Ella and Les Swindell Foundation
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Mebane, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $273K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 16 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $65K.
Key facts about Ella and Les Swindell Foundation
In short: Ella and Les Swindell Foundation gave $30K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in North Carolina. 75% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 56-6042828
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- Average grant
- $1,875
- Median grant
- $1,625
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (12 of 16, 2025)
- Total assets
- $272,562
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$273K
+13.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$30K
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
+166.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-64.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ella and Les Swindell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $37K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Ella and Les Swindell Foundation open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 16 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 6% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% 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.
Ready to take the next step with Ella and Les Swindell Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| C HARRISON RAY SCHOLARSHIP FUND Englewood, CO | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $4,500 |
| WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL Woodberry Forest, VA | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $3,750 |
| HANNAHS HAVEN Browns Summit, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $3,750 |
| WYLDER NATIONAL FOUNDATION Scottsdale, AZ | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $2,750 |
| THE SHEPHERDS CENTER Winston Salem, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $2,750 |
| CARTERET COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATI Morehead City, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $2,000 |
| THE COMMUNITY TABLE Dillsboro, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $2,000 |
| EAST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL Kernersville, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $1,750 |
| SPCA OF WAKE COUNTY Raleigh, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $1,500 |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION Raleigh, NC | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $1,150 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $272,562 | $239,261 | $250,578 |
| Revenue | $71,337 | $29,861 | $16,264 |
| Expenses | $38,036 | $41,178 | $21,754 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $31,978 | $34,238 | $16,368 |
| Net Investment Income | $65,279 | $22,971 | $10,878 |
| Distributable Amount | $37,179 | $36,894 | $30,370 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robin Dills
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Thompson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Brandt Swindell Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Anne R. Swindell (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Brandt Swindell (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Priscilla Swindell (2020) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ella and Les Swindell Foundation
How much does Ella and Les Swindell Foundation give each year?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation gave $30K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 6 grants.
What is Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's typical grant size?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,625, and its average grant was $1,875, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ella and Les Swindell Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Ella and Les Swindell Foundation give grants?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (15%) and Virginia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winston Salem, NC (3 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does Ella and Les Swindell Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Services" (16 grants).
Who are Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's largest grantees?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include C Harrison Ray Scholarship Fund ($4,500), Woodberry Forest School ($3,750) and Hannahs Haven ($3,750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ella and Les Swindell Foundation?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation reported $273K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's EIN?
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6042828. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Ella and Les Swindell Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ella and Les Swindell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports education, environmental stewardship, disaster relief, hunger relief, health, arts, and community needs, with emphasis on organizations connected to Enterprise employees, their families, or established customers. It gives across communities where Enterprise operates; its 2024 median grant was $3,000, though grants ranged widely. Applications are accepted at any time, but the profile does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Lincoln Financial Foundation Inc
Radnor, PA
Lincoln Financial Foundation funds nonprofits focused on financial wellness and workforce development, youth education, and human services such as housing, homelessness, and food insecurity, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3 to $250,000, with a median of $100, and it supports eligible organizations serving listed communities where Lincoln Financial has a significant presence, including Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, and Omaha. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.8M
Grants
3,159
Total Given
$8.8M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce development, local economic development and recovery, disaster resilience, conservation, and economic opportunity in communities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It reports more than $30 million in annual charitable grants; awards vary widely, with a 2024 median of $25,000, and applications of $20,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should contact their local Foundation representative before applying.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Texas Instruments Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Texas Instruments Foundation funds charitable and educational organizations, with interests including education, human services, racial equity, and the arts; its geographic focus is Texas, though it also gives elsewhere. In 2024 it made 4,484 grants, with a median award of $500 and amounts ranging from $13 to $1,128,000. It accepts unsolicited requests online and has no submission deadlines.
Assets
$73.0M
Grants
4,484
Total Given
$22.6M
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds capital projects, regional or statewide programs, and organizational capacity building that strengthen North Carolina communities; it favors projects with broad or replicable impact and does not fund operating budgets or shortfalls. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,250 to $1 million, with a median of $2,500. Applications are accepted at any time and typically reviewed semiannually.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds nonprofits and other eligible organizations working in areas such as education, health and human services, the environment, youth development, and animal welfare, primarily across 13 counties in North and South Carolina. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; most grants are donor-recommended and have no application process, while some competitive programs accept applications under program-specific rules.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Dogwood Health Trust
Asheville, NC
Dogwood Health Trust funds organizations working to improve health and wellbeing through housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness in Western North Carolina’s 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $21 million, with a median of $37,500; amounts vary by opportunity.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
835
Total Given
$148.2M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winstonsalem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds nonprofits and community groups serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, health, arts, community development, and human services. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; specific programs offer up to $2,000 for small grants, $30,000 for civic engagement and inclusion, and $15,000 through The Women’s Fund. It accepts applications through its grants portal for listed programs, subject to their requirements and deadlines.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$88.8M
GiveClear Foundation
Charlotte, NC
GiveClear Foundation distributes donor-advised fund grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits across the United States, supporting a wide range of charitable missions. In 2024, its listed grants ranged from $5,100 to $2.1 million, with a median of $15,000; it does not specify an application process for outside grant-seekers.
Assets
$215.4M
Grants
816
Total Given
$28.8M
The Community Foundation
Asheville, NC
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina funds nonprofits and public agencies working in cultural resources, education, human services and natural resources, with some programs also accepting faith communities. Grants serve 18 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary; the median 2025 grant was $25,000, and the Human Services and Education program offers up to $25,000. Application access and deadlines vary by program; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
793
Total Given
$59.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports local needs across North Carolina, especially in rural communities, including human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, arts, and scholarships. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $15,000, though amounts varied widely; organizations may apply through the relevant affiliate, giving circle, or community fund, with eligibility and deadlines varying by program.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Pfizer Foundation funds locally led health programs that improve access to care and strengthen health systems, as well as health-crisis and disaster responses, worldwide. In 2024, grants ranged from $2 to $4 million, with a median of $200. It supports only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
More Funders in North Carolina
Ella and Les Swindell Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?