Daywood Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Daywood Foundation supports health, human services and the arts in West Virginia.

FUNDING AREAS: Health, human services, arts

IP TAKE: Although this is a low-key funder, it is also an accessible one that is open to supporting many different causes in various West Virginia communities. The foundation does not have a website, which restricts information about its grantmaking strategies and guidelines.

PROFILE: Established in 1958, the Daywood Foundation is a private foundation based in Charleston, West Virginia. Ruth Woods Dayton is a major foundation donor, while William Booker is the president and primary contact person for the foundation. Daywood funds local efforts for health, human services and the arts.

Recent foundation tax records indicate that the Daywood Foundation provides a broad range of support in its home state. Daywood has recently provided funding for youth leadership programs, food assistance, clinic equipment, production costs and a literary festival. It provides general program support to select grantees and also program support for needy assistance programs, rent and utility assistance and nursing scholarships.

Grants range between about $5,000 and $50,000. In recent years, the foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in grants and gifts. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the state of West Virginia. Many grantees are based in Charleston, while others are the West Virginia towns of Lewisburg, Hillsboro and Philippi. Past local grantees include Children’s Therapy Clinic, Childhood Language Center and Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Organizations must put their requests in writing with a specific grant amount, purpose of the grant and tax exempt verification. There are no specific application forms or online process. The deadline is September 15 for grants funded by the end of the calendar year. Direct general questions to the staff at 304-345-8900.

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