George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation
The George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Established in 2006 and supported by the George B. Buchanan Jr. Estate, the foundation is dedicated to providing grants and support to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations across the United States. The foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation with a mission centered on helping those in need.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.8M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+25.7% YoY
Grant Count
82
+18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+5.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "providing help and support to those in need" across five distinct program areas:
- Military Support — Partnering with charities that provide essential support to military personnel, veterans, and their families during and after service, including housing assistance for veterans and Gold Star families
- Special Needs — Supporting organizations dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through tailored services and programs
- At-Risk Youth — Collaborating with initiatives focused on guiding at-risk youth toward a brighter future through education, mentorship, and support
- Education — Investing in educational organizations that innovate learning and make knowledge accessible to underprivileged communities, as well as organizations providing vocational training opportunities
- Faith-Based Organizations — Supporting faith-based charitable initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation operates a single grant program with no formal application form or published deadlines. Organizations submit Letters of Inquiry to apply for funding.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $150,000
Average Grant
$20,000
Review Cycle
. Organizations submit Letters of Inquiry to apply for funding.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in North Carolina, Virginia, and New York, which account for 71% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 15 states nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $67.9 million (as of February 2024)
- Total assets: $65.8 million (as of February 2025)
- Annual giving: $2.9 million to $3.7 million
- Total revenues (FY 2024): $20,935,033
- Total expenses (FY 2024): $3,035,259
- Investment income and dividends (FY 2024): $1,272,393
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown significantly from $2.3 million in 2011 to $67.9 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,838,620 | $67,868,350 | $49,968,575 |
| Revenue | $1,864,161 | $20,935,033 | $30,311,460 |
| Expenses | $3,893,889 | $3,035,259 | $1,109,442 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,665,000 | $2,915,000 | $1,008,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,033,656 | $1,158,293 | $235,633 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,610,794 | $2,883,313 | $1,021,470 |
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Caldwell Academy ($150,000), Gary Sinese Foundation ($150,000), Jdrf ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A SPECIAL BLEND GREENSBORO, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM SCOTTSDALE, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ASPCA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| AUTHORACARE COLLECTIVE GREENSBORO, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| BLUE ANGELS FOUNDATION PENSACOLA, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA COVINGTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CALDWELL ACADEMY GREENSBORO, NC | SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING | $150,000 |
| CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHARITY WATER STAFFORD, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| CHILDREN OF FALLEN PATRIOTS RESTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- George B. Buchanan Jr. — Principal Officer/President
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE BUCHANAN III | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ROBERT BUCHANAN | PRESIDENT | 6 | — |
| SALLY ALEXANDER | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent Grants
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants awarded include:
Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation — $150,000 (General Support)
Caldwell Academy — $125,000 (Scholarship Funding)
Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew — $125,000 (General Support)
The foundation has supported 51 unique organizations across its grantmaking history, with individual grants ranging from $2,000 to $125,000.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is "providing help and support to those in need" across five distinct program areas: • **Military Support** — Partnering with charities that provide essential support to military personnel, veterans, and their families during and after service, including housing assistance for veterans and Gold Star families • **Special Needs** — Supporting organizations dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through tailored services and programs • **At-Risk …
How do I apply for a grant from George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation?
The foundation operates a single grant program with no formal application form or published deadlines. Organizations submit Letters of Inquiry to apply for funding. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $150,000 • Median grant: $30,000 • Average grant: $20,000 • Typical awards: $2,500 to $150,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking in recent years: • 2022: 17 awards • 2023: 47 awards • 2024: 69 awards **Application Process:** Organization…
Where does George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in North Carolina, Virginia, and New York, which account for 71% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 15 states nationally.
What size grants does George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation award?
In 2025, George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation awarded 82 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation's EIN?
George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4479813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Hillbrook Gkp Iii Foundation Inc
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$32K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Rotary Club of Salisbury Charities
SALISBURY, NC
Assets
$39K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Ihope Foundation
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$10K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Flow Foundation Inc
WINSTONSALEM, NC
Assets
$395K
Grants
53
Total Given
$1.5M
Orange County Partnership for Young
HILLSBOROUGH, NC
Assets
$477K
Grants
18
Total Given
$2.1M
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
WINSTONSALEM, NC
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
17
Total Given
$634K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation to a real strategy.