First Citizens Foundation Inc
First Citizens Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Smithfield, an individual recipient Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, colleges, and universities, including support for organizational operations and activities and scholarships.
First Citizens Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: First Citizens Foundation Inc gave $32K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,000
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,909
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $565,072
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to First Citizens Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Post Office Box 1415, Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 414-2515
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Citizens Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ava Gardner Museum ($5K). Together the top 9 received $29K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 54 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient and 5% to recipients in Pennsylvania. Listed recipients included organizations and institutions in Smithfield, Clayton, Wilson, Benson, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Greensboro, and Easton.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Citizens Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2024) to $32K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $32K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ava Gardner Museum Smithfield, NC | Organization Operations and Activities | $5,000 |
| House of Hope Clayton, NC | Organization Operation | $5,000 |
| Wilson Forward Wilson, NC | Organizatin Operation | $5,000 |
| Wilson Arts Wilson, NC | Organization Operations and Activities | $5,000 |
| Johnston Health Foundation Smithfield, NC | Organization Operations and Activities | $2,500 |
| Benson Health Benson, NC | Organization Operations and Activities | $2,000 |
| Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC | Scholarship | $1,500 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
| Lafayette College Easton, PA | Scholarship | $1,500 |
| NC A&T University Greensboro, NC | Scholarship | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $565,072 | $27,859 | $33,691 | $32,000 | 11 | $32,761 | $27,062 | $34,536 |
| 2024 | $570,904 | $27,358 | $29,647 | $27,600 | 10 | $28,150 | $26,851 | $32,506 |
| 2023 | $573,193 | $45,845 | $33,080 | $31,500 | 9 | $32,092 | $45,252 | $28,944 |
| 2022 | $560,428 | $21,366 | $33,260 | $32,000 | 12 | $32,555 | $25,513 | $31,365 |
| 2021 | $572,322 | $19,341 | $33,678 | $32,010 | 12 | $32,503 | $22,306 | $33,719 |
| 2020 | $586,659 | $27,970 | $30,881 | $29,150 | 9 | — | $31,783 | $31,244 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Citizens Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included operating support for organizations such as Wilson Forward, whose mission is to plan for the future of Wilson and Wilson County through dialogue with local citizens and leaders, and the Ava Gardner Museum, which operates a museum featuring memorabilia from the actress’s life. The foundation also made scholarship grants to colleges and universities. Johnston Community College describes its foundation’s mission as building partnerships and resources to enhance educational opportunities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $32,000. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $5,000, with a median grant of $2,000. The largest listed grants were $5,000 each to the Ava Gardner Museum, House of Hope, Wilson Forward, and Wilson Arts. Other listed grants included $2,500 to Johnston Health Foundation and scholarship grants of $1,500 each to Johnston Community College, an individual recipient State University, an individual recipient Wesleyan College, Lafayette College, and NC A&T University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frank B Holding Jr as president; Hope H Bryant as vice president; Olivia Holding as treasurer; Jeff Carver as assistant secretary/treasurer; Judith A Murray as secretary; and Carson H Brice as director.
First Citizens Foundation Inc is led by Frank B. Holding Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frank B. Holding Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carson H. Brice
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hope H. Bryant
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Carver
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith A. Murray
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Holding
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 First Citizens Foundation Inc
How much does First Citizens Foundation Inc give each year?
First Citizens Foundation Inc gave $32K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $28K across 10 grants.
What is First Citizens Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
First Citizens Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,909, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does First Citizens Foundation Inc give grants?
First Citizens Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Smithfield, NC (3 grants) and Wilson, NC (2 grants).
Does First Citizens Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on First Citizens Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (5 grants) and "Organization Operations and Activities" (4 grants).
Who are First Citizens Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
First Citizens Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ava Gardner Museum ($5,000), House of Hope ($5,000) and Wilson Forward ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Citizens Foundation Inc?
First Citizens Foundation Inc reported $565K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (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 First Citizens Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Citizens Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 First Citizens Foundation Inc's EIN?
First Citizens Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6044206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does First Citizens Foundation Inc 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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