Anonymous Trust
Anonymous Trust is a private foundation based in Raleigh, an individual recipient It describes its work as place-based philanthropy to elevate and empower rural, under-resourced, and marginalized communities in eastern an individual recipient, through grantmaking, resource development, and relationship building.
Anonymous Trust at a glance
In short: Anonymous Trust gave $20.3M across 344 grants in 2025 (avg $59K), mostly in North Carolina. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,342,320
- +29.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 344
- +39.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $59,135
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $110,535,432
- -9.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (81 of 187, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Anonymous Trust
- Review Cycle
- November 1 for the following academic year, as stated in the filing.
- Deadline
- November 1 for the following academic year, as stated in the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Margaret Turlington Coordinator
Mailing address: PO Box 2087, Clinton, NC 28329
Phone: (910) 385-6716
Website: https://anonymous-trust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Anonymous Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fayetteville State University Foundation ($2.9M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 24 grants to individuals ($87,059), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,194 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 894 grants of 1,194 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s website identifies rural and underserved communities in eastern an individual recipient as its place-based focus and says it supports Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient, 5% to Georgia, 2% to an individual recipient, and 1% each to California and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 344 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Anonymous Trust open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 81 of 187 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $160K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 48% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9.4M (2020) to $20.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 344 grants totaling $20.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville State University Foundation Fayetteville, NC | Securities Donation for General Operating Support | $2,520,570 |
| Arise Collective Raleigh, NC | Grant for General Operating Support | $1,569,768 |
| NC State Foundation Inc Raleigh, NC | Grant for Transformational Scholars | $1,325,950 |
| North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation Raleigh, NC | Securities Donation for General Operating Support | $1,002,640 |
| UNC Pembroke Foundation Inc Pembroke, NC | Securities Donation for General Operating Support | $604,384 |
| Barton College Wilson, NC | Securities Donation for General Operating Support | $487,115 |
| Fayetteville State University Foundation Fayetteville, NC | Grant for General Operating Support | $405,145 |
| Ipas Chapel Hill, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $400,000 |
| Teach for America Atlanta, GA | Grant for General Operating Support | $400,000 |
| UNC Chapel Hill Atlanta, GA | Grant for Carolina Corp at 26-Project | $380,370 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $110,535,432 | $5,800,690 | $21,837,103 | $20,342,320 | 344 | $21,588,813 | $5,504,232 | $14,953,608 |
| 2024 | $122,328,461 | $7,178,865 | $17,242,736 | $15,697,309 | 246 | $17,016,810 | $6,889,643 | $14,194,598 |
| 2023 | $132,206,821 | $30,587,157 | $15,395,941 | $14,409,677 | 199 | $15,192,563 | $30,346,248 | $11,772,206 |
| 2022 | $116,687,991 | $4,755,382 | $13,421,334 | $12,319,471 | 223 | $13,069,154 | $4,525,480 | $12,568,188 |
| 2021 | $125,657,875 | $13,712,013 | $11,540,159 | $10,419,294 | 182 | $11,127,175 | $13,474,074 | $13,061,367 |
| 2020 | $123,347,333 | $10,349,676 | $10,400,673 | $9,430,604 | 204 | — | $10,173,403 | $10,263,500 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Anonymous Trust reported a distributable amount of $15.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s stated mission is to elevate and empower rural, under-resourced, and marginalized communities in eastern an individual recipient through grantmaking, resource development, and relationship building. Its website identifies education from pre-K through post-secondary, health and human services, arts and culture, community and economic development, historic preservation, the environment, and disaster relief as areas of support.
The 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. Fayetteville State University Foundation says it raises and disburses funds for programs that further the university’s educational purposes. Arise Collective says it supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women through chaplaincy, transition education, reentry support, and community engagement. The North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation says it stewards and shares the state’s art collection and connects diverse communities to cultural and natural resources. Other 2025 recipients included iPAS, which says it advances reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception, and Ripe for Revival, which says it works with local and regional food producers to distribute meals to people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust reported 344 grants totaling $20,342,320. Awards ranged from $150 to $2,520,570, with a median grant of $3,000. The largest listed awards included $2,520,570 to Fayetteville State University Foundation for general operating support through a securities donation; $1,569,768 to Arise Collective for general operating support; and $1,325,950 to NC State Foundation for transformational scholars. Other large grants included $1,002,640 to the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation for general operating support through a securities donation and $604,384 to UNC Pembroke Foundation for general operating support through a securities donation.
The filing lists a Simple Gifts Scholarship application process. Applicants are directed to contact the scholarship coordinator and submit the application, a current resume, three recommendations, a counselor statement, academic transcripts, a completed CSS Profile, test-score documentation, a college or university financial award letter, and copies of scholarship or fellowship award letters. The scholarship is described as worth up to $50,000 per year toward a four-year degree at an out-of-state liberal arts college or university. Eligibility requirements include an individual recipient residency and U.S. citizenship; qualifying attendance at a Sampson County high school or graduation from Sampson Community College; acceptance to an accredited liberal arts college or university; ranking in the top 25% of the high school graduating class; and unmet financial need.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anne B. Faircloth and Maria M. Lynch as trustees, Margaret Turlington as scholarship coordinator, Kimberly K. Breeden as Simply East Fund director, and Deborah M. Aiken as executive director.
Anonymous Trust is led by Deborah M. Aiken, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Deborah M. Aiken
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$177K (2020) → $198K (2025)
Kimberly K. Breeden
Simply East Fund Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$140K (2020) → $154K (2025)
Anne B. Faircloth
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Maria M. Lynch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret Turlington
Scholarship Coordinator
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $159K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $198K, to Deborah M Aiken (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Anonymous Trust
How much does Anonymous Trust give each year?
Anonymous Trust gave $20.3M across 344 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15.7M across 246 grants.
What is Anonymous Trust's typical grant size?
Anonymous Trust's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $59,135, across 344 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Anonymous Trust that year got $41K on average.
Where does Anonymous Trust give grants?
Anonymous Trust gives mostly in North Carolina: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Clinton, NC (75 grants), Newton Grove, NC (29 grants), Raleigh, NC (26 grants) and Salemburg, NC (14 grants).
Does Anonymous Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Anonymous Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (112 of 344) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Teacher Stipend" (17 grants), "Deep Dive into Reading" (14 grants) and "National Board Certification" (6 grants).
Who are Anonymous Trust's largest grantees?
Anonymous Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Fayetteville State University Foundation ($2,925,715 across 2 grants), NC State Foundation Inc ($1,841,600 across 5 grants) and Arise Collective ($1,569,768), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 24 grants to individuals ($87,059), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Anonymous Trust?
Anonymous Trust reported $110.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Anonymous Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated mission is to elevate and empower rural, under-resourced, and marginalized communities in eastern an individual recipient through grantmaking, resource development, and relationship building. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Anonymous Trust?
Anonymous Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check anonymous-trust.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Anonymous Trust's EIN?
Anonymous Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6220561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Anonymous Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Anonymous Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/anonymous-trust-morg_94366027857042bd8a3b7f07c6ac4a26
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_266220561_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Anonymous Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/anonymous-trust-morg_94366027857042bd8a3b7f07c6ac4a26},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Anonymous Trust'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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