The Goodwin Meissner Family Foundation (GMFF) is a small, family-run charitable foundation headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. The foundation focuses on expanding access to higher education and professional certification by addressing the financial barriers that prevent qualified students from completing their degrees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$394K
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
31
-8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+11.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
GMFF's mission is to help individuals achieve their educational goals by providing financial support to close the gap between available federal aid and the true cost of college attendance.
The foundation's core goals are to:
- Provide opportunity and support, through partner organizations, for individuals to successfully complete a post-secondary degree or professional certification
- Minimize the heavy burden of college debt for those who can least afford it
The foundation recognizes that despite the availability of Federal Pell Grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans, many prospective students still face significant financial gaps that prevent them from pursuing higher education.
Grantmaking
GMFF employs a two-pronged grantmaking strategy:
How to Apply
available on their website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a focus on serving their community.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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
144 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Unc at Chapel Hill ($62,600), Appalachian State University Foundation ($51,250), Unc at Charlotte ($49,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NYU (NEW YORK UNIVERSITY) NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,500 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,500 |
| CALDWELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE & TECH INST HUDSON, NC | SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,500 |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,500 |
| WAKE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FDN RALEIGH, NC | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,000 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOONE, NC | SCHOLARSHIPS | $51,250 |
| NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,000 |
| GRINNELL COLLEGE GRINNELL, IA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,500 |
| HOWARD UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,500 |
| RANDOLPH COLLEGE LYNCHBURG, VA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael S. Goodwin — Founder and Chairman of the Board
- Laura Dean Meissner — President
- Todd C. Meissner — Vice President & Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL S GOODWIN | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| LAURA D MEISSNER | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| TODD MEISSNER | VP OPERATIONS | 2 | — |
| HARRISON STEEL MEISSNER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PIERCE GOODWIN MEISSNER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc fund?
GMFF's mission is to help individuals achieve their educational goals by providing financial support to close the gap between available federal aid and the true cost of college attendance. The foundation's core goals are to: • Provide opportunity and support, through partner organizations, for individuals to successfully complete a post-secondary degree or professional certification • Minimize the heavy burden of college debt for those who can least afford it The foundation recognizes that desp…
How do I apply for a grant from Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc?
GMFF employs a two-pronged grantmaking strategy: 1. **Direct scholarships to individuals** through two programs: • Last Dollar Scholarship program • Pay it Forward program 2. **Partnerships with organizations** that support students through completion of their desired degree or professional certification and help position them for employment in their chosen fields The foundation accepts applications through a formal application process available on their website.
Where does Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc make grants?
The foundation is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a focus on serving their community.
What size grants does Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc award?
In 2024, Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc awarded 31 grants totaling $394K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc's EIN?
Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2352603. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Goodwin Meissner Fam Fdn Inc'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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