Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason
The Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The foundation was founded by Raymond "Ray" J. Evernham, a legendary NASCAR crew chief and team owner. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation dedicated to supporting programs and initiatives that align with the Evernham family's philanthropic interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0M
-5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$475K
-39.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-39.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason reported a distributable amount of $115K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus is supporting programs for young adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The foundation co-founded and supports IGNITE, a membership-based community center located in Davidson, North Carolina, operated in partnership with the Autism Society of North Carolina. IGNITE provides young adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome opportunities to explore their talents and interests, develop social skills, and become more involved in their local community.
The foundation also supports developmental and behavioral pediatrics programs and other charitable initiatives aligned with the Evernham family's values.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made significant grants to support its core programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in North Carolina, with particular focus on the Mooresville and Davidson areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Revenue: $461,000
- Total Expenses: $574,000
- Total Assets: $2.01 million
- Total Liabilities: $519
As of December 2021:
- Total Assets: $3.19 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,006,809 | $2,129,581 | $2,535,167 |
| Revenue | $460,629 | $479,772 | $512,991 |
| Expenses | $573,944 | $882,956 | $657,161 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $532,797 | $855,365 | $618,655 |
| Net Investment Income | $64,919 | $76,505 | $21,283 |
| Distributable Amount | $115,385 | $120,331 | $123,872 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Autism Society of NC ($300,000), Speedway Children's Charities ($40,700), The Dale Jr Foundation ($17,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The NASCAR Foundation Daytona Beach, FL | Contribution | $5,000 |
| The Autism Society of NC Raleigh, NC | Contribution | $300,000 |
| Motor Racing Outreach Concord, NC | Contribution | $500 |
| Danny and Ron's Rescue Camden, SC | Contribution | $1,000 |
| Sierra Delta Madison, WI | Contribution | $5,000 |
| Victory Junction Randleman, NC | Contribution | $2,100 |
| The Dale Jr Foundation Mooresville, NC | Contribution | $17,500 |
| Davidson Day School Davidson, NC | Contribution | $10,000 |
| Old Friends Georgetown, KY | Contribution | $250 |
| Martin Truex Jr Foundation Mooresville, NC | Contribution | $13,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Raymond "Ray" J. Evernham — Founder; NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (2018); three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup championship winner as crew chief for Jeff Gordon
- Raymond D. Evernham Jr. — President
- Erin C. Evernham — Director
- William Evernham Sr. — Director
- Raymond J. Evernham — Director
- Emory Det Cullum — Director
- Richard D. Russell — Director
- Robert P. Mack — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond D Evernham Jr | President | 3 | — |
| Erin C Evernham | Director | 0.5 | — |
| William Evernham Sr | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Raymond J Evernham | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Emory Det Cullum | Director | 3 | $5,000 |
| Richard D Russell | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Robert P Mack | Director | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The IGNITE program has continued to expand and serve young adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The AmeriCarna Live Car Show, hosted by Ray Evernham, has served as a major fundraising vehicle for the program, supporting its growth into its second decade of operations. The foundation remains active in supporting autism-related initiatives and developmental pediatrics programs in North Carolina.
AmeriCarna Car Show Raises Funds for Ray Evernham\u2019s IGNITE ProgramSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason fund?
The foundation's primary focus is supporting programs for young adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The foundation co-founded and supports IGNITE, a membership-based community center located in Davidson, North Carolina, operated in partnership with the Autism Society of North Carolina. IGNITE provides young adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome opportunities to explore their talents and interests, develop social skills, and become more involved in their local community. The foundat…
How do I apply for a grant from Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason?
The foundation has made significant grants to support its core programs: • In 2013, the foundation presented $280,000 in proceeds from the auction of a custom 1964 Plymouth Belvedere (the "ForPly") to the Autism Society of North Carolina to benefit the IGNITE program. • The foundation has donated $500,000 to Novant's Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics Program. • The foundation supports ongoing funding for IGNITE through various fundraising initiatives, including the AmeriCarna Live Car Show, w…
Where does Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in North Carolina, with particular focus on the Mooresville and Davidson areas.
What size grants does Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason award?
In 2024, Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason awarded 32 grants totaling $475K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason reported a distributable amount of $115K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason's EIN?
Evernham Family - Racing For A Reason's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2053289. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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