The McGlothlin Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 54-1907305 · since 1998themcglothlinfoundation.com·Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$795k

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $150k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$45,000

Typical grant (median)

15 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your organisation works in higher education, healthcare or the arts on a capital project such as a building, the foundation's stated focus fits, in Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee.
Half of its 51 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less, so a request near that level is realistic, though its largest grant was $180,000.
Begin with a written letter of inquiry, and only if it describes a project of interest go on to the full proposal guidelines; proposals are accepted from January through April, and applications must be received by April 30.
The foundation is relationship-led: 99% of its grant dollars to organisations in the filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, and a visit is required if you are unknown to it.
It prefers to consider organisations only after any existing award has expired, so check that first, and do not apply if you are a private foundation, an individual, or seeking a grant of a political nature.

Overview

The McGlothlin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bristol, VA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The McGlothlin Foundation directs philanthropy to worthy causes in higher education, healthcare and the arts, with projects located within Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee. It makes grants to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organisations that are not private foundations. Its primary interest is infrastructure and brick-and-mortar projects, though it also considers programme proposals. In higher education, it gives primary concern to private institutions, with some consideration for state-supported colleges and universities; in healthcare, it supports hospitals and healthcare foundations with capital projects; and in the arts, it supports theatres and museums for capital projects. Applicants begin with a written letter of inquiry, after which a project of interest may proceed to the guidelines for a full proposal.

Themes

Higher education
Healthcare
Arts
Capital projects

Geographic Focus

Priority: Southwest Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Northeast Tennessee.

What They Don't Fund

Private foundations
Individuals
Grants of a political nature
Become part of your budget

How to apply

Applicants begin with a letter of inquiry. If it describes a project of interest, they may proceed to the guidelines for a full proposal.

Deadlines:

Proposals are accepted from January through April.
Grant applications must be received by April 30.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 51 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Its primary interest is infrastructure and brick-and-mortar projects, though it also considers programmatic proposals.
For higher education, it gives primary concern to private institutions, with some consideration for state-supported colleges and universities.
It prefers to consider organisations only after the grant period for any existing award has expired.
A visit is required if the applicant is unknown to the Foundation.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Virginia89%

Tennessee9%

Kentucky2%

The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations The McGlothlin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

15 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $45,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k7%

$1k–$2.5k0%

$2.5k–$5k7%

$5k–$10k27%

$10k–$25k7%

$25k–$50k7%

$50k–$100k20%

$100k–$250k27%

Median $45,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Mountain Mission School · Endowment Fund
$165,0002024 tax year
Appalachian College of Pharmacy · Assist with town renovations
$150,0002024 tax year
Emory Henry College · Replace auditorium sound board & light fixtures
$142,0002024 tax year
William King Art Center · McGlothlin Series Exhibitions
$100,0002024 tax year
Sunset Holler · New amphitheater
$50,0002024 tax year
Boys Girls Club of Central Appala · Support Workforce Devel with STEAM programs
$50,0002024 tax year
Radford University · McGlothlin International Edu Endowment-Cook Hall
$50,0002024 tax year
Symphony of the Mountains · Support for a concert series
$45,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

James W McGlothlin — Treasurer
Michael G McGlothlin — Secretary
Thomas D McGlothlin — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$1,275,754	$900,000	$17,339,272	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$1,062,899	$799,049	$19,077,966	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,041,981	$794,905	$20,270,154	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.