Wing 2 Wing Foundation

What Wing 2 Wing Foundation does

Wing 2 Wing Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation co-founded in 2018/2019 by Brad D. Smith (former Intuit CEO and Executive Chairman, current President of Marshall University) and Alys Smith. Headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, the foundation operates across three pillars — accessible and experiential education, advancement of entrepreneurial interest and capability, and conservation of distinct environmental assets — with all programmatic activity concentrated in Appalachia and West Virginia. The foundation does not accept direct donations to itself; instead it deploys capital contributed by its co-founders through grant-making, scholarships, and program sponsorship, and it inspires public donations to selected partner causes.

The foundation's core offerings are programs rather than products. Ascend West Virginia, launched in 2021 in partnership with WVU, the Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, and the West Virginia Department of Tourism, attracts remote workers to five West Virginia regions with a $12,000 incentive over 24 months and has welcomed over 1,400 residents at a 96-97% retention rate. First Ascent partners with Marshall University and WVU to retain recent graduates in West Virginia through mentorship, co-working access, and career navigation. The Women Warriors Summit is an annual empowerment event led by Alys Smith that drew nearly 1,000 attendees in its third year (October 2025). Wing 2 Wing Ventures is the foundation's early-stage investment vehicle deploying capital into Appalachian-rooted startups (Brite, DignifiHealth, BlueInk Tech, Parthian Battery Solutions, Monarch Tractors, Colossal, Rhetoric, Solar Holler, Coalfield Development, At One Ventures, Concrete Rose Capital, Rise of the Rest, Appalachian Botanical Co.).

The foundation's go-to-market is partnership-led and event-driven rather than sales-led. Distribution occurs through co-branded program channels (ascendwv.com, firstascentwv.com, womenwarriorsummit.com), direct-to-beneficiary grant applications on the foundation website, and institutional partnerships with Marshall University, WVU, the WV Department of Tourism, the WV Department of Arts/Culture/History, DonorsChoose, Operation HOPE, Teach For America Appalachia, and the Fairfield U Mentor Program. Grant deployments include $25M to WVU (2021), $1M to Operation HOPE (2024), $280K to Save The Music/WV Arts (2024), $175K to DonorsChoose (2024), $60K to Fairfield U Mentor Program, and $25K to Teach For America Appalachia, alongside an undisclosed portfolio of venture investments. Earned media, content marketing via wing2wingfoundation.org, and Brad Smith's social channels (X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn) function as awareness channels. The foundation does not develop proprietary technology products or charge for services.

Name

Wing 2 Wing Foundation

Legal name

The Wing 2 Wing Foundation

Website

https://wing2wingfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Wing 2 Wing Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation co-founded by Brad and Alys Smith that deploys grants, scholarships, and programs across Appalachia through three pillars: education, entrepreneurship, and environment. It serves West Virginia students, remote workers, and early-stage founders via Ascend WV, First Ascent, Women Warriors Summit, and Wing 2 Wing Ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation / Economic Development

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Transition / Engagement & Stewardship Funds (FSANAJAO)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grant-making
• Scholarship programs
• Early-stage venture funding
• Economic development programs
• Remote worker attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Menlo Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Giving and Grants: The foundation operates as a nonprofit that provides grants, scholarships, donations, and program funding to support education, entrepreneurship, and environmental initiatives in Appalachia. Revenue comes from co-founders Brad and Alys Smith and likely other donors. The foundation does not accept direct donations from the public but inspires contributions to partner causes.
2. Program Partnership Revenue: The foundation generates impact through partnership programs like Ascend WV, which is funded by government partnerships (West Virginia state programs) and foundation contributions. These programs attract talent and investment to West Virginia communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Wing 2 Wing Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that funds and operates programs across education, entrepreneurship, and environment in West Virginia and Appalachia. It makes grants, awards scholarships, and provides early-stage venture capital and mentorship to entrepreneurs, while running talent-attraction programs like Ascend WV and First Ascent.

Product overview

The Wing 2 Wing Foundation is a charitable organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a software product, platform, or API. The Foundation's offerings consist of grant-making, scholarship programs, and community initiatives focused on three pillars: education, entrepreneurship, and environment. Key programs include: Ascend West Virginia (a remote worker attraction program offering financial incentives), First Ascent (career development for recent graduates), Women Warriors Summit (annual empowerment event), Wing 2 Wing Ventures (early-stage investment vehicle), and the Fairfield U Mentor Program. These are charitable and economic development programs, not technology products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ascend WV: Remote worker attraction program offering financial incentives and outdoor recreation opportunities to relocate to West Virginia. Partnership between Wing 2 Wing Foundation, West Virginia University, OEDC, and WV Department of Tourism.
• First Ascent
• Women Warriors Summit

Products and services

• Education Programs Charitable funding for accessible education preparing the next generation with skills for a digital economy. Includes support for DonorsChoose, Worldreader, Coalfield Development, Marshall University, West Virginia University, Ohio State University, and Teach For America Appalachia, plus scholarships and classroom resources for underserved students.
• Entrepreneurship Programs Investment and support for early-stage Appalachian entrepreneurs through mentorship, training, and capital. Provides best practices, personal coaching, and capital investment to early-stage startups in the region.
• Environment Programs Conservation support for distinct environmental assets in Appalachia through investment in planet-positive companies, support for outdoor recreation, and preservation of nature's legacy.
• Ascend West Virginia A remote worker attraction and retention program inviting participants in the 21st-century economy to relocate to West Virginia. Offers $12,000 paid over 24 months, outdoor recreation packages, and co-working space access across five regions: Morgantown Area, New River Gorge, Eastern Panhandle, Greater Elkins, and Greenbrier Valley.
• First Ascent A program giving current students and recent graduates from Marshall University and West Virginia University tools to build careers in West Virginia, including leadership development workshops, career navigation tools, mentorship networks, and free co-working spaces.
• Women Warriors Summit An annual summit led by Alys Smith bringing together women across Appalachia for empowerment, networking, workshops, and personal growth. Third annual event in October 2025 drew nearly 1,000 attendees.
• Wing 2 Wing Ventures An investment vehicle advancing entrepreneurial capability through best practices, personal coaching, and capital investment across Appalachia. Focuses on early-stage investing at seed, startup, and Series A levels.
• Fairfield U Mentor Program A mentorship program pairing youth from Huntington's Fairfield community with medical students from Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, offering STEM-focused learning and scholarships for graduating seniors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96-97% retention rate among Ascend WV participants
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West Virginia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Major partner in Ascend WV remote worker program and co-founder of Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC). Also partner in First Ascent talent retention program. WVU officials announced $25 million gift from Brad and Alys Smith to fund innovative programs, recreational infrastructure, and outdoor educational opportunities.
• West Virginia Department of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Partner in Ascend WV remote worker program alongside OEDC and WVU. Helps position West Virginia as a premier destination for remote workers and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Fairfield U Mentor ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Wing 2 Wing renewed $60,000 commitment to support this mentorship program pairing youth from Fairfield community with medical students from Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. The program offers STEM-focused learning and scholarships for graduating seniors. Since inception, awarded $17,000 in scholarships to 12 high school graduates with 9 continuing to post-secondary education.
• BriteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Tech startup helping universities understand, support, and retain students. Wing 2 Wing provides investment and mentorship. Platform uses AI-generated daily check-ins to uncover hidden student challenges. Brite co-founded by West Virginia natives Nate Wimer, Craig Dombrowski, and Lukas Thackery.
• Teach For America AppalachiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025$25,000 investment to help expand Teach For America Appalachia's efforts throughout West Virginia schools. Supports teacher recruitment, training, and classroom support in underserved communities across the state. Since 2011, TFA Appalachia has trained over 220 teachers and developed 320 alumni leaders.
• DonorsChoosecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024Combined commitment of over $175,000 in school supplies and innovative match offers. Partnership addresses critical shortage of educational resources in underfunded areas across West Virginia. Provided resources to over 103 schools including arts programs, music programs, and technological tools.
• Operation HOPEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2024$1,000,000 donation towards Operation HOPE's 1865 Project aimed at closing the racial wealth gap. Wing 2 Wing's contribution will deploy HOPE financial coaching and small business support in Huntington's Fairfield community at no cost to participants. Foundation is a Founding Circle member of The 1865 Project.
• Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2021The Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative funds initiatives like Ascend WV in partnership with West Virginia Department of Tourism and WVU. Draws remote workers to West Virginia's landscapes and revitalizes local communities through outdoor economic development.
• DignifiHealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare technology company launched in 2020 in Williamson, WV. Portfolio company leveraging technology for innovative care solutions. Brad serves as Board Advisor.
• Monarch TractorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural technology company developing autonomous vehicles that collect field data and enable lower cost, higher efficacy farming to accelerate organic agriculture adoption.
• ColossalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany using CRISPR technology for de-extinction of previously lost species and genetically engineering solutions to combat climate change and pollution.
• WorldreaderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital reading solutions organization supporting vulnerable and underserved communities to improve learning outcomes and workforce readiness.
• Coalfield DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit rebuilding Appalachian economy by unlocking people's creative power to transform perceived problems into opportunities in communities.
• Save The Music FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$280,000 partnership with West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History to expand instrument rebuild project in West Virginia middle schools.
• Women Warriors SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Alys Smith with Wing 2 Wing as founding sponsor. Annual summit empowering women in Appalachia. Third annual event in October 2025 drew nearly 1,000 attendees with speakers including Hoda Kotb, Jenny Blake, Hoda Kotb, Soledad O'Brien, and Emily Gregory.
• New Opportunity School for WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting women in Appalachia; Alys Smith serves on the board. Part of entrepreneurship grantee ecosystem.
• Heritage Farm Museum and VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseums and buildings evoking 19th century Appalachia, educating about social life of settlers from earliest settlers to present. Teaching appreciation of present to enable envisioning brighter future.
• Solar HollerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar energy company in entrepreneurship portfolio supporting planet-positive programs.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Appalachian Community Capital: A CDFI and community-development financial institution serving Appalachian small businesses and entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to Wing 2 Wing Ventures' mission of addressing the venture-capital concentration gap and funding early-stage Appalachian founders.
• Tulsa Remote: A nationally recognized remote-worker attraction program offering $10,000 relocation incentives to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Directly comparable to Ascend WV — both compete for the same remote-worker talent pool and use similar financial-incentive and community-engagement models.
• Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation: A regional private foundation focused on advancing equity and economic opportunity across the American South and Appalachia. Highly comparable to Wing 2 Wing given overlapping geography (Appalachia), grantmaking focus on education and economic mobility, and similar community-development thesis.
• Appalachian Regional Commission: A federal-state partnership that funds economic and community development across the 13-state Appalachian region. Comparable to Wing 2 Wing because both channel capital into education, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure for underinvested Appalachian communities, often via the same institutional partners.
• Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation: A Pittsburgh-based private foundation with deep grantmaking in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania across education, economic development, and community development. Directly comparable given shared WV geography and education/community-building mission.

Broad incumbents

• Ballmer Group: A philanthropic organization founded by Steve and Connie Ballmer focused on economic mobility for children and families in the U.S. Comparable model: founder-led (former Microsoft CEO), multi-pillar giving, and direct programmatic investment in underinvested communities.
• Lumina Foundation: A large Indianapolis-based foundation focused on postsecondary education access and attainment. Comparable to Wing 2 Wing on the education-pillar and scholarship activity, especially for underserved and first-generation students.
• Ascendium Education Group: A large education-focused philanthropy that invests in postsecondary attainment for low-income learners. Comparable to Wing 2 Wing's scholarship and education grantmaking, particularly for first-generation students in rural communities.
• Emerson Collective: A mission-driven organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs that combines philanthropy, impact investing, and advocacy across education, environment, and immigration. Comparable structure to Wing 2 Wing Ventures: combines grantmaking with venture-style investing out of a single founder-backed vehicle.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: A major U.S. foundation singularly focused on entrepreneurship and education. Comparable to Wing 2 Wing on the entrepreneurship pillar (especially Wing 2 Wing Ventures) but with a national footprint, established research arm, and far larger endowment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/marshallupres
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@brad-d-smith
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/brad-d-smith
• Instagraminstagram.com/marshallupres/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Wing 2 Wing Foundation