The Stover Foundation is a private foundation based in Annapolis, Maryland, established in 1997. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting ministries of evangelism, education, and compassion that align with Christian values and the vision of its founder, W. Robert Stover.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.5M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+39.9% YoY
Grant Count
35
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+67.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stover Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes itself as "a ministry of Evangelism, Education, and Compassion." It is dedicated to bearing witness to the singular, saving Lordship of Jesus Christ and gives only to Christian organizations.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Evangelical Outreach: General evangelical outreach, with particular emphasis on reaching early teens
- Christian Education: Educational projects that encourage faithful Christian citizenship, entrepreneurship, and free enterprise
- Compassion Ministries: Charitable work that encourages recipients to rise above dependency
The foundation emphasizes support for institutions and initiatives that point to Jesus Christ as the source of truth and that promote Judeo-Christian principles embedded in America's founding documents.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 35 grants in 2024. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of cities and states across the United States, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Seattle, and San Diego, as well as smaller communities. Its geographic reach extends to states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $25,461,427
- Total Revenue: $3,982,056
- Total Expenses: $1,567,757
- Net Income: $2,414,299
- Staff: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,461,427 | $23,047,128 | $23,282,593 |
| Revenue | $3,982,056 | $955,558 | $694,079 |
| Expenses | $1,567,757 | $1,191,023 | $1,015,949 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,376,500 | $983,895 | $755,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,802,164 | $606,714 | $521,485 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,474,148 | $1,390,485 | $1,397,779 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
217 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Young Life ($235,000), Waynesburg University ($200,000), The Dunham School ($155,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM SCOTTSDALE, AZ | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $150,000 |
| ANNAPOLIS AREA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SEVERN, MD | TO FURTHER CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BETHANY CENTRE ALLIANCE BATON ROUGE, LA | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| CANAVOX PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN RANCH MORGANTOWN, WV | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $21,500 |
| CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL NORTH EATON, OH | TO FURTHER CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CRU ORLANDO, FL | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $15,000 |
| EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CLARKSBURG, WV | TO FURTHER CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| FAYETTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OH | TO FURTHER CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES SAN JOSE, CA | GENERAL EVANGELICAL OUTREACH | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. Parker Williamson: Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer (works 20 hours per week)
- Dr. Gerrit Dawson: Chairman
- Additional directors serve without compensation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR PARKER WILLIAMSON | COO/TREASURER | 20 | $72,000 |
| DR GERRIT DAWSON | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| CARA LUDWIG | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| GARY NICKERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL JESSUP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PRINCETON SCOTT BARDWELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROOKE JOHNSTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REV CARMEN FOWLER LABERGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Waynesburg University received a $2 million gift from the Stover Foundation, demonstrating the foundation's significant commitment to Christian higher education.
Waynesburg University | Waynesburg University receives $2 million gift fromSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Stover Foundation fund?
The foundation describes itself as "a ministry of Evangelism, Education, and Compassion." It is dedicated to bearing witness to the singular, saving Lordship of Jesus Christ and gives only to Christian organizations. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Evangelical Outreach**: General evangelical outreach, with particular emphasis on reaching early teens • **Christian Education**: Educational projects that encourage faithful Christian citizenship, entrepreneurship, and free enter…
How do I apply for a grant from The Stover Foundation?
The foundation made 35 grants in 2024. Recent grants include: • Young Life: $235,000 (General Evangelical Outreach) • Waynesburg University: $200,000 (Christian Education) • The Dunham School: $155,000 (Christian Education) The foundation is open to new applicants.
Where does The Stover Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a wide range of cities and states across the United States, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Seattle, and San Diego, as well as smaller communities. Its geographic reach extends to states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, and West Virginia.
What size grants does The Stover Foundation award?
In 2024, The Stover Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Stover Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Stover Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stover Foundation's EIN?
The Stover Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0392330. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stover Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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