The Rapha Foundation
Wise, VA · EIN 54-2002314. Reported 174 grants totalling $5,722,434 to 94 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. 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. The Rapha Foundation 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 $18,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $9,500 and $34,300; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $300,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uva Wise | Wise, VA | $1,200,000 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap, VA | $335,500 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Communities in Schools - Swva | Bristol, VA | $294,100 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Family Crisis Support Services | Norton, VA | $245,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Meoc | Big Stone Gap, VA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Dickenson County Ida | Clintwood, VA | $175,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mountain Empire Comm College | Big Stone Gap, VA | $175,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ballad Health - Peerhelp Counseling Program | Kingsport, TN | $164,800 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Children's Advocacy Center (meoc) | Big Stone Gap, VA | $155,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lonesome Pine Office on Youth | Big Stone Gap, VA | $154,200 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Communities in Schools | Bristol, VA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mountain Empire Older Citizens | Big Stone Gap, VA | $139,665 | 4 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lonesome Pine Regional Library | Wise, VA | $137,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation | Blacksburg, VA | $134,121 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Pro-Art of Wise | Wise, VA | $102,900 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Legal Aid Society of Swva | Marion, VA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wise County Food Bank | Norton, VA | $98,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Norton Community Hospital | Norton, VA | $92,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| City of Norton | Norton, VA | $83,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Dickenson County Social Services | Clintwood, VA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Synergy Foundation | Coeburn, VA | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Ji Burton High School | Norton, VA | $69,900 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wise County Schools | Wise, VA | $68,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Dickenson County Food Bank | Clintwood, VA | $57,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Health Wagon | Clintwood, VA | $56,995 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of Swva | Abingdon, VA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wise County Christian School | Wise, VA | $55,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Coeburn Middle School | Coeburn, VA | $51,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Napolean Hill Foundation | Wise, VA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Wise | Wise, VA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Appalachian Sustainable Development | Duffield, VA | $45,000 | 3 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wise Co Food Bank | Wise, VA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ridgeview High School | Clintwood, VA | $37,600 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Town of St Paul | St Paul, VA | $35,199 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Camp Bethel | Wise, VA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Appalachian Council for Innovation | Lebanon, VA | $33,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Feeding Swva | Abingdon, VA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Meoc - Emergency Fuel Fund | Big Stone Gap, VA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Girls Inc | Bristol, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girls Inc of Norton | Norton, VA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Lunchbox 276 - School Backpack Program | Wise, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Meoc - Cancer Education | Big Stone Gap, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Napoleon Hill Foundation | Wise, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Town of Big Stone Gap | Big Stone Gap, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Etsu - Quillen College of Medicine | Mountain Home, TN | $22,600 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nch Im Residency Program | Norton, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wise Co Career & Tech Center | Wise, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Healthcare Heros | Pennington, NJ | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| William King Muesum of Art | Abingdon, VA | $17,700 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Norton City Schools | Norton, VA | $17,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Norton Community Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program | Norton, VA | $16,796 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Coeburn Middle School (ehs) | Coeburn, VA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing | Bristol, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Eo | Abingdon, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girls Inc of Bristol | Bristol, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lunchbox 276 | Wise, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Nch Fm Residency Program | Norton, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nchlph Residency Programs | Norton, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Norton Rescue Squad | Norton, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Town of Pound | Pound, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Uva Wise - Smiddy's Cupboard | Wise, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Walking Wise | Wise, VA | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Energy Education Dev Program | Manassas, VA | $13,558 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Nch Family Birthing Center | Norton, VA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross - Swva Chapter | Bristol, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dickenson County Schools | Clintwood, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lp Office on Youth - Dp Imagination Library | Sevierville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Missions of Mercy | Abingdon, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| United Way of Swva - Rural Resilience Summit | Abington, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nch (wellmont Hs) Residency Program | Norton, VA | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dickenson Community Hospital | Clintwood, VA | $8,700 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dickenson County Behavioral Health | Clintwood, VA | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wise Rescue Squad | Wise, VA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dickenson County Extension Office (farmers Market) | Clintwood, VA | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| National Energy Education Development Pjct | Manassas, VA | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Norton Primary School | Norton, VA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blue Marins Swim Club | Wise, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ciy of Norton | Norton, VA | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First Christian Church | Big Stone Gap, VA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Norton - Department of Social Services | Norton, VA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Norton Department of Social Services | Norton, VA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ridgeview High School Beta Club | Clintwood, VA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wm King Museum of Art | Abingdon, VA | $2,100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Eastside High School | Coeburn, VA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ridgeview High School Cte Program | Clintwood, VA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Coeburn Primary School | Coeburn, VA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jw Adams Combined School | Pound, VA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Paul Elementary School | St Paul, VA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Union Primary School | Big Stone Gap, VA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wise Primary School | Wise, VA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jw Adam Combined School | Pound, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Paul Elementary | St Paul, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Union Primary | Big Stone Gap, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
33 of 94 (35%) 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 51%, 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.
- Children's Advocacy Center (meoc)
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER - Meoc
EMERGENCY FUEL FUND- $50,000AMPITHEATER PROJECT- $100,000 - Communities in Schools
EDUCATION / AT-RISK PROGRAMS - Family Crisis Support Services
TO PROVIDE FAMILY'S ASSISTANCE - Communities in Schools - Swva
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT & CLOTHING - Virginia Tech Foundation
AUTISM SUPPORT & RESOURCES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 16 | $419,796 | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | $573,700 | $18,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | $1,445,652 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 46 | $1,458,681 | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 59 | $1,824,605 | $20,000 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Rapha Foundation has 86 of them, worth $5,006,049. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Advocacy Center | Big Stone Gap, VA | $525,000 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap, VA | $500,000 |
| Communities in Schools - Swva | Bristol, VA | $450,000 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap, VA | $375,000 |
| Uva Wise | Wise, VA | $300,000 |
| Lunchbox 276 - School Backpack Program | Wise, VA | $225,000 |
| Norton Community Hospital (oncologist) | Norton, VA | $200,000 |
| Pro Art Wise County | Wise, VA | $171,500 |
| Norton Community Hospital (childcare) | Norton, VA | $150,000 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation | Blacksburg, VA | $134,122 |
| Ballad Health - Peerhelp Counseling Program | Kingsport, TN | $129,200 |
| Wise Norton Dickenson Departments of Social Services | Norton, VA | $120,000 |
| Family Crisis Support Services | Norton, VA | $100,000 |
| Lp Office on Youth - Dp Imagination Library | Sevierville, TN | $97,200 |
| Communities in Schools - Swva | Bristol, VA | $94,400 |
Where its money goes
96% of its giving went to organizations in 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 $18,000. 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 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.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Rapha Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). 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: Po Box 3996, Wise, VA, 24293. 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 54-2002314 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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