# The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in New Haven, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** New Haven, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 178 Summers Street, Charleston, WV 25301
- **Founded:** 1962
- **Assets under management:** 304 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** tgkvf.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.tgkvf.org

## About

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation was established in 1962. It administers donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and geographic affiliates such as the Boone County Community Foundation. Michelle Foster serves as President and CEO. The foundation maintains a diversified portfolio that includes public equities indexed to the Russell 3000 and MSCI AC World ex US, fixed income, hedge fund strategies split between conservative and strategic approaches, and a 1.97 percent allocation to private equity. Real assets exposure covers real estate common trust funds and timber holdings intended as inflation hedges. Geographic focus remains West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region. TGKVF, Inc. serves as the holding subsidiary for certain assets. Michelle Foster directs operations with support from Kristin Mounts as Executive Vice President and CFO. The foundation reported distribution of over $17 million in grants and scholarships in 2025. It maintains memberships in Philanthropy West Virginia, the Council on Foundations, and the Appalachia Funders Network. Service providers include Prime, Buchholz & Associates as investment advisor since 1996 and Steptoe & Johnson for legal counsel. Governance centers on a board of trustees and component structure that separates philanthropic distribution from investment management through external advisors.

## Sectors

- Philanthropy
- Education

## People

- Michelle Foster — President and CEO
- Will Carter — Chair of the Board of Trustees

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation?

Michelle Foster serves as President and CEO. External advisors including Prime, Buchholz & Associates and NTV Asset Management handle day-to-day portfolio management.

### What asset classes does The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation allocate to?

Allocations include domestic and international equities, fixed income, hedge funds, private equity at 1.97 percent, and real assets such as real estate and timber.

### Does The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation make direct investments or fund commitments?

The foundation participates through fund-of-funds vehicles and limited partner positions in private equity and hedge funds via TGKVF, Inc.

### Where does The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation focus its grantmaking?

Grantmaking targets education, health, arts, and community development within West Virginia and Central Appalachia, including over 100 scholarship funds.

## Related profiles

- [Hao Family Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/hao-family-foundation)
- [Thomas Weisel Global Growth Partners](https://altss.com/profile/thomas-weisel-global-growth-partners)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/the-greater-kanawha-valley-foundation-gkvf

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