Amy Wellness Foundation
AMY Wellness Foundation is a public charity based in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, formed in 1995. It makes grants to eligible organizations working to improve health and well-being in Western North Carolina, with particular emphasis on Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
Amy Wellness Foundation at a glance
In short: Amy Wellness Foundation gave $5.7M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $204K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,710,953
- +144.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- -15.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $203,963
- +187.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $55,000
- Total assets
- $20,245,728
- +92.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Amy Wellness Foundation
- Review Cycle
- October 16, 2026.
- Deadline
- October 16, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 31 Cross St Ste 266, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Phone: (828) 592-4083
Website: https://amywellnessfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Amy Wellness Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chief Cares ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 93 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated emphasis is Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties in Western North Carolina. Its website identifies those counties as the service area for the Fall 2026 grant cycle. In 2025, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 35% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Amy Wellness Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $153K (2019) to $5.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $5.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Cares Nashville, TN | Disaster Recovery | $2,012,500 |
| Avery County Long Term Recovery Group Greensboro, NC | Disaster Recovery | $881,344 |
| Avery YMCA Linville, NC | Capacity Building | $550,000 |
| Mitchell County Long Term Recovery Group Bakersville, NC | Disaster Recovery | $463,833 |
| Mountain Community Health Partnersh Burnsville, NC | Mental Health Servic | $316,667 |
| Yancey County Long Term Recovery Group Burnsville, NC | Disaster Recovery | $251,166 |
| Mitchell Shepherds Staff Spruce Pine, NC | Food Security | $147,307 |
| Southern Reconciliation Ministries Bursville, NC | Food Security | $143,958 |
| High Country Community Health Boone, NC | Mental Health Servic | $133,333 |
| Tractor Food & Farms Burnsville, NC | Food Security | $85,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing’s program description separately reports $5,761,757 in financial support to community organizations for operational and capital needs.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,245,728 | $15,868,528 | $6,645,029 | $5,710,953 | 28 | $749,106 |
| 2024 | $10,520,955 | $3,308,017 | $3,021,386 | $2,340,070 | 33 | $452,323 |
| 2023 | $10,526,371 | $538,920 | $1,552,655 | $994,635 | 10 | $-771,925 |
| 2022 | $10,601,716 | $527,496 | $2,128,118 | $1,676,512 | 12 | $194,896 |
| 2021 | $12,919,442 | $7,435,446 | $1,617,063 | $981,141 | 10 | $554,083 |
| 2020 | $6,951,579 | $5,598,842 | $1,741,038 | $1,264,309 | 28 | $230,946 |
| 2019 | $5,161,640 | $5,120,300 | $303,003 | $153,259 | 1 | $42,192 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in Western North Carolina, particularly those living in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, by making grants to eligible organizations working toward that goal.
Its 2026 grant opportunities include Disaster Recovery & Resilience Grants for ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery and long-term community resilience, and Community Impact Grants for work improving health and well-being in the three-county region. Both opportunities may fund programs and projects, unrestricted general operating support, and capacity building. The foundation’s 2025 filing also describes emergency response relief in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, alongside operational and capital support for community organizations.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group says it addresses unmet needs of people and families affected by Hurricane Helene, with a focus on equitable recovery. High Country Community Health says it provides health care regardless of ability to pay. Mitchell County Shepherds Staff says it provides direct assistance to people in need, and Dig In Yancey Community Garden says it works to feed Yancey County and help people grow healthy food.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $5,710,953. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $2,012,500, with a median of $55,000. The largest listed awards included $2,012,500 to CHIEF CARES for disaster recovery; $881,344 to Avery County Long Term Recovery Group for disaster recovery; $550,000 to Avery YMCA for capacity building; and $463,833 to Mitchell County Long Term Recovery Group for disaster recovery. Other notable awards included $316,667 to Mountain Community Health Partners for mental health services and $251,166 to Yancey County Long Term Recovery Group for disaster recovery.
The Fall 2026 cycle offers Disaster Recovery & Resilience Grants of up to $75,000 and Community Impact Grants of up to $50,000. The foundation’s September 1, 2026 announcement says eligible nonprofit and other partners working in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties may apply online through the funding-opportunities page.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The website lists Starli McDowell, John Miller, John Blackburn, Barbara Middleton, and Brenda Howell Sparks on the board of directors. It identifies Luke Howe as executive director and Caitlin Johnson as associate director. The 2025 filing lists Starli McDowell as chair, John Miller as vice chair, and John Blackburn as treasurer, along with board members and staff.
Amy Wellness Foundation is led by Starli McDowell, Chair since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Starli McDowell
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Howe
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$158K (2020) → $170K (2025)
Caitlin Trew-Johnson
Associate Di
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$104K (2022) → $141K (2025)
Barbara Middleton
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Howell-Sparks
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Blackburn
Treasurer
Vice Chair → Chair, 2020
Chair → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Miller
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Shultz
Brd Member T
Board Member → Brd Member T, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hartom
Brd Member T
Board Member → Brd Member T, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Brenda Sparks (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Shultz (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Randy Ellis (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Maureen Thornton (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $170K, to Luke Howe (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Amy Wellness Foundation
How much does Amy Wellness Foundation give each year?
Amy Wellness Foundation gave $5.7M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 33 grants.
What is Amy Wellness Foundation's typical grant size?
Amy Wellness Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $55,000, and its average grant was $203,963, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Amy Wellness Foundation give grants?
Amy Wellness Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (35%). The most frequent recipient cities were Burnsville, NC (11 grants), Spruce Pine, NC (5 grants) and Boone, NC (2 grants).
Does Amy Wellness Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of Amy Wellness Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Disaster Recovery" (5 grants) and "Food Security" (5 grants).
Who are Amy Wellness Foundation's largest grantees?
Amy Wellness Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chief Cares ($2,012,500), Avery County Long Term Recovery Group ($881,344) and Avery YMCA ($550,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Amy Wellness Foundation?
Amy Wellness Foundation reported $20.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.9M.
What does Amy Wellness Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in Western North Carolina, particularly those living in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, by making grants to eligible organizations working toward that goal. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Amy Wellness Foundation?
Amy Wellness Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check amywellnessfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Amy Wellness Foundation's EIN?
Amy Wellness Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2172660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 3, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Amy Wellness Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Amy Wellness Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/amy-wellness-foundation-morg_9edda6699b4f499ebd17875f65ed5e73
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_582172660_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Amy Wellness Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/amy-wellness-foundation-morg_9edda6699b4f499ebd17875f65ed5e73},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Amy Wellness Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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