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Maier Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.6M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,275,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (October deadline, December decision)
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $600,000
  • Geographic Focus: West Virginia (primary), with focus on Kanawha Valley for cultural organizations

Contact Details

  • Website: www.maierfoundation.org
  • Phone: (304) 343-2201
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Mailing Address: PO Box 6190, Charleston, WV 25362-0190

Overview

Established in 1958 and granted tax-exempt status in 1959, the Maier Foundation Inc is a private grant-making foundation with $30.4 million in assets. Originally named the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation, it was renamed in 2003 and continues the legacy of founder William J. Maier Jr., a Harvard graduate, Rhodes Scholar, and West Virginia corporate lawyer. The foundation distributes approximately $2.3 million annually across 25-35 grants, primarily focused on advancing higher education in West Virginia and supporting West Virginia residents pursuing higher education elsewhere. Secondarily, the foundation supports educationally-related cultural and community organizations in the Kanawha Valley region around Charleston.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Scholarship Endowments: $50,000 - $1,000,000 (administered through colleges/universities)
  • Current-Use Scholarships: $10,000 - $100,000+ (immediate student support)
  • Challenge/Matching Grants: $25,000 - $150,000+ (to incentivize additional fundraising)
  • Institutional Support Grants: $100,000 - $1,000,000 (student completion programs, retention initiatives)
  • Pilot Research Grants: $10,000 - $50,000 (behavioral health and other research at WV institutions)
  • Cultural/Community Grants: $2,000 - $50,000 (educationally-related programs in Kanawha Valley)

Priority Areas

  • Higher education access and affordability in West Virginia
  • Student retention and degree completion programs
  • Scholarship support for West Virginia residents
  • Educational endowments at West Virginia colleges and universities
  • Behavioral health research at West Virginia institutions
  • Educationally-related cultural programs in the Kanawha Valley

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct scholarships to individual students (all scholarships must be administered through institutions)
  • Organizations outside of West Virginia (with limited exceptions for WV residents attending out-of-state schools)
  • Non-educational purposes
  • General operating support for non-educational organizations

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a four-member board of directors who serve without compensation:

  • Bradley M. Rowe - President & Director (elected President 2010, Chairman 2022)
  • Sara M. Rowe - Vice President & Director
  • J. Randy Valentine - Treasurer & Director
  • Edward H. Maier - Secretary & Director

Bradley Maier Rowe, commenting on a $1 million grant to WVU's Mountaineer Completion Grant Program, stated: "Our hope is that this grant will help retain students in their final year of study and encourage them to complete their degree."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review the foundation's Mission Statement on their website to confirm eligibility
  2. Download and thoroughly review the Policies and Guidelines document from www.maierfoundation.org
  3. Complete the Grant Request Form available on the website
  4. Submit application materials by the annual deadline of October 1st
  5. Applications received after October 1st are not considered until the following year

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: October 1st annually
  • Board Review Meeting: Second Friday in December
  • Notification: By end of December (approximately 2-3 months from submission)

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation makes 25-35 grants annually from its pool of applications.

Reapplication Policy

While not explicitly stated, unsuccessful applicants appear able to reapply in subsequent years. Organizations that have received funding can apply for additional grants, as evidenced by multiple institutions receiving grants across consecutive years.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of recently funded projects and the foundation's giving patterns:

  • Demonstrate clear West Virginia connection: The foundation strongly prioritizes West Virginia institutions and residents. Out-of-state requests should clearly show benefit to West Virginia students.
  • Focus on measurable educational impact: Successful grants like WVU's Completion Grant Program target specific, measurable outcomes (degree completion rates).
  • Consider challenge/matching grant structures: The foundation has shown preference for grants that leverage additional funding, as seen with WVSOM's escalating challenge grants.
  • Highlight innovation in student support: "Pilot grants" for research and new program models have been successful, particularly in addressing student mental health and retention.
  • Align with institutional scholarship administration: Since the foundation doesn't give directly to students, proposals should detail how the institution will administer funds.
  • Submit well before deadline: With only one annual review cycle, missing the October 1st deadline means waiting a full year.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Maier Foundation has a single annual application deadline (October 1st) with no exceptions for late submissions
  • Average grant size ranges from $48,000 to $90,000, though they have capacity for million-dollar institutional grants
  • The foundation shows strong preference for challenge/matching grant structures that leverage additional funding
  • West Virginia connection is essential - out-of-state requests must clearly benefit West Virginia residents
  • All student scholarship support must be administered through educational institutions, not given directly to individuals
  • The foundation has shown recent interest in behavioral health research and student completion/retention programs
  • With a relatively small board and no public email, formal written applications through the official process are critical

References

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