Highlands Biological Foundation Inc
To actively promote and support biological research and education in the Southern Appalachians.
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Highlands Biological Foundation Inc gave $97K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $96,997
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,332
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,500
- Total assets
- $4,660,488
- +11.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Highlands Biological Foundation Inc
- Next open deadline
- March 1, 2027 (Grants-in-Aid of Research (GIA))
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Highlands Biological Foundation Inc
Who Highlands Biological Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WCU Highlands Biological Station ($76K). Together the top 3 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 15 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Highlands Biological Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 54% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 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 $97K (2025) to $1.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $97K.
*2021: Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WCU Highlands Biological Station Highlands, NC | Support to Station | $75,647 |
| UNC Chapel Hill-Inst for the Environment Chapel Hill, NC | Educational Programming | $11,500 |
| Macon County Schools Franklin, NC | Educational Programming | $9,850 |
Ready to take the next step with Highlands Biological Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,660,488 | $824,480 | $658,933 | $96,997 | 3 | $127,578 |
| 2024 | $4,186,217 | $1,286,677 | $548,973 | $99,332 | 3 | $149,900 |
| 2023 | $3,206,335 | $766,955 | $730,494 | $181,486 | 4 | $207,953 |
| 2022 | $3,029,933 | $547,149 | $651,438 | $212,746 | 2 | $72,060 |
| 2021* | $3,494,713 | $904,290 | $795,858 | $298,172 | 3 | $76,249 |
| 2020 | $2,628,039 | $1,012,601 | $1,490,397 | $1,157,308 | 1 | $51,624 |
*2021: Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
About Highlands Biological Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc is a public charity, based in Highlands, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $97K. Net investment income was $128K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc is led by Jamie Creola, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 35 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jamie Creola
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$57K (2024) → $94K (2025)
Tom Holmes
President
Board Member → Vice President & Treasurer, 2024
Vice President & Treasurer → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Patterson
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Martin
Vice President
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Oakley
Board Member
Board Member → Past President, 2024
Past President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennie Stowers
Board Member
President → Past President, 2023
Past President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Mitchner
Past President
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Patterson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Barlow
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Armstrong
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Stibbs
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Mauldin
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vernon Skiles
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Stewart
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Langford
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Drew Lanham
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonnie Swann
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindy Harrison
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Dailey
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Bush
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Tarver
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gayle Watkins
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keller Torrey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Manning
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Heys
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Strickland
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruthie Edwards
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catharine Seay
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Langford
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Milby
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Bewley
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Helmer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent Wittman
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Winter Gary (2023–2024) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Jim Landon (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Charlotte Muir (2020–2023) — Departing Executive Director
- Former: James Milby (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Julia Sprunt Grumbles (2020–2023) — Past President
- Former: Kimberly Coward (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Marianne Jenkins (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Monte Gaillard (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ruth Edwards (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Sarah Morgan Wingfield (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: William Reeves (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Greg Gregory (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tricia Allen (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: William Clarkson (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: James Landon (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Costa (2023) — Ex-Officio Hbs Director
- Former: Elizabeth Sargent (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Glenn E Murer (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ken Conover (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ruthie Oliver (2020) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $94K, to Jamie Creola (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Biological Foundation Inc
How much does Highlands Biological Foundation Inc give each year?
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc gave $97K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $99K across 3 grants.
What is Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $11,500, and its average grant was $32,332, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Highlands Biological Foundation Inc give grants?
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Highlands Biological Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Highlands Biological Foundation Inc?
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $824K.
What is Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's EIN?
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0634513. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 16, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in North Carolina
North Carolina Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
CD Mitchell Family Foundation
Irving, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$344K
The Bascom Corporation
Highlands, NC
The Bascom creates visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking and doing.
Assets
$11.9M
Grants
2
Total Given
$20K
The Ehney Addison Camp Jr and Mildred
Mountain Brook, AL
Assets
$601K
Grants
7
Total Given
$41K
The Milestone Fund
Birmingham, AL
The Milestone Fund supports charitable, educational, cultural, and health-related organizations in Alabama. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $5,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$947K
Grants
15
Total Given
$159K
Rucker & Margaret Agee Fund UA
Birmingham, AL
The fund supports environmental protection, arts and culture, historic preservation, education, and community services, with most of its giving in Alabama and some grants in other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $750 to $12,500, with a median of $1,625. The 2024 filing says to apply by letter through Barbara Watson at Regions Bank; it lists no deadline or award restrictions.
Assets
$889K
Grants
20
Total Given
$47K
The Samuel & Margaret Gorn Foundation
Baltimore, MD
The foundation supports education, homelessness services, health care, hospice care, hunger relief, and services for people with autism, primarily in Maryland, with some grants in Tennessee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $389 to $77,500, with a median of $25,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.7M
Grants
21
Total Given
$628K
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Highlands Biological Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Highlands Biological Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?