The Oakland Foundation Inc. focuses on small-to-midsize, place-based grants that strengthen rural New England and Appalachian communities—particularly in Vermont and West Virginia—by supporting local arts and heritage institutions, outdoor recreation/trail projects, community food and farm initiatives, and direct services for youth and health. They favor practical, project-based funding (exhibit restorations, facility upgrades, scholarship funds, program support) and often make repeat grants to the same local organizations, indicating long-term relationship-building rather than one-off national grants.
Oakland Foundation Inc. favors small, practical grants that keep local institutions, trails, farms, and youth-serving programs running. Its largest recent award in the list was $18,000 to Alpine Heritage Preservation to restore Cottill's Opera House in Davis, West Virginia, a signal of how much weight the foundation gives to place-based preservation work. The same pattern shows up in Vermont, where it supported Shelburne Museum for exhibit work and Shelburne Farms for coach barn restoration, and in West Virginia, where it backed Monogahela River Trails for community trail connections. The foundation also funds direct community services and education-related projects, including food access, health education, scholarships, and summer enrichment. Recent grants reach museums, libraries, fire departments, theaters, and nonprofit service organizations, suggesting a broad but local orientation rather than a single-issue strategy. The grant list also shows repeat support to some recipients across years, which points to ongoing relationships with organizations in Vermont and West Virginia.
Historic preservation is a visible thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $18,000 to Alpine Heritage Preservation for restoring Cottill's Opera House, and it also supported the Shelburne Museum for the Steven Huneck exhibit and the railroad exhibit. Rural food access appears in grants such as $5,000 to Salvation Farms to connect farms to local community services and $5,000 to Faith in Action for a food share and online farmers market. Youth programming is another area: High Rocks Educational Corporation received support for summer camp healthy living and wellness, while Young Writers Project received funding for an arts and space program. The foundation also backed health education through Active Southern West Virginia for health education programs for all ages.
Typical grants are small to midsize: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $4,570. The recent list is heavy with round $5,000 awards, alongside a few larger project grants such as $7,000 to Canaan Valley Volunteer Fire Dept and $10,000 to Wv University Parkersburg Foundatio. The pattern suggests relationship-based grantmaking, with several organizations appearing in multiple years, including Wv University Parkersburg Foundatio, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, Planned Parenthood Northrn New Eng, Monogahela River Trails, and St Francis Xavier Church. The foundation funds individuals and appears to use direct, practical support rather than program-related investments.
$389K
$2.9M
$154K
$287K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 59% of grants go to recipients in VT.
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Distributed across many small-to-moderate grants with frequent repeat funding to regional grantees; emphasis on project-specific support (facility/restoration, program operating support, scholarships) rather than large multi-year national grants.
Notable grantees: Shelburne Museum, Planned Parenthood Northern New England, Tucker County High School, Salvation Farms, Shelburne Farms
Grants are concentrated in Vermont and West Virginia, with 58% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state of Vermont. In the recent list, Vermont recipients include Stowe, Montpelier, Morristown, Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester, and Waitsfield. West Virginia recipients include Davis, Parkersburg, Beckley, Charleston, Morgantown, and Folsom. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 123 grants in the United States.
The recent grants point to museums, museums and heritage groups, trail organizations, farm and food initiatives, youth programs, and community service organizations. Examples include a theater restoration grant, trail support in Morgantown, a food bank grant in Davis, and youth enrichment funding in Hillsborowv and Burlington.
The typical grant is modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $4,570. Many recent awards are at the $5,000 level, with a few larger grants above that range.
Vermont is the top state by grant count, with 58% of grants going to recipients there. Recent Vermont grantees appear in Stowe, Montpelier, Morristown, Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester, and Waitsfield.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat support to several organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Wv University Parkersburg Foundatio, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, Planned Parenthood Northrn New Eng, Monogahela River Trails, and St Francis Xavier Church.
No. The scope is national, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Recent awards are spread across Vermont, West Virginia, and Ohio, with multiple cities represented in each of the two main states.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALPINE HERITAGE PRESERVATION | DAVIS, WV | $18,000 | 2024 | RESTORE COTTILL'S OPERA HOUSE |
| ACTIVE SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA | BECKLEY, WV | $10,000 | 2024 | HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALL AGES |
| WV UNIVERSITY PARKERSBURG FOUNDATIO | PARKERSBURG, WV | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT WUVUP FOUNDATION OAKLAND FND |
| CANAAN VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | DAVIS, WV | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YESTERMORROW | WAITSFIELD, VT | $6,000 | 2024 | WOODSHOP RESTORATION |
| MONTPELIER ALIVE | MONTPELIER, VT | $5,500 | 2024 | FLOOD RELIEF |
| MORRISTOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY | MORRISTOWN, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | PURCHASE TRAILER |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHRN NEW ENG | COLCHESTER, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT BARRE OFFICE SLIDING SCALE |
| ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH | PARKERSBURG, WV | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION FARMS | MORRISTOWN, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | CONNECT FARMS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY SVC |
| MONOGAHELA RIVER TRAILS | MORGANTOWN, WV | $5,000 | 2024 | CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO TRAILS |
| BLACKWATER MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION | DAVIS, WV | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOOD BANK |
| GOOD FUN-D | STOWE, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | CREATE COLLABORATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK |
| HIPPODROMECOLONY THEATRE | MARIETTA, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | SINGER/SONGWRITER WORKSHOP |
| SHELBURNE MUSEUM | SHELBOURNE, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT RAILROAD EXHIBIT |
| WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY | CHARLESTON, WV | $5,000 | 2024 | BOOKS&TRAVEL-LEARNING TREE WORKSHOP |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | COACH BARN RESTORATION |
| SNOW SPORTS MUSEUM OF WEST VIRGINIA | DAVIS, WV | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPECTRUM YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | CONNECT MULTICULTURAL YOUTH TO SERVI |
| THE CURRENT | STOWE, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC GALLERY PROGRAMMING |
| YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | ARTS AND SPACE PROGRAM |
| COMMON ROOTS | SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT | $4,500 | 2024 | GROWING ORGANIC FOOD SUPPORT |
| HIGH ROCKS EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION | HILLSBOROWV, WV | $4,500 | 2024 | SUMMER CAMP HEALTHY LIVING & WILLNES |
| MID-OHIO VALLEY MULTICULTURAL CENTR | PARKERSBURG, WV | $4,300 | 2024 | DRUM MAKING WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN |
| RIVER ARTS | MORRISVILLE, VT | $4,000 | 2024 | AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS |
| FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ART | BURLINGTON, VT | $3,000 | 2024 | STUDENT MATINEES AND WORKSHOPS |
| MTN LAUREL LEARNING COOPERATIVE | DAVIS, WV | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | BURLINGTON, VT | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SYMPHONY KIDS 2024 |
| VERMONT WORKS FOR WOMEN | WINOOSKI, VT | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ROSIE'S GIRLS CAREER PROGRAM |
| INTERACT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | ELKINS, WV | $2,500 | 2024 | PART-TIME EMPLOYEE FOR SUMMER EVENTS |
| MENTOR VERMONT | BURLINGTON, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | VOLUNTEER & MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING |
| STERN CENTER | WILLISTON, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | LEARNING LABS-SOCIAL COGNITION |
| RESOURCE | WILLISTON, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | WORKFORCE DEVEOPMENT TRAINING PROGRM |
| ST ALBANS CITY PARK | ST ALBANS, WV | $2,200 | 2024 | WA.LK ON THE WILD SIDE EVENT |
| PARKERSBURGWOOD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBR | PARKERSBURG, WV | $2,095 | 2024 | CONSTRUCT WATER FEATURE FOR GARDEN |
| CROSS VERMONT TRAIL ASSOCIATION | MONTPELIER, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | CONNECT COMMUNITY TRAILS TO CVT |
| VERMONT ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND | SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | EXPAND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR BLIND |
| WARM THE CHILDREN | PARSONS, WV | $2,000 | 2024 | WINTER CLOTHING FOR NEEDY CHILDREN |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HAVEN | BARRE, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | PURCHASE AUTOMATED DEFIBULATOR |
| SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE | ESSEX JUNCTION, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | FUND 2004 PERFORMANCES |
| VERMONT FOLKLIFE CENTER | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | FUND TRAVELING EXHIBIT & STORAGE |
| WEST VIRGINIA BOTANIC GARDEN | MORGANTOWN, WV | $2,000 | 2024 | ADA PATHWAY CHILDREN'S GARDEN |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BURLINGTON | BURLINGTN, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | HELP PURCHASE TRANSPORTATION VAN |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHEAT | KINGWOOD, WV | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VERMONT HUMANITIES | MONTPELIER, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | VERMONT READS-STATEWIDE PROGRAM |
| VERMONT ENERGY PROGRAM | MONTPELIER, VT | $2,000 | 2024 | STEM EDUCATION ENERGY & CLIMATE |
| FRIENDS OF SPRING HILL CEMETARY | ST ALBANS, WV | $1,980 | 2024 | HISTORICAL REENACTMENT |
| ARTSBRIDGE | PARKERSBURG, WV | $1,600 | 2024 | ARTS ENCOUNTER PROGRAM |
| TUCKER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | HAMBLETON, WV | $1,500 | 2024 | 2020 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP THIRD YEAR |
| BURLINGTON DISMAS HOUSE | BURLINGTON, VT | $1,500 | 2024 | REPLACE GAS HEATING SYSTEM |
ALPINE HERITAGE PRESERVATION
$18,000RESTORE COTTILL'S OPERA HOUSE
ACTIVE SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
$10,000HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALL AGES
WV UNIVERSITY PARKERSBURG FOUNDATIO
$10,000SUPPORT WUVUP FOUNDATION OAKLAND FND
CANAAN VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$7,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YESTERMORROW
$6,000WOODSHOP RESTORATION
MONTPELIER ALIVE
$5,500FLOOD RELIEF
MORRISTOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY
$5,000PURCHASE TRAILER
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHRN NEW ENG
$5,000SUPPORT BARRE OFFICE SLIDING SCALE
ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION FARMS
$5,000CONNECT FARMS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY SVC
MONOGAHELA RIVER TRAILS
$5,000CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO TRAILS
BLACKWATER MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION
$5,000SUPPORT FOOD BANK
GOOD FUN-D
$5,000CREATE COLLABORATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK
HIPPODROMECOLONY THEATRE
$5,000SINGER/SONGWRITER WORKSHOP
SHELBURNE MUSEUM
$5,000SUPPORT RAILROAD EXHIBIT
WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY
$5,000BOOKS&TRAVEL-LEARNING TREE WORKSHOP
SHELBURNE FARMS
$5,000COACH BARN RESTORATION
SNOW SPORTS MUSEUM OF WEST VIRGINIA
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPECTRUM YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
$5,000CONNECT MULTICULTURAL YOUTH TO SERVI
THE CURRENT
$5,000PUBLIC GALLERY PROGRAMMING
YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT
$5,000ARTS AND SPACE PROGRAM
COMMON ROOTS
$4,500GROWING ORGANIC FOOD SUPPORT
HIGH ROCKS EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION
$4,500SUMMER CAMP HEALTHY LIVING & WILLNES
MID-OHIO VALLEY MULTICULTURAL CENTR
$4,300DRUM MAKING WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN
RIVER ARTS
$4,000AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ART
$3,000STUDENT MATINEES AND WORKSHOPS
MTN LAUREL LEARNING COOPERATIVE
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$3,000SUPPORT SYMPHONY KIDS 2024
VERMONT WORKS FOR WOMEN
$3,000SUPPORT ROSIE'S GIRLS CAREER PROGRAM
INTERACT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$2,500PART-TIME EMPLOYEE FOR SUMMER EVENTS
MENTOR VERMONT
$2,500VOLUNTEER & MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
STERN CENTER
$2,500LEARNING LABS-SOCIAL COGNITION
RESOURCE
$2,500WORKFORCE DEVEOPMENT TRAINING PROGRM
ST ALBANS CITY PARK
$2,200WA.LK ON THE WILD SIDE EVENT
PARKERSBURGWOOD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBR
$2,095CONSTRUCT WATER FEATURE FOR GARDEN
CROSS VERMONT TRAIL ASSOCIATION
$2,000CONNECT COMMUNITY TRAILS TO CVT
VERMONT ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND
$2,000EXPAND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR BLIND
WARM THE CHILDREN
$2,000WINTER CLOTHING FOR NEEDY CHILDREN
GOOD SAMARITAN HAVEN
$2,000PURCHASE AUTOMATED DEFIBULATOR
SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE
$2,000FUND 2004 PERFORMANCES
VERMONT FOLKLIFE CENTER
$2,000FUND TRAVELING EXHIBIT & STORAGE
WEST VIRGINIA BOTANIC GARDEN
$2,000ADA PATHWAY CHILDREN'S GARDEN
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BURLINGTON
$2,000HELP PURCHASE TRANSPORTATION VAN
FRIENDS OF THE CHEAT
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VERMONT HUMANITIES
$2,000VERMONT READS-STATEWIDE PROGRAM
VERMONT ENERGY PROGRAM
$2,000STEM EDUCATION ENERGY & CLIMATE
FRIENDS OF SPRING HILL CEMETARY
$1,980HISTORICAL REENACTMENT
ARTSBRIDGE
$1,600ARTS ENCOUNTER PROGRAM
TUCKER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$1,5002020 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP THIRD YEAR
BURLINGTON DISMAS HOUSE
$1,500REPLACE GAS HEATING SYSTEM