George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust
Wheeling, WV · EIN 55-6140783. Reported 190 grants totalling $1,743,700 to 79 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $4,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $3,000 and the largest $50,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mannington Board of Parks and Recreation Committee | Mannington, WV | $225,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Oglebay Foundation Inc | Wheeling, WV | $130,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | $112,000 | 28 | 5 | 2025 |
| Fairmont State University | Fairmont, WV | $72,000 | 18 | 5 | 2025 |
| Blackshere Elementary School | Mannington, WV | $54,100 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| Fairmont Community Youth Development | Fairmont, WV | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Marion County Senior Citizens Inc | Fairmont, WV | $50,000 | 3 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Jude Park | Glen Dale, WV | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Youth Services System Inc | Wheeling, WV | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Crittenton Foundaton Inc | Wheeling, WV | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Morgantown Inc | Morgantown, WV | $40,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Disability Action Center | Fairmont, WV | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Elmhurst the House of Friendship | Wheeling, WV | $32,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| North Marion High School | Farmington, WV | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Bpoe #338 Mannington Elks Lodge | Mannington, WV | $28,100 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Mannington Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund | Mannington, WV | $28,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Celebrate Recovery Mannington | Mannington, WV | $26,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Marion County Humane Society | Fairmont, WV | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| YWCA of Marion County | Fairmont, WV | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Connecting Link Inc | Fairmont, WV | $23,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Blessings From the Basement | Fairmont, WV | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairmont State Foundation Inc | Fairmont, WV | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Milan Puskar Health Right Inc | Morgantown, WV | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| West Augusta Historical Society | Mannington, WV | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| East Fairmont High School | Fairmont, WV | $17,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mannington Main Street Inc | Mannington, WV | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | Buckhannon, WV | $16,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Red Crosscent Appalachia | Charleston, WV | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Augusta Levy Learning Center | Wheeling, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brooke Cemetery Company | Wellsburg, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| City of Wellsburg | Wellsburg, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Crittenton Foundation Inc | Wheeling, WV | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center Inc | Wheeling, WV | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Homestead Farm Center | Grafton, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Idamay Improvement Association | Idamay, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Laughlin Community Center Inc | Wheeling, WV | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Greater Pa and Wv | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Marion County Public Library | Fairmont, WV | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Monongah Elementary School | Monongah, WV | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North Wheeling Youth Center | Wheeling, WV | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairview Food Bank | Fairview, WV | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation | Fairmont, WV | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wheeling Symphony Society | Wheeling, WV | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| City of Fairmont | Fairmont, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center | Wheeling, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Kings Daughters Child Care Center | Wheeling, WV | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mannington Celebrate Recovery | Mannington, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mannington Food Pantry and Clothes Closet Inc | Mannington, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mannington Middle School | Mannington, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Marion County Board of Education | Fairmont, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Marion County Commission | Fairmont, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Marion County Schools | Fairmont, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Monongah | Monongah, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Town of Worthington | Worthington, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| West Fairmont Middle School | Fairmont, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| West Virginia Botanic Garden | Morgantown, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| West Virginia Botanic Gardens Inc | Morgantown, WV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Costal Carolina University Office of Student Accounts | Conway, SC | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mannington Lake Association | Mannington, WV | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Notre Dame | South Bend, IN | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Winfield Community Improvement Association | Fairmont, WV | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jayenne Elementary School | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Learning Options Inc | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Main Street Fairmont Inc | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mannington Womens Club | Mannington, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Marion County 4-H | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Marion County Beekeepers Association | Kingmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity | Morgantown, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pantry Plus More Inc | Morgantown, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Smithtown Community Association | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Matthews Episcopal Church | Wheeling, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Woodlawn Cemetery Company | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Union Rescue Mission | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wheeling Country Day School | Wheeling, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wheeling Health Right | Wheeling, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wv Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum | Fairmont, WV | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Reset Incorporated | Fairmont, WV | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tygart Valley United Way | Fairmont, WV | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Appalachian Outreach | Wheeling, WV | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
38 of 79 (48%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 49%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Oglebay Foundation Inc
WAY-FINDING SIGNAGE PROJECT - Marion County Humane Society
NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION - Crittenton Foundaton Inc
LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND SECURE - Mannington Board of Parks and Recreation Committee
RESURFACE THE POOL INTERIOR - Elmhurst the House of Friendship
DINING ROOM CHAIRS & WICKER - Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center Inc
MEDICAL CARE AND THERAPY TO
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 67 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45 | $350,200 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 35 | $379,500 | $7,500 |
| 2023 | 32 | $306,000 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | $340,000 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 42 | $368,000 | $7,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
98% of its giving went to organizations in West Virginia. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in West Virginia.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV, 26003. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 55-6140783 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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