The Rapha Foundation
The Rapha Foundation is a private foundation based in Wise, Virginia. It supports projects and programs advancing population health or educational initiatives in Wise County, Dickenson County, and the City of Norton.
The Rapha Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rapha Foundation gave $1.8M across 59 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Virginia. 51% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,824,605
- +25.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 59
- +28.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,926
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $47,900,331
- +2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 51% first-time grantees (24 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (99% 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 Rapha Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website invites applicants to complete its grant application and review its grant guidelines. The Executive Director reviews applications and notifies applicants whether their requests qualify for consideration. Applicants whose requests are accepted for consideration may be asked for additional materials, such as a project budget, financial statements, board or leadership lists, an audit, or an IRS Form 990. The foundation says applications are not guaranteed an award and asks applicants not to contact board or Grants Committee members about applications. It does not make grants to individuals; government entities for typical financial responsibilities; religious organizations for religious purposes; certain endowments; fundraisers or ticketed events; political or lobbying activities; debt reduction; requests that would supplant other funds; an applicant’s employment; feasibility studies; or infrastructure removal, replacement, repair, or installation.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Vanover
Mailing address: PO Box 3996, Wise, VA 24293
Phone: (276) 325-9745
Email: mvanover@rapha.foundation
Website: https://rapha.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rapha Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Advocacy Center (Meoc) ($155K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($175,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 142 grants of 174 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s application page identifies Wise County, Dickenson County, and the City of Norton as its grantmaking area. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 1% to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Rapha Foundation open to new grantees?
51%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 47 grantees (51%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 218% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 84% 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 (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $420K (2021) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 59 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Advocacy Center (Meoc) Big Stone Gap, VA | Children's Advocacy Center | $155,000 |
| Communities in Schools Bristol, VA | Education / at-Risk Programs | $150,000 |
| Family Crisis Support Services Norton, VA | Hope Haven Facility | $100,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of SWVA Marion, VA | Conservator Program | $100,000 |
| Mountain Empire Comm College Big Stone Gap, VA | Ampitheater | $100,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $175,000 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation Blacksburg, VA | Autism Support & Resources | $87,140 |
| Wise County Christian School Wise, VA | Liberty Univ. on-Line Academy | $55,000 |
| Coeburn Middle School Coeburn, VA | Literacy Project | $51,000 |
| Mountain Empire Older Citizens Big Stone Gap, VA | Emergency Fuel Fund | $50,000 |
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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 | $47,900,331 | $2,071,869 | $2,257,411 | $1,824,605 | 59 | $1,903,056 | $1,835,203 | $2,277,297 |
| 2024 | $46,565,427 | $1,054,569 | $1,524,233 | $1,458,681 | 46 | $1,537,360 | $899,960 | $1,894,011 |
| 2023 | $42,247,899 | $897,588 | $2,020,369 | $1,445,652 | 34 | $1,547,655 | $789,468 | $1,562,161 |
| 2022 | $43,999,787 | $716,414 | $1,728,447 | $573,700 | 19 | $659,424 | $708,096 | $1,505,248 |
| 2021 | $46,382,770 | $1,108,662 | $889,074 | $419,796 | 16 | — | $1,024,727 | $1,101,776 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rapha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M 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 stated aim is to improve population health and access to education across Southwest Virginia. Its application page says grants support projects or programs that advance population health or educational initiatives in Wise County, Dickenson County, and the City of Norton.
Its 2025 grants included support for education and at-risk programs, scholarships, literacy, a children’s advocacy center, a domestic-violence support facility, legal aid, autism support, and an emergency fuel fund. Among the grantees, Communities in Schools describes its mission as surrounding students with community support so they can stay in school and achieve in life. Family Crisis Support Services says it provides support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence. Appalachian Sustainable Development describes its work as educating residents and farmers about organic farming and forestry conservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 59 grants totaling $1,824,605. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $155,000, with a median award of $20,000.
Notable 2025 awards included $155,000 to Children’s Advocacy Center (MEOC) for a children’s advocacy center; $150,000 to Communities in Schools for education and at-risk programs; $100,000 to Family Crisis Support Services for the Hope Haven facility; $100,000 to Legal Aid Society of SWVA for its conservator program; and $100,000 each to an individual recipient Community College for an amphitheater and an individual recipient for a scholarship. Other reported awards included $87,140 to Virginia Tech Foundation for autism support and resources, $55,000 to Wise County Christian School for Liberty University’s online academy, and $51,000 to Coeburn Middle School for a literacy project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Charles Ward as Chairman, Valerie Lawson as Vice Chair, Ernie Ward as Secretary/Treasurer, and Dr. Matthew Cusano, Fred Ramey, and Larry Barton as directors. Mark Vanover is listed as Executive Director.
The Rapha Foundation is led by Mark Vanover, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Vanover
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $125K (2025)
Charles Ward
Chairman
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Cusano MD
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Ramey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Barton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ernie Ward
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Lawson
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Bill Wampler (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Charles Slemp (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert Leonard (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jim Manicure (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Matthew Wilson MD (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $125K, to Mark Vanover (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Rapha Foundation
How much does The Rapha Foundation give each year?
The Rapha Foundation gave $1.8M across 59 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 46 grants.
What is The Rapha Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rapha Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $30,926, across 59 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rapha Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does The Rapha Foundation give grants?
The Rapha Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norton, VA (12 grants), Wise, VA (11 grants), Big Stone Gap, VA (10 grants) and Clintwood, VA (5 grants).
Does The Rapha Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 59 grants with a stated purpose on The Rapha Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Food Insecurities" (7 grants) and "Angel Tree Program" (7 grants).
Who are The Rapha Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rapha Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Advocacy Center (Meoc) ($155,000), Communities in Schools ($150,000) and Mountain Empire Older Citizens ($139,665 across 4 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($175,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Rapha Foundation?
The Rapha Foundation reported $47.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (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 Rapha Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to improve population health and access to education across Southwest Virginia. Its application page says grants support projects or programs that advance population health or educational initiatives in Wise County, Dickenson County, and the City of Norton. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rapha Foundation?
The foundation’s website invites applicants to complete its grant application and review its grant guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rapha Foundation's EIN?
The Rapha Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2002314. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Rapha Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rapha-foundation-morg_c68f6898bebe43308fbed93ae8067a37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_542002314_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rapha Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rapha-foundation-morg_c68f6898bebe43308fbed93ae8067a37},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Rapha 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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