The Slemp Foundation
The Slemp Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established through the will of Campbell Bascom Slemp, a U.S. Congressman from Virginia. It supports the health, education, and welfare of people connected to Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia, as well as local heritage and historic sites.
The Slemp Foundation at a glance
In short: The Slemp Foundation gave $1.3M across 263 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,312,584
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 263
- +74.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,991
- -49.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $28,823,372
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Slemp Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for information about materials to submit. Scholarship applicants must be residents of Lee or Wise County, Virginia, or descendants of residents of either county.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists scholarship deadlines of October 31 for new students and July 15 for returning students for the following fall semester. No charitable-grant deadline is listed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists scholarship deadlines of October 31 for new students and July 15 for returning students for the…
- Contact
Application contact: Nancey Edmonds Smith Trustee
Mailing address: 205 Duntreath, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://www.slempfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Slemp Foundation
Who The Slemp Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Virginias College at Wise Founda ($310K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $968K.
Organizations only. It also paid 119 individual scholarships ($148,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
547 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 525 grants of 547 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated purposes center on Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia. In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 7% to recipients in Tennessee; the filing also lists recipients in Idaho, Ohio, and Massachusetts, each accounting for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 263 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Slemp Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 112% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2021) to $1.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 263 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historica Big Stone Gap, VA | enhancements fund for the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park | $275,000 |
| The University of Virginias College at Wise Founda Wise, VA | The C. Bascom Slemp Experiential Bicentennial Scholars fund | $200,000 |
| The University of Virginias College at Wise Founda Wise, VA | Appalachian Writing Program | $100,000 |
| Pro-Art Association a Chapter of the Virginia Muse Wise, VA | W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series; Wise Co. Public Schools Programs; Lee County Schools and Community Programming | $90,000 |
| William King Museum of Art Abingdon, VA | VanGogh Outreach and Heritage Express Programming in lee and wise counties | $38,500 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation Inc Blacksburg, VA | 4-H Camp and Additional Programming - Wise County, Virginia | $35,000 |
| Symphony of the Mountains Kingsport, TN | 2024-25 Lee and Wise Counties Concert Series | $30,000 |
| Thomas Walker High Ewing, VA | Update Library Facilities | $26,000 |
| Mountain Empire Older Citizens Inc Big Stone Gap, VA | Funding for CAC traveling positions | $25,000 |
| Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historica Big Stone Gap, VA | the 2025 Gathering at the Gap Music Festival | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Slemp Foundation?
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 | $28,823,372 | $3,045,993 | $2,240,199 | $1,312,584 | 263 | $1,745,865 | $2,824,067 | $1,559,822 |
| 2024 | $28,017,578 | $2,168,818 | $2,429,305 | $1,493,047 | 151 | $1,887,011 | $1,643,924 | $1,498,800 |
| 2023 | $28,274,112 | $14,620,097 | $1,945,790 | $1,528,147 | 129 | $1,775,231 | $14,473,445 | $1,255,149 |
| 2022 | $15,591,398 | $1,073,673 | $1,942,511 | $1,562,141 | 2 | $1,731,343 | $866,368 | $1,653,886 |
| 2021 | $16,465,208 | $1,145,734 | $1,389,129 | $1,067,742 | 2 | — | $972,610 | $1,482,887 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Slemp Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes the purposes set out in Congressman Slemp’s will: improving the health, education, and welfare of residents of Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia, or their descendants; caring for, maintaining, and developing the Janie Slemp Newman Museum, now the Southwest Virginia Museum; and caring for and maintaining the Slemp Cemetery and Seminary Methodist Church in Lee County.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes direct charitable activity involving maintenance, preservation, documentation, and public education about the historical significance of a cemetery in Lee County. Its 2025 grants included support for museums, arts programs, schools, libraries, and higher education. For example, the William King Museum of Art describes its mission as providing art exhibits and education to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Symphony of the Mountains describes its mission as offering musical entertainment and education and enriching cultural experiences in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 263 grants totaling $1,312,584. Grant amounts ranged from $711 to $275,000, with a median of $1,250.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $275,000 to Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical for enhancements to the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park; $200,000 to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise Foundation for the C. Bascom Slemp Experiential Bicentennial Scholars fund; and $100,000 to the same foundation for the Appalachian Writing Program. Other grants included $90,000 to Pro-Art Association for concert and school and community programming; $38,500 to the William King Museum of Art for VanGogh Outreach and Heritage Express Programming in Lee and Wise Counties; and $35,000 to Virginia Tech Foundation for 4-H camp and additional programming in Wise County.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that charitable grants must benefit residents of Lee or Wise Counties, Virginia. The 2025 grant program description says applicants must have an IRS letter qualifying the organization as tax-exempt under Section 501(c), and that grants are for charitable and educational purposes benefiting the community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary A. Edmonds, Melissa S. Jensen, Pamela Orcutt, Virginia E. Sircy, James C. Smith, Nancey E. Smith, and Melissa S. Swatzyna as trustees.
The Slemp Foundation's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; all 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James C Smith
Trustee
Trustee → Executive Director & Trustee, 2023
Executive Director & Trustee → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $140K (2025)
Mary A Edmonds
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Melissa S Jensen
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Nancey E Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Pamela S. Orcutt
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$20K (2021) → $18K (2025)
Virginia E Sircy
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$200 (2022) → $19K (2025)
Melissa S Swatzyna
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$21K (2023) → $19K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Melissa Ann Smith (2021–2022) — Trustee
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 $140K, to James C Smith (Trustee). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Slemp Foundation
How much does The Slemp Foundation give each year?
The Slemp Foundation gave $1.3M across 263 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 151 grants.
What is The Slemp Foundation's typical grant size?
The Slemp Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $4,991, across 263 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Slemp Foundation give grants?
The Slemp Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Big Stone Gap, VA (32 grants), Wise, VA (22 grants), Coeburn, VA (10 grants) and Jonesville, VA (9 grants).
Does The Slemp Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Slemp Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 263) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Grant" (226 grants).
Who are The Slemp Foundation's largest grantees?
The Slemp Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Virginias College at Wise Founda ($310,000 across 3 grants), Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historica ($295,000 across 2 grants) and Pro-Art Association a Chapter of the Virginia Muse ($108,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 119 individual scholarships ($148,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Slemp Foundation?
The Slemp Foundation reported $28.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Slemp Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes the purposes set out in Congressman Slemp’s will: improving the health, education, and welfare of residents of Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia, or their descendants; caring for, maintaining, and developing the Janie Slemp Newman Museum, now the Southwest Virginia Museum; and caring for and maintaining the Slemp Cemetery and Seminary Methodist Church in Lee County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Slemp Foundation?
The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for information about materials to submit. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Slemp Foundation's EIN?
The Slemp Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6025080. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Slemp Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Slemp Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-slemp-foundation-morg_322bc13bcdc243ba89c855c328f9d1b9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_316025080_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Slemp Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-slemp-foundation-morg_322bc13bcdc243ba89c855c328f9d1b9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Slemp 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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