Open Foundations · West Virginia

Chris Hess Foundation

Wheeling, West Virginia · EIN 016225742. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $582K across 14 grants in 2025, a median of $15K each.

All West Virginia foundations · All states

$582K
paid in 2025
14
grants paid
$15K
median grant
19%
to first-time recipients
$11.3M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
JOSEPH N GOMPERS
Address
117 EDGINGTON LANE, WHEELING, WV, 260031534
Phone
3042429300
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
WRITTEN FORM WITH DESCRIPTION OF CHARITABLE PURPOSES AND EVIDENCE OF CHARITABLE/EXEMPT STATUS UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3).
Submission deadline
NONE
Restrictions on awards
LIMITED TO DISTRIBUTIONS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES UNDER 501(C)(3).

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, IRS filing object id 202641339349100829. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The filing states only a general purpose, with nothing specific enough to pull out as recurring language.

Biggest grants in 2025

All 14 grants paid in 2025, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Oglebay Foundation IncWV$220,000CHARITABLE
2Ymca of WheelingWV$110,000CHARITABLE
3Wheeling CentralWV$75,000CHARITABLE
4The Linsly SchoolWV$50,000CHARITABLE
5Think PinkWV$30,000CHARITABLE
6Faith in ActionWV$15,000CHARITABLE
7Oglebay InstituteWV$15,000CHARITABLE
8Orchard Park HospitalWV$15,000CHARITABLE
9Holy Family Child Care & Development CenterWV$10,000CHARITABLE
10King's DaughtersWV$10,000CHARITABLE
11Moundsville Veterans Honor GuardWV$10,000CHARITABLE
12Newbridge Academy for KidsWV$10,000CHARITABLE
13Ohio Valley Wellnes CoalitionWV$10,000CHARITABLE
14American Heart AssociationTX$2,000CHARITABLE

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202019$552K
202117$546K
202212$350K
20239$310K
20249$301K
2025 (partial year)14$582K

Where the money went

Share of 2025 grant dollars by recipient state
West Virginia93%
Texas7%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

John E GompersTRUSTEE · 2025
Joseph N GompersTRUSTEE · 2025
Kelly a GompersTRUSTEE · 2025
Security National Trust CompanyTRUSTEE · 2025
William V BusickTRUSTEE · 2025

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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