Wellspring Foundation of Southwest
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest is a private foundation based in Abingdon, Virginia. It began operations on July 1, 2022, and works to enhance the health and wellbeing of residents in Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties through partnerships.
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest at a glance
In short: Wellspring Foundation of Southwest gave $4.9M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $233K), mostly in Virginia. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,885,853
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $232,660
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $36,000
- Total assets
- $179,635,747
- +13.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (84% 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 Wellspring Foundation of Southwest
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website directs applicants to use the electronic application process; letters or other inquiries cannot substitute for a formal application.
- Review Cycle
- The HOPE application cycle listed on the foundation’s website closes October 31, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
- Deadline
- The HOPE application cycle listed on the foundation’s website closes October 31, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
- Next open deadline
- October 31, 2026 (Hope Grant)
- Contact
Mailing address: 851 French Moore Jr Blvd Ste 110, Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 451-2407
Website: https://wellspringva.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Wellspring Foundation of Southwest
Who Wellspring Foundation of Southwest funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Eo Companies ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 49 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated service area is Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties in Virginia. In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to Virginia recipients, 9% to Tennessee, 7% to North Carolina and less than 1% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wellspring Foundation of Southwest open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 21 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 73% 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 filings (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $584K (2023) to $4.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eo Companies Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $2,000,000 |
| Va Highlands Comm College Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $1,000,000 |
| US National Whitewater Center Inc Charlotte, NC | Community Support | $318,000 |
| SW Va Higher Education Center Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $300,000 |
| Ballad Health Johnson City, TN | Community Support | $234,499 |
| Communities in Schools of App High Bristol, VA | Community Support | $227,380 |
| Appalachian Highlands Comm Dental Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $213,699 |
| Fairview Housing Management Corp Johnson City, TN | Community Support | $200,000 |
| United Way of SW VA Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $122,040 |
| Washington County Va Public Schools Abingdon, VA | Community Support | $53,320 |
Ready to take the next step with Wellspring Foundation of Southwest?
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 | $179,635,747 | $27,149,953 | $5,995,493 | $4,885,853 | 21 | $5,737,203 | $3,300,753 | $7,891,083 |
| 2024 | $158,481,087 | $27,149,953 | $5,995,493 | $4,885,853 | 21 | $5,737,972 | $3,300,753 | $7,891,083 |
| 2023 | $137,326,827 | $25,839,844 | $1,550,987 | $584,316 | 7 | $1,370,854 | $2,298,063 | $6,041,817 |
| 2022 | $112,449,531 | $112,913,191 | $463,660 | — | — | — | $471,468 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wellspring Foundation of Southwest reported a distributable amount of $7.9M 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 mission is to enhance the health and wellbeing of Virginia residents in Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties by cultivating goal-oriented partnerships. Its areas of interest are health, children and families, workforce development, education and economic development.
The foundation says it awards grants to IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations and governmental entities serving those counties. It prioritizes projects with tangible community benefits and measurable outcomes; for IMPACT grants, it also prioritizes collaboration, other funding sources, feasibility and sustainability, and objective measures.
Grantee descriptions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. EO Companies says its mission is to strengthen communities through education, workforce development and addressing economic challenges. Ballad Health describes its mission as delivering care and improving health in the Appalachian Highlands region. Fairview Housing Management Corp says it provides affordable housing and services to people in Southern Appalachia.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $4,885,853. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $36,000. The listed grant purposes were “community support.”
Notable 2025 grants included $2,000,000 to EO Companies, $1,000,000 to Virginia Highlands Community College, $318,000 to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, $300,000 to Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, $234,499 to Ballad Health and $200,000 to Fairview Housing Management Corp.
The foundation’s website describes two application options: HOPE grants for one-time project requests up to $50,000, with two cycles each year, and IMPACT grants for single- or multi-year projects totaling more than $50,000, with one application window per year. Applicants are directed to review the relevant guidelines and readiness checklist and complete an application survey before submitting a formal application. IMPACT applicants must also schedule a meeting with the Director of Engagement before applying. Grants are limited to eligible nonprofit organizations and governmental entities serving the four-county area. Restrictions include routine operating expenses, fundraisers, corporate sponsorships, for-profit organizations, individuals, religious purposes, political or lobbying purposes, debt reduction and endowments. The foundation may partially or fully fund requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marvin Gilliam as chair, Dr. Joann Price as vice chair and Thomas Revels as secretary. Other listed board members are William Hayter, Donnie Meadows, Dr. Haytham Adada, Dr. Karen Elmore, Karl Kindig, Elizabeth Lowe and Rev. Kevin Campbell.
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest is led by Marvin Gilliam, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marvin Gilliam
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Stringer
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $101K (2025)
Rusty Little
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$53K (2023) → $135K (2025)
Susan Abel
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$73K (2023) → $81K (2025)
Sean McMurray
Executive Di
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$135K (2022) → $274K (2025)
Donnie Meadows
Board Member
Treasurer → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Haytham Adada
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joann Price
Vice Chair
Director → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Elmore
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Revels
Secretary
Director → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Hayter
Board Member
Chairman → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Lowe
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karl Kindig
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Campbell
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Eric Miller (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Spiegler (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Rachel Fowlkes (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dick Gail (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Gail (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Spiegler (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Bill Hayter (2019–2020) — Chairman
- Former: Amit Vashist (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Brendan McSheehy (2019) — Trustee
- Former: John Patterson (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Kathy Mitchell (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $274K, to Sean McMurray (Executive Di). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wellspring Foundation of Southwest
How much does Wellspring Foundation of Southwest give each year?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest gave $4.9M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.9M across 21 grants.
What is Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's typical grant size?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's median grant in 2025 was $36,000, and its average grant was $232,660, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wellspring Foundation of Southwest give grants?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest gives mostly in Virginia: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (9%) and North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Abingdon, VA (7 grants), Bristol, VA (4 grants), Johnson City, TN (2 grants) and Marion, VA (2 grants).
Does Wellspring Foundation of Southwest give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (21 grants).
Who are Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's largest grantees?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's largest 2025 grantees include Eo Companies ($2,000,000), Va Highlands Comm College ($1,000,000) and US National Whitewater Center Inc ($318,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wellspring Foundation of Southwest?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest reported $179.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.9M (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 Wellspring Foundation of Southwest fund?
The foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellbeing of Virginia residents in Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties by cultivating goal-oriented partnerships. Its areas of interest are health, children and families, workforce development, education and economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wellspring Foundation of Southwest?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's EIN?
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2870970. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Wellspring Foundation of Southwest 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 18, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wellspring Foundation of Southwest funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wellspring-foundation-of-southwest-morg_ccea8817afae4e738a14ca51dd5f856c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262870970_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wellspring Foundation of Southwest funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wellspring-foundation-of-southwest-morg_ccea8817afae4e738a14ca51dd5f856c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Wellspring Foundation of Southwest'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.
Wellspring Foundation of Southwest down — hundreds of funders to go?