The Slemp Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,745,865 (FY 2025)
• Total Assets: $28,823,372 (FY 2025)
• Grant Range: $9,000 - $150,000 (based on recent grants)
• Geographic Focus: Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia exclusively
• Established: 1946 (Trust established 1943)
• EIN: 31-6025080

Contact Details

Website: www.slempfoundation.org

Charitable Grants Contact: Nancey Edmonds Smith, Trustee 205 Duntreath Frankfort, KY 40601

General Inquiries: James C. Smith Email: jimsmith1058@gmail.com

Administrative Office: c/o U.S. Bank Trust Division P.O. Box 5208, M.L.: CN-OH-W7PT Cincinnati, OH 45201-5208

Note: Grant requests and scholarship applications received via email will not be accepted. Formal written applications are required.

Overview

The Slemp Foundation is a private foundation established in 1943 through the will of Campbell Bascom Slemp, a six-term U.S. Congressman from Virginia who also served as Secretary to President Calvin Coolidge. Since beginning operations in 1946, the foundation has distributed over $35 million in scholarships, pledges, and charitable grants exclusively benefiting residents of Lee and Wise Counties in southwest Virginia or their descendants. With current assets of approximately $28.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of $1.7 million, the foundation maintains a focused mission to improve health, education, and welfare in this specific geographic region. The foundation also has historical responsibilities for maintaining the Southwest Virginia Museum (formerly the Janie Slemp Newman Museum) and cemetery preservation. Governed by seven trustees who meet three times annually, the foundation reviews hundreds of applications each year and actively visits recipient organizations to monitor the impact of their grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Charitable Grants (Organizations)

• Grant amounts typically range from $9,000 to $150,000
• Recent grants in 2024 totaled over $730,000 across 32 program grants
• Application method: Written submission to trustees for review at quarterly meetings
• No fixed deadline; applications reviewed at three annual trustee meetings

Scholarship Program (Individual Students)

• $2,500 per semester awards (up to 8 semesters maximum)
• 100-150 students funded annually
• Application period: September 8 - October 24 annually
• Online application portal: https://fsrequests.com/slemp
• Decisions announced: End of November
• No funding for graduate degrees

Mini-Grant Program (K-12 Teachers)

• $1,000 grants for STEAM-H education projects
• Up to 10 grants per county (Lee and Wise) annually
• Available through Mountain Empire Community College
• Applications accepted annually in August

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant-making patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Education

• College and university programs (UVA-Wise, Mountain Empire Community College)
• K-12 school infrastructure, equipment, and programs
• Music and arts education programs
• STEAM-H (science, technology, engineering, arts/agriculture, mathematics, health) initiatives

Arts and Culture

• Performing arts programs (concerts, festivals, outdoor dramas)
• Arts education for K-12 students
• Cultural events and venues
• Heritage preservation

Community Services

• Healthcare facilities and programs
• Youth development (4-H, advocacy centers)
• Libraries and educational resources
• Community infrastructure improvements

Historical Preservation

• Southwest Virginia Museum support
• Regional historical facilities
• Cemetery maintenance

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

• UVA-Wise: $50,000 (3-year commitment) for coding camp and student center furniture
• Blue Highway Festival: $150,000 (lead sponsorship)
• ProArt cultural programs: $90,000
• Lee High School: $80,000 for renovations, band uniforms and instruments
• Lonesome Pine Regional Library: $50,000 for climate-controlled records room
• Mountain Empire Community College: $45,000 for scholarship funds
• Lonesome Pine Arts & Crafts: $32,776 for amphitheater upgrades
• Children's Advocacy Center: $28,000 for staffing support
• Wise County 4-H: $28,000 for summer camp
• Lee County Cooperative Extension: $28,000 for programs
• Union High School: $9,216 for music program equipment

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, the following limitations are clear from their guidelines:

Geographic Restrictions

• Must directly benefit residents of Lee or Wise Counties, Virginia, or their descendants
• Organizations outside these two counties are not eligible

Education Restrictions

• No graduate degree scholarships for individual students
• Scholarships limited to undergraduate studies (maximum 8 semesters)

Application Method Restrictions

• Email submissions are explicitly not accepted
• Online scholarship applications only accepted through official portal

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by seven trustees who meet three times annually to review grant and scholarship applications. The trustees emphasize high ethical standards and actively visit recipient organizations and attend supported events to monitor impact.

Current Trustees:

1. Nancey Edmonds Smith (Primary contact for charitable grants)
2. James Campbell Smith (General inquiries contact)
3. Melissa S. Jensen
4. Pamela S. Orcutt
5. Mary Anna Edmonds
6. Melissa Smith Swatzyna
7. Virginia E. Sircy

Historical Context: Three original trustees were appointed by C. Bascom Slemp's will: W. Campbell Edmonds, James Edmonds Slemp, and Grace Powers Estes. John A. Reid, a personal friend of Slemp, was appointed by the First National Bank of Cincinnati and served as a trustee for 55 years.

Foundation Philosophy

According to the trustees: "The trustees demand the highest values and ethics of themselves and therefore expect the same from those applying for grants." They emphasize that "a fair decision is only as fair as the information supplied," underscoring the importance of complete and accurate applications.

The foundation's guiding vision comes from founder C. Bascom Slemp, described as "a man of conviction who used the resources at his command to break the barriers of time, reaching into the future to benefit those around him in Southwest Virginia."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply - Charitable Grants

Application Requirements: Applications must include the following documentation:

1. Organization's name, address, and contact information
2. IRS tax-exempt status letter (501(c) qualification)
3. Organization's stated purposes and activities
4. Names of administrative officers and governing board
5. Most recent balance sheet and annual operating statement
6. Budget percentage derived from other sources
7. Percentage of project costs paid by recipients (if applicable)
8. Specific purpose for the grant request and how it will benefit Lee and Wise County residents
9. Detailed project budget (if applicable)

Submission Address: The Slemp Foundation Nancee Edmonds Smith, Trustee 205 Duntreath Frankfort, KY 40601

Important: Grant requests received via email will NOT be accepted.

Review Process:

• Grant requests are placed on the agenda for the appropriate trustee meeting
• Trustees meet three times annually to review applications
• Trustees may require additional information or recommendations before making decisions
• Trustees may consult with other persons for further evaluation of applications

How to Apply - Scholarships

Eligibility:

• Must be a resident of Lee or Wise Counties, Virginia, OR a descendant of a resident
• Must demonstrate better than average scholarship ability
• Must show unusual promise for the future
• Must demonstrate financial need (unable to provide all funds without assistance)
• Undergraduate studies only (no graduate degrees)
• Maximum 8 semesters of funding

Application Timeline:

• Application opens: September 8 annually
• Application closes: October 24 annually
• Decisions announced: End of November
• Notifications sent: Early December
• Fall semester payments: On or about August 15
• Spring semester payments: On or about December 15

Application Method:

• Online only through: https://fsrequests.com/slemp
• Email applications will NOT be accepted
• For questions, contact proper authorities at the student's school or college

Decision Timeline

Charitable Grants: No specific timeline published. Applications are reviewed at one of three annual trustee meetings throughout the year. Organizations should allow several months for review and decision.

Scholarships: Approximately 6-8 weeks from application deadline to decision notification (late October submission to early December notification).

Final Authority: The foundation emphasizes that "decisions by the Trustees are final after due consideration based on the information made available to them."

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's guidelines state: "The procedure and standards are established by the Trustees but are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Trustees. The Trustees' decision in these matters shall be final and no rights shall enure to persons receiving one or more grants."

This language suggests that:

• Previous grant recipients are not automatically entitled to future funding
• Each application is considered on its own merits
• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply, but there are no guaranteed waiting periods or special considerations
• Multiple grants over time are possible, as evidenced by the foundation's long-term relationships with organizations like UVA-Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, and various K-12 schools

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated values, grant-making patterns, and trustee guidance, successful applications should:

Demonstrate Clear Local Impact

• Explicitly show how the grant will benefit residents of Lee and Wise Counties
• Provide specific outcomes and measurable benefits to the local community
• Connect the project to the foundation's core mission of improving health, education, and welfare

Provide Complete and Accurate Information The foundation explicitly states: "A fair decision is only as fair as the information supplied." This means:

• Submit all required documentation with initial application
• Ensure financial statements are current and accurate
• Provide detailed project budgets with clear line items
• Be transparent about other funding sources

Align with Foundation Priorities Recent grant-making patterns show strong support for:

• Educational infrastructure and programming (largest category of funding)
• Arts and cultural programs that serve the community
• Youth development and K-12 enrichment
• Community facilities and services
• Multi-year commitments for significant projects

Demonstrate Organizational Capacity

• Show strong governance through your board of directors listing
• Provide evidence of financial stability and management
• Demonstrate ability to execute the proposed project
• Show track record of community service

Build Relationships Over Time Many successful grant recipients receive multiple grants over years:

• UVA-Wise receives ongoing support
• Mountain Empire Community College has multi-year funding relationships
• K-12 schools receive repeated grants for different programs
• Cultural organizations like ProArt have sustained funding

Respect Application Protocols

• Do NOT submit applications via email (explicitly prohibited)
• Follow the formal written application process
• Submit to the correct contact person
• Include all required documentation initially

Note on Trustee Discretion The trustees maintain broad discretionary authority and may request additional information or recommendations. They also actively visit recipient organizations and attend supported events, suggesting that demonstrated impact and stewardship of previous grants (if applicable) matters significantly.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Eligibility is Absolute: If your organization does not directly serve Lee or Wise County, Virginia residents, do not apply. This is the foundation's most rigid requirement.

• Follow the Process Exactly: Email submissions are explicitly rejected. Use formal written applications with all required documentation for organizational grants, or the online portal for scholarships only.

• Think Multi-Year: Recent grants show the foundation is willing to make significant, multi-year commitments ($50,000 over three years to UVA-Wise, ongoing relationships with multiple organizations). Don't be afraid to propose ambitious, sustained projects.

• Emphasize Local Impact: Every part of your application should connect back to tangible benefits for Lee and Wise County residents. Use specific numbers, demographics, and outcomes.

• Education and Arts Are Priorities: Recent grant distributions show particularly strong support for educational institutions at all levels and cultural programming. These areas receive the largest individual grants.

• Complete Documentation Matters: The trustees explicitly state that fair decisions depend on complete information. Missing documentation or vague project descriptions will likely result in delays or rejections.

• Plan for Trustee Review Timeline: With only three meetings per year, factor in several months for review. Submit applications well in advance of project timelines.

References

• The Slemp Foundation Official Website. "About Us." https://slempfoundation-org.mcallenphp.net/?page_id=11. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• The Slemp Foundation Official Website. "Charitable Grants." https://slempfoundation-org.mcallenphp.net/?page_id=15. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• The Slemp Foundation Official Website. "First Time Applicants." https://slempfoundation-org.mcallenphp.net/?page_id=89. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• The Slemp Foundation Official Website. "Board of Trustees." https://slempfoundation-org.mcallenphp.net/?page_id=123. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• The Slemp Foundation Official Website. "Campbell Bascom Slemp." https://slempfoundation-org.mcallenphp.net/?page_id=121. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Slemp Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/316025080. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• Candid Foundation Directory. "Slemp Foundation | Foundation Directory." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SLEM001. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• Kingsport Times News. "Slemp Foundation awards $730,000 in grants." May 2024. https://www.timesnews.net/news/slemp-foundation-awards-730-000-in-grants/article_de0eb612-17bf-11ef-ac93-f768fd1f2e33.html. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• Mountain Empire Community College. "The Slemp Foundation Mini-Grant." https://www.mecc.edu/mini-grant. Accessed February 11, 2026.

• Virginia Star. "MECC, Slemp Foundation Announce 2024 Grant Awards for Wise, Lee K-12 Teachers, MECC Instructors." 2024. https://www.virginiastar.net/articles/mecc-slemp-foundation-announce-2024-grant-awards-for-wise-lee-k-12-teachers-mecc-instructors/. Accessed February 11, 2026.