The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Its website states that its mission is helping the children of Morgan County, West Virginia.
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation at a glance
In short: The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation gave $381K across 34 grants in 2026 (avg $11K), mostly in West Virginia. 26% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $381,202
- +5.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 34
- -15.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $11,212
- +23.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,738,519
- +1.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (9 of 34, 2026)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (95% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The 2026 website materials describe an application process for organizations helping Morgan County children, with preapproval by letter of intent required for first-time applicants. The filing statement says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application deadline was May 1, 2026, a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application deadline was May 1, 2026, a past cycle.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 87, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Phone: (304) 258-9794
Website: https://seelyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Morgan County Starting Points ($65K). Together the top 10 received $252K.
Grant Size Distribution
175 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 175 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2026 filing reports that 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia and 5% to recipients in Virginia. The foundation’s website identifies helping children of Morgan County, West Virginia, as its mission.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 9 of 34 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 56% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+15%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 154% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $161K (2020) to $381K (2026). In 2026 it made 34 grants totaling $381K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan County Starting Points Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $64,984 |
| Warm SPGS Intermedate Sch Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $31,866 |
| Blackcat Music Cooperative Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contributon | $28,890 |
| Pleasant View Elem School Hedgesville, WV | General Contribution | $24,676 |
| CASA Ep Martinsburg, WV | General Contribution | $20,000 |
| Morgan Co Partnership Winchester, VA | General Contribution | $20,000 |
| Berkeley Springs High School Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $19,392 |
| Morgan County Observatory Foundatio Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $14,590 |
| Morgan Arts Council Berkeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $14,000 |
| Wind Dance Earth Ed CNT Bekeley Springs, WV | General Contribution | $14,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $4,738,519 | $496,649 | $432,831 | $381,202 | 34 | $397,013 | $470,351 | $257,572 |
| 2025 | $4,679,949 | $448,641 | $410,695 | $361,874 | 40 | $376,832 | $423,422 | $245,168 |
| 2024 | $4,645,683 | $993,919 | $394,525 | $346,931 | 35 | $360,274 | $263,702 | $231,147 |
| 2023 | $4,048,720 | $339,067 | $371,686 | $330,997 | 33 | $342,883 | $216,408 | $196,900 |
| 2022 | $4,090,273 | $633,037 | $321,088 | $282,682 | 33 | $293,563 | $510,387 | $227,453 |
| 2021 | $3,782,151 | $519,000 | $350,375 | $319,115 | 31 | — | $378,895 | $206,653 |
| 2020 | $3,621,928 | $1,834,449 | $185,569 | $160,779 | 18 | — | $334,417 | $167,708 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation reported a distributable amount of $258K for 2026 — 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 mission is to help Morgan County children. Its 2026 guidelines invite applications from organizations helping those children. Recipients in the 2026 filing include schools, libraries, youth and family organizations, and arts groups. Morgan Arts Council, which received $14,000, describes its own mission as offering artistic creativity in a welcoming environment that brings inspiration and joy.
Grantmaking
The 2026 filing reports 34 grants totaling $381,202. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $64,984, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $64,984 to Morgan County Starting Points, $31,866 to Warm Springs Intermediate School, $28,890 to Blackcat Music Cooperative, and $24,676 to Pleasant View Elementary School. Other notable grants were $20,000 each to CASA EP and Morgan County Partnership, and $19,392 to Berkeley Springs High School.
The foundation’s 2026 guidelines state that grants range from $100 to $10,000. First-time applicants must submit a letter of intent and receive approval before applying. Morgan County Schools applicants are asked to share applications with their school principal, who will be asked to prioritize requests from that school. The foundation and the Seely Foundation Paradox Fund state that they do not discriminate in grantmaking based on listed characteristics including race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or military status.
The foundation’s statement on its 2025 filing says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Jackie Gandy as president, Monna Lea Hurst as vice president, Gat Caperton as secretary, and Barbara Pichot as treasurer. Directors listed are Susan Caperton, Nancy Kesecker Pearse, Mark Harrell, Linda McGraw, and Kathy Yost.
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation is led by Jackie Gandy, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Jackie Gandy
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy Kesecker Pearse
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan Caperton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathy Yost
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Linda McGraw
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mark Harrell
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Barbara Pichot
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gat Caperton
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Monna Lea Hurst
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation
How much does The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation give each year?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation gave $381K across 34 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $362K across 40 grants.
What is The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's typical grant size?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,212, across 34 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation give grants?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation gives mostly in West Virginia: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Berkeley Springs, WV (25 grants), Paw Paw, WV (3 grants) and Martinsburg, WV (2 grants).
Does The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's largest grantees?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Morgan County Starting Points ($64,984), Warm SPGS Intermedate Sch ($31,866) and Blackcat Music Cooperative ($28,890), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $397K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $258K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to help Morgan County children. Its 2026 guidelines invite applications from organizations helping those children. Recipients in the 2026 filing include schools, libraries, youth and family organizations, and arts groups. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation?
The 2026 website materials describe an application process for organizations helping Morgan County children, with preapproval by letter of intent required for first-time applicants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's EIN?
The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0755475. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does The Tom & Virginia Seely 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tom-and-virginia-seely-foundation-morg_1e3abee40b644ab2b1e9c52a532fa70c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_550755475_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tom \& Virginia Seely Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tom-and-virginia-seely-foundation-morg_1e3abee40b644ab2b1e9c52a532fa70c},
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 Tom & Virginia Seely 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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