Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation
The Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Goldsboro, North Carolina. In 2024, it reported 27 grants totaling $50,720 to charitable organizations, including recipients in North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina.
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation gave $51K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in North Carolina. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,720
- -19.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- -6.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,879
- -13.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $975,316
- +53.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 809 Mill Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534
Phone: (919) 583-9290
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was 1ST Presbyterian Church ($12K). Together the top 10 received $41K.
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 149 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 10% to Florida, and 3% to South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 27 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 55% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 47% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $51K (2024) to $113K (2021). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST Presbyterian Church Goldsboro, NC | Support Mission of Organization | $11,500 |
| East Carolina University Greenville, NC | Support Mission of Organization | $8,250 |
| The Jane Family Foundation Sarasota, FL | Support Mission of Organization | $5,000 |
| YMCA Raleigh Campership Raleigh, NC | Support Mission of Organization | $4,000 |
| Boys Scouts of Tuscorora Goldsboro, NC | Support Mission of Organization | $2,500 |
| Princeton Bapitist Church Princeton, NC | Support Mission of Organization | $2,200 |
| Wayne Community College Foundation Goldsboro, NC | 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr | $2,070 |
| Wayne Country Day School Goldsboro, NC | 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr | $2,000 |
| Wayne Literacy Connection of Wayne Goldsboro, NC | 2001- D E Ash St | $1,500 |
| Medical Missions Inc Charleston, SC | To Support the Mission of the Organization | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $975,316 | $390,975 | $52,131 | $50,720 | 27 | $50,720 | $39,452 | $108,658 |
| 2023 | $636,878 | $31,666 | $65,481 | $63,100 | 29 | $63,100 | $29,285 | $74,134 |
| 2022 | $671,109 | $132,490 | $111,756 | $111,700 | 30 | $111,700 | $29,041 | $70,253 |
| 2021 | $650,723 | $127,732 | $113,214 | $113,150 | 35 | $113,150 | $25,672 | $72,004 |
| 2020 | $636,408 | $37,044 | $62,520 | $61,580 | 28 | — | $31,104 | $51,362 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $109K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations whose own missions involve education, youth services, the arts, and international medical work. For example, Wayne Country Day School says it aims to challenge and nurture students and prepare them for college and life beyond; the Arts Council of Wayne County says it promotes the arts in Wayne County; and Medical Missions Inc. says it works to build Presbyterian hospitals, churches, and schools in developing countries.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $50,720. Awards ranged from $150 to $11,500, with a median of $1,000. Among the largest reported grants were $11,500 to First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro, $8,250 to East Carolina University, $5,000 to The Jane Family Foundation, and $4,000 to YMCA Raleigh Campership. Other recipients included Boys Scouts of Tuscorora ($2,500), Wayne Community College Foundation ($2,070), Wayne Country Day School ($2,000), and Medical Missions Inc. ($1,500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
C Monroe Best is listed as president on the 2024 filing.
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation is led by C. Monroe Best, President on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
C. Monroe Best
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation
How much does Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation give each year?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation gave $51K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $63K across 29 grants.
What is Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,879, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation give grants?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Goldsboro, NC (12 grants) and Raleigh, NC (5 grants).
Does Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Mission of Organization" (19 grants) and "3000 Wayne Memorial Dr" (4 grants).
Who are Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include 1ST Presbyterian Church ($11,500), East Carolina University ($8,250) and The Jane Family Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation reported $975K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $109K (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 Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations whose own missions involve education, youth services, the arts, and international medical work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's EIN?
Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1949712. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ellen & Munroe Best Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ellen-and-munroe-best-family-foundation-morg_044b38d1fb4543f3b357e71cc7f5d592
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561949712_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ellen \& Munroe Best Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ellen-and-munroe-best-family-foundation-morg_044b38d1fb4543f3b357e71cc7f5d592},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Ellen & Munroe Best Family 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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