The Secular Society
The Secular Society is a private foundation based in Blacksburg, Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports direct charitable activity providing educational and dental services to low-income individuals.
The Secular Society at a glance
In short: The Secular Society reported $1.6M in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $1,650,000 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +29.7% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $9,615,917
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $607,243
- -75.4% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $675,000
- -46.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $102,810
- -93.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Secular Society
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing lists a written description of the project and its benefits to women as the required materials, and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: W Peter Trower
Mailing address: 1105 Highland Circle, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: (540) 953-2249
Email: trower@naxs.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Secular Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 3 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How The Secular Society gives
- Giving grew 4140% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 155% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2021) to $2.2M (2020). In 2025 it reported $1.6M in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Various publicly supported publicly supported Blacksburg, VA | Services to women and other minorities | $1,272,105 |
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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 | $9,615,917 | $607,243 | $102,810 | $1,650,000 | Total only | $675,000 | $504,433 | $436,238 |
| 2024 | $10,484,550 | $2,467,992 | $1,516,110 | $1,272,105 | 1 | $1,272,105 | $2,264,487 | $195,074 |
| 2023 | $7,768,968 | $2,011,865 | $57,148 | — | — | $2,096,000 | $2,149,604 | — |
| 2022 | $8,618,200 | $5,178,560 | $398,191 | $400,000 | 1 | $2,291,191 | $4,970,686 | $125,480 |
| 2021 | $6,152,067 | $5,994,470 | $104,270 | $30,000 | 1 | $1,343,616 | $5,994,470 | $90,283 |
| 2020 | $1,501,013 | $2,323,259 | $207,072 | $2,230,383 | 8 | — | $2,197,780 | $27,566 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Secular Society reported a distributable amount of $436K 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 2025 filing describes educational and dental services for low-income individuals as its direct charitable activity. It does not state a formal mission.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported one grant totaling $1,272,105 in 2024; that was its sole reported grant for the year. It reported no grants in 2023 or 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William P. Trower as CEO.
The Secular Society is led by William P. Trower, CEO on the 2025 filing — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William P. Trower
CEO
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Wilmer E. Seago (2024) — Accountant
- Former: Marcella Griggs (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: W. Eugene Seago (2020–2023) — Accounant
- Former: Peter W. Trower (2023) — President
- Former: David Bullington (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: W. Peter Trower (2020–2022) — President
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 Secular Society
How much does The Secular Society give each year?
The Secular Society reported $1.6M in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 1 grant.
How large is The Secular Society?
The Secular Society reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $675K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $436K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Secular Society fund?
The foundation’s 2025 filing describes educational and dental services for low-income individuals as its direct charitable activity. It does not state a formal mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Secular Society?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Secular Society's EIN?
The Secular Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0765622. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Secular Society 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Secular Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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