United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia

What United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia does

The United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity established on March 5, 1974, by the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, the Foundation manages over $158 million in assets (as of March 2025) for individuals, families, local churches, and United Methodist agencies primarily across West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland. Its mission centers on creating a culture of generosity through raising, managing, and distributing funds that serve community and ministry needs.

The Foundation's core products include a values-aligned investment platform with four fund options (Fund A Fixed Income, B1 Conservative Balanced, B2 Moderate Balanced, B3 Aggressive Balanced) managed in partnership with Wespath Institutional Investments, applying Social Principles-based exclusionary screens covering alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear armaments, pornography, and private prisons. It offers custodial accounts, endowment accounts, and hybrid accounts for church reserves, alongside charitable giving vehicles including donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, bequests, and qualified charitable distributions. The Foundation administers grant programs (Foundation Grants, Conference Grants, Seeds of Grace Grants) and multiple scholarship programs, and operates the Academy of Faith and Generosity annual conference.

Revenue is generated through a single asset-based administrative fee of 75 basis points (0.75%) on the market value of funds under management, with no transaction fees or withdrawal penalties. A portion of fees is tithed to fund the grant program. Distribution relies on a network of Foundation Representatives elected per charge, direct staff engagement with church finance committees across the Conference, multi-channel content marketing (website, monthly Insights newsletter, Facebook, webinars), and flagship events including the Academy of Faith and Generosity and the multi-state Stewardship & Financial Wellness Conference at Lakeside Chautauqua.

Name

United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia

Legal name

United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc.

Website

https://umfwv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1974 that manages over $158 million in assets for individuals, local churches, and United Methodist agencies across West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland, offering values-aligned investment funds, planned giving vehicles, grants, and scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Charitable Investment Management

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Planned giving services
• Endowment management
• Church investment funds
• Charitable gift annuities
• Stewardship education

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Asset-Based Management Fees: Administrative fee of 75 basis points (0.75%) of the market value of funds per year. No transaction fees or penalties. All reporting is net of fees.
2. Investment Fund Management: Professional investment management through Wespath Institutional Investments with funds invested in diversified portfolios of stocks and bonds according to selected fund allocations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Foundation raises, manages, and distributes charitable funds for individuals, families, local churches, and United Methodist ministries in West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland. It offers values-aligned investment management through four professionally managed funds, custodial/endowment/hybrid accounts, and planned giving vehicles (donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, bequests, qualified charitable distributions), and awards grants and scholarships to support ministry and community needs.

Product overview

United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1974, offering a comprehensive suite of investment management and charitable giving services for individuals, churches, and ministries. The core offerings include Foundation Investment Funds (Fund A, B1, B2, B3) with varying risk profiles, multiple account types (Custodial, Endowment, and Hybrid Accounts), and specialized giving vehicles such as Donor Advised Funds, Charitable Gift Annuities, and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts. The foundation administers grant programs (Foundation Grants, Conference Grants, Seeds of Grace Grants) and scholarship programs (Dollars for Scholars, Seminary Scholarships, District Scholarships). Additional services include the Online Account Portal for account management, the Academy of Faith and Generosity for education, and Sustainable Investing with socially responsible screening. The organization manages over $158 million in assets and partners with Wespath Institutional Investments for professional investment management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundation Investment Funds (Fund A, B1, B2, B3) Four investment fund options managed in partnership with Wespath Institutional Investments, offering different risk profiles across fixed income, balanced, and aggressive allocations to international equity, US equity, fixed income, and inflation protection. Designed for churches, ministries, and individual donors seeking values-aligned investment management.
• Custodial Accounts Investment accounts in which the entire market value is available for distribution on demand, with no maturity dates or penalties for withdrawals. Designed for churches and ministries to hold reserve funds with professionally managed, values-aligned investments.
• Endowment Accounts Permanent funds that distribute income to churches while allowing principal to grow, designed to honor donor intentions and create lasting legacies. Suited to churches and ministries seeking permanent endowment structures.
• Hybrid Accounts Accounts combining benefits of endowment and custodial accounts, allowing principal to be spent while retaining access in emergencies.
• Donor Advised Funds (DAF) Charitable giving accounts allowing donors to donate assets, receive tax deductions, and recommend grants to charities over time. For individual donors and families seeking tax-advantaged charitable giving.
• Charitable Gift Annuities Contracts where donors make gifts and receive fixed lifetime payments, with residuals funding chosen ministries. For individuals seeking both lifetime income and charitable impact.
• Charitable Remainder Unitrusts Trust-based income gifts offering flexible percentage selection with payments fluctuating based on trust value annually. Designed for individual donors seeking variable income and charitable impact.
• Bequests and Qualified Charitable Distributions Legacy planned giving tools including bequests through wills and qualified charitable distributions (direct IRA transfers to qualified charities for donors 70½ years or older).
• Foundation Grants Grant program supporting outward-focused ministries addressing needs of the poor, lost, and marginalized through funding for innovative projects. Two grant cycles per year (February 28 and July 31 deadlines).
• Conference Grants Administered grants including Faith Communities ReNEWal Ministry, Virginia Higgins, Glenwood Park, Ethnic Ministries, and Ethnic Local Church Concerns grants.
• Seeds of Grace Grants Emergency food pantry grants available through partnership with the West Virginia Annual Conference.
• Scholarship Programs (Dollars for Scholars, Seminary Scholarships, Foundation District Scholarships) Scholarship programs including Dollars for Scholars ($1,000 matching program via the Charles E. and Betty C. Rogers Trust for students whose home churches provide scholarships), Seminary Scholarships (multiple named endowments), and Foundation District Scholarships for United Methodist students from each district attending West Virginia Wesleyan College.
• Academy of Faith and Generosity Annual educational conference on stewardship and generosity topics featuring keynote speakers and workshops for church leaders, pastors, finance committees, and donors. Held in October 2025 at Morgantown Marriott.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5.1 million distributed in 2019 alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Five Other United Methodist Foundations (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2026Partnership of six United Methodist Foundations for Stewardship & Financial Wellness Conference at Lakeside Chautauqua, Ohio; keynote by Rev. Dr. Stan Copeland of Church Difference Makers
• Wespath Institutional InvestmentscoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional investment manager providing asset allocation guidance and selecting world-class money managers for Foundation investment funds; Foundation Investment Fund choices correspond to Wespath Funds
• West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple sponsorships including Major Sponsor of Bishop's Chalice Challenge; hosts Religious and Spiritual Life Endowment; Foundation provides scholarships for WVWC students
• Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball and Rev. Dr. Barry Steiner BallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partners for Bishop's Chalice Challenge; Bishop serves as Honorary Chair of Board of Trustees; created Endowment for Religious and Spiritual Life at WVWC
• National Association of United Methodist FoundationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeff Taylor served as past president of national organization
• Horizons StewardshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHole Sponsor for Bishop's Chalice Challenge golf event
• Methodist Theological School in OhiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHole Sponsor for Bishop's Chalice Challenge golf event

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of United Methodist Foundations: Umbrella membership organization of UMC-affiliated foundations; UMWV's president Jeff Taylor is a past president. Comparable organizational model and information peer for ecosystem benchmarking.
• United Methodist Foundation of Indiana: State-level United Methodist foundation that similarly manages charitable funds, endowments, and planned giving for Indiana UMC churches and individuals. Direct peer operating the same model in an adjacent state and explicit partner in the Lakeside conference.
• United Methodist Foundation of Pennsylvania: State-level UMC foundation providing socially responsible investment options, endowments, and gift planning to Pennsylvania United Methodist churches and individuals. Direct peer and Lakeside conference partner.
• United Methodist Foundation of Michigan: State-level UMC foundation providing investment management, endowment building, and planned giving services to Michigan United Methodist churches. Direct peer and Lakeside conference partner.
• United Methodist Foundation of Ohio: Ohio's UMC foundation offering investment funds, custodial accounts, and planned giving services to United Methodist churches and Ohio clergy. Direct peer and Lakeside conference partner.

Emerging players

• Presbyterian Foundation: Denominational foundation offering planned giving, donor-advised funds, and socially responsible investing to Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations. Adjacent peer showcasing how other mainline denominations operate similar models.

Others

• Wespath Institutional Investments: U.S. Methodist pension and investment organization that provides the actual investment management for UMWV funds. A critical infrastructure/operating partner rather than a competitor, but the most directly comparable entity in terms of fund structure and SRI methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: Nation's largest donor-advised fund sponsor with a digital, low-fee platform. Competes for DAF dollars from UMC donors seeking a more scalable, secular DAF alternative with broader investment options.

Regional players

• Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley: Regional community foundation serving the Ohio Valley, including parts of West Virginia. Competes for DAF, endowment, and planned giving dollars in overlapping geography, though it is a secular community foundation.
• Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation: West Virginia-based community foundation serving the Kanawha Valley region, including Charleston. Direct competitor for local donor-advised funds, endowments, and planned giving in the same primary market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/umfwv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umfwv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia