Gaston Community Foundation
Gaston Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and community foundation based in Gastonia, North Carolina. Established in 1978 as The Garrison Community Foundation, the organization serves as a philanthropic intermediary connecting donors with community needs. The Foundation manages over 400 charitable funds and operates with a staff of dedicated professionals and a volunteer board of directors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$145.4M
+15.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.3M
+33.7% YoY
Grant Count
168
+8.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
+23.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To inspire generosity, uplift nonprofits, and connect donors with community needs.
Vision: A united community with an uncompromising commitment to investing in opportunity for all.
The Foundation fulfills its mission by:
- Connecting donors to community needs and causes that are meaningful to them
- Investing charitable dollars prudently to achieve lasting results
- Leading collaborative solutions to community issues
Grantmaking
Gaston Community Foundation manages multiple fund types to support community giving:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Gaston County, North Carolina and the surrounding community.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets Under Management: $150 million (as of June 2025)
Unrestricted Community Endowments: Over $17 million
2024 Financial Performance:
- Total Revenue: $12.1 million
- Total Expenses: $11.5 million
- Total Assets: $145 million
- Total Liabilities: $45.2 million
- Main Investment Pool Performance: +11.12%
2023 Financial Performance:
- Total Revenues: $9,263,491
- Total Expenses: $8,944,535
- Total Assets: $126,209,800
Staffing: 8 employees (as of 2023)
Founding Capital: Initial funding of $726,524 came from remainder assets of the former Garrison General Hospital.
Largest Fund: The Allen H. and Anne R. Sims Fund, an unrestricted bequest valued at over $4 million.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $145,388,423 | $126,209,800 | $120,059,448 |
| Revenue | $12,089,275 | $9,263,491 | $13,988,192 |
| Expenses | $11,491,725 | $8,944,535 | $7,152,255 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,225,932 | $4,176,444 | $2,383,282 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Gaston Community Foundation
Allen H. Sims Award
GASTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CFGC: Next Generation Fund Grant
GASTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Grants Cycle
GASTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Caromont Health Foundation ($565,200), Catawba Lands Conservancy ($317,417), Boys and Girls Club of Gastonia ($219,225).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY GASTONIA, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,189 |
| ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH GASTONIA, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN LEGION POST 23 GASTONIA, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,606 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS BLUE RIDGE GREENSBORO, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,500 |
| ANIMAL LEAGUE OF GASTON COUNTY GASTONIA, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,825 |
| APPLACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $32,000 |
| BACKPACK WEEKEND FOOD PROGRAM GASTONIA, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $53,778 |
| BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME OF NC THOMASVILLE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,557 |
| BAPTIST RETIREMENT HOMES OF NC WINSTONSALEM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,609 |
| BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION OF NC PLEASANT GARDEN, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,826 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Rankin — President
- Elizabeth Patton — Executive Vice President
- Nina Greene — Grants & Scholarships Officer
- Angela Micalizzi — Financial Officer
- Lauren Vanacore — Community Engagement Officer
- Sydney Powell — Communications Office Administrator
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of 20 members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY PASCHALL | PAST CHAIR | — | — |
| DAVID ROGERS | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JOHN MCGILL | SECRETARY/TR | 1 | — |
| NAZRUL CHOWDURY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT CALDWELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK EPSTEIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE FAYED | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN GRIFFITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR KELVIN HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVIDSON HOBSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRIS PEEK | INVESTMENT C | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY POWELL | GRANTS CHAIR | 1 | — |
| AMY SPENCER | DEVELOPMENT | 1 | — |
| ROBERT SPENCER | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JENNIE STULTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAM WARLICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID WOFFORD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN LOWERY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JANE PEARSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVEN WILSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 704-864-0927
Email: info@cfgaston.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 123, Gastonia, NC 28053
Physical Address: 250 South New Hope Rd Suite A, Gastonia, NC 28054
Website: www.cfgaston.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gaston Community Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To inspire generosity, uplift nonprofits, and connect donors with community needs. **Vision:** A united community with an uncompromising commitment to investing in opportunity for all. The Foundation fulfills its mission by: • Connecting donors to community needs and causes that are meaningful to them • Investing charitable dollars prudently to achieve lasting results • Leading collaborative solutions to community issues
How do I apply for a grant from Gaston Community Foundation?
Gaston Community Foundation manages multiple fund types to support community giving: • **Unrestricted Community Grants** — Available to organizations and programs operating in the community • **Designated Funds** — Funds designated for specific charitable organizations or fields of interest • **Advised Funds** — Donor-advised funds where individual or corporate donors can recommend grants for various community causes • **Specialized Funds** — Including the Harold T. Sumner Professional Educatio…
Where does Gaston Community Foundation make grants?
Gaston County, North Carolina and the surrounding community.
What size grants does Gaston Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Gaston Community Foundation awarded 168 grants totaling $10.3M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gaston Community Foundation's EIN?
Gaston Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1340834. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gaston Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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