Cape Fear Memorial Foundation
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, North Carolina. It supports local not-for-profit organizations serving the health and wellness needs of people in southeastern North Carolina.
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: Cape Fear Memorial Foundation gave $2.9M across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in North Carolina. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,906,000
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- -8.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,581
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $74,732,622
- +7.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (11 of 38, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (98% 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 Cape Fear Memorial Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, according to its 2024 filing. Application forms and request guidelines are available from the foundation; its website describes a two-stage application process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists January 15 and July 15. The website’s Spring 2026 Stage 1 deadline of December 15, 2025, and Stage 2 deadline of January 15, 2026, have passed. The Fall 2026 Stage 1 deadline of June 15, 2026, and Stage 2 deadline of July 15, 2026, have also passed. The website says final reports are due one month and one year after the grant disbursement date.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists January 15 and July 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Anna P Erwin
Mailing address: 240 Racine Dr Suite 201, Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 452-0611
Website: https://www.cfmfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cape Fear Memorial Foundation
Who Cape Fear Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cape Fear Clinic Inc ($375K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
265 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 265 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated service area consists of Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Pender, and New Hanover counties. Its eligibility page also describes qualifying organizations as located within an approximate 50-mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cape Fear Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 38 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $86K. How we count
Medians: $45K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $2.7M (2020) to $3.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear Clinic Inc Wilmington, NC | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| New Hanover Community Health Center Inc Wilmington, NC | Expansion Project | $200,000 |
| Cape Fear Community College Foundation Inc Wilmington, NC | Dental Clinic Equipment Support | $150,000 |
| Salvation Army Wilmington, NC | Build Hope Capital Campaign | $150,000 |
| Cape Fear Clinic Inc Wilmington, NC | Pharmacy Services Support | $125,000 |
| New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation Inc Wilmington, NC | Digitally Enabled Care Rooms | $110,000 |
| Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Lifecarecenter Wilmington, NC | Palliative Care Expansion | $100,000 |
| New Hope Clinic Inc Southport, NC | Mobile Health Clinic | $100,000 |
| New Hope Clinic Inc Southport, NC | Salary Support | $100,000 |
| Duplin County Health Department Kenansville, NC | Child Health Services | $95,000 |
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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 | $74,732,622 | $4,771,383 | $3,967,990 | $2,906,000 | 43 | $3,328,105 | $4,537,561 | $3,448,819 |
| 2024 | $69,301,614 | $3,350,956 | $4,247,163 | $3,168,000 | 47 | $3,588,298 | $3,124,200 | $3,163,620 |
| 2023 | $63,593,607 | $1,832,719 | $3,065,866 | $3,037,800 | 57 | $3,463,857 | $1,631,759 | $3,005,841 |
| 2022 | $60,790,726 | $3,695,159 | $3,257,262 | $2,755,250 | 53 | $3,133,195 | $3,463,794 | $3,485,037 |
| 2021 | $74,803,897 | $4,761,492 | $3,748,357 | $2,859,500 | 65 | — | $4,487,559 | $3,303,810 |
| 2020 | $61,115,032 | $2,262,007 | $3,836,455 | $2,655,750 | 65 | — | $2,064,578 | $2,971,250 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M 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 foundation states that its primary purpose is to serve the health and wellness needs of people in southeastern North Carolina by supporting local not-for-profit organizations. Its granting philosophy prioritizes programs and organizations that promote health education, disease prevention, and direct medical and health services.
The foundation’s 2025 awards included support for clinic operations and pharmacy services, medical and dental services, palliative care, a mobile health clinic, and child health services. Among the grantees, Cape Fear Clinic describes its work as providing affordable healthcare to low-income people and families, while New Hanover Community Health Center describes its work as providing medical, dental, and behavioral health services. New Hope Clinic says it provides healthcare and wellness services for underserved adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 43 grants totaling $2,906,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $60,000.
The largest listed award was $250,000 to Cape Fear Clinic for general operating support. Other notable awards included $200,000 to New Hanover Community Health Center for an expansion project; $150,000 to Cape Fear Community College Foundation for dental clinic equipment support; and $150,000 to the Salvation Army for its Build Hope capital campaign. New Hope Clinic received two $100,000 grants, for a mobile health clinic and salary support.
The foundation’s website says eligible applicants include qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private, non-operating foundations, and public instrumentalities providing services to improve community health and welfare. Its 2024 filing states that grants are made only to 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities for health and medical needs in southeastern North Carolina. The filing says application forms and request guidelines are available from the foundation. The website lists a two-stage application process, with Stage 1 followed by a full application.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anna Erwin as president and treasurer; James D. Hundley, MD, as chairman; Richard L. Woodbury as vice chairman; Janelle A. Rhyne, MD, as secretary; Ronald R. Sinclair as assistant secretary; and Garry Garris, Robert F. Warwick, and Mott P. Blair IV, MD, as board members.
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation is led by Anna Erwin, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anna Erwin
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$134K (2020) → $156K (2025)
James D. Hundley MD
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garry Garris
Board Member
Chairman → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$30K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Janelle A. Rhyne MD
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mott P. Blair IV MD
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard L. Woodbury
Vice Chairman
Board Member → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert F. Warwick
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald R. Sinclair
Assistant Secretary
Board Member → Assistant Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Johnsie Davis RN (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Agnes R. Beane (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: William H. Cameron (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: W. Carter Mebane III (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
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 $156K, to Anna Erwin (President/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Cape Fear Memorial Foundation
How much does Cape Fear Memorial Foundation give each year?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation gave $2.9M across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.2M across 47 grants.
What is Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $60,000, and its average grant was $67,581, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cape Fear Memorial Foundation that year got $54K on average.
Where does Cape Fear Memorial Foundation give grants?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, NC (23 grants), Southport, NC (5 grants), Kenansville, NC (3 grants) and Shallotte, NC (3 grants).
Does Cape Fear Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 28% of Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cape Fear Clinic Inc ($375,000 across 2 grants), New Hanover Community Health Center Inc ($200,000) and New Hope Clinic Inc ($200,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cape Fear Memorial Foundation?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation reported $74.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Cape Fear Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its primary purpose is to serve the health and wellness needs of people in southeastern North Carolina by supporting local not-for-profit organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cape Fear Memorial Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, according to its 2024 filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1974747. 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 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cape Fear Memorial Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cape Fear Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cape-fear-memorial-foundation-morg_0e55434c7354476786845fc314f607d4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561974747_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cape Fear Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cape-fear-memorial-foundation-morg_0e55434c7354476786845fc314f607d4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Cape Fear Memorial 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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