750 each to Collegiate School, Science Museum of Virginia Foundation, and St Catherine’s School Foundation. The foundation also gave $500 to University of Hartford and $400 to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Needham B Whitfield as president and treasurer; Maha S Whitfield as secretary; Julia A Auerbach and Sophia N Whitfield as vice-presidents; and Alexander A Whitfield as director.
The Micawber Foundation is led by Needham B. Whitfield, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Needham B. Whitfield
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander A. Whitfield
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julia A. Auerbach
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Maha S. Whitfield
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sophia N. Whitfield
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Micawber Foundation
How much does The Micawber Foundation give each year?
The Micawber Foundation gave $18K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22K across 20 grants.
What is The Micawber Foundation's typical grant size?
The Micawber Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $750, and its average grant was $875, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Micawber Foundation that year got $375 on average.
Where does The Micawber Foundation give grants?
The Micawber Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (14%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (10 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Micawber Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Micawber Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Micawber Foundation's largest grantees?
The Micawber Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Himalayan Foundation ($2,000), VPM Media Corporation ($2,000) and Give Hope 2 Kids ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Micawber Foundation?
The Micawber Foundation reported $360K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (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 does The Micawber Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including schools, universities, a media corporation, a science museum fundraising partner, and humanitarian and child-focused organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Micawber Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Micawber Foundation's EIN?
The Micawber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1004777. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Micawber Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from The Micawber 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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