Make a Difference Fund

ROCKY MOUNT, NC EIN: 26-0886415

Make a Difference Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in ROCKY MOUNT, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $248K. Net investment income was $131K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.9M

-4.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$248K

-5.9% YoY

Grant Count

10

+11.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$25K

-15.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Make a Difference Fund reported a distributable amount of $154K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Make a Difference Fund

Based on IRS filings

Make a Difference Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in ROCKY MOUNT, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $248K. Net investment income was $131K.

Ready to take the next step with Make a Difference Fund?

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Cities

ArlingtonChapel HillElizabeth CityGreensboroKinstonRaleighRenoRocky MountSnow HillWashingtonWynnewood

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$97K$194K$291K$388K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,884,760$3,014,831$3,184,572
Revenue$181,824$155,630$222,758
Expenses$298,732$325,371$251,046
Qualifying Distributions$247,520$264,660$167,880
Net Investment Income$131,496$100,756$77,080
Distributable Amount$154,345$162,249$165,491

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$66K$132K$197K$263K10 grants20207 grants202111 grants20229 grants202310 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATI…$201KTHE TRINITY FORUM$15KBE LOUD SOPHIE FOUNDATION$10KCITY OF REFUGE FOUNDATION$10KTHE MOREHEAD-CAIN SCHOLA…$5KALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FO…$3KECSU FOUNDATION FOR JOHN…$1KGUILFORD COUNTY SPORTS H…$1KPEACEMAKERS OF ROCKY MOUNT$1KNC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$500

Grant Size Distribution

47 grants across all recorded years

40<$50K$50–100K7$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Educational Foundation Inc - University of North Carolina ($201,000), The Trinity Forum ($15,000), Be Loud Sophie Foundation ($10,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION WYNNEWOOD, PAGENERAL SUPPORT$3,000
BE LOUD SOPHIE FOUNDATION CHAPEL HILL, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$10,000
CITY OF REFUGE FOUNDATION ROCKY MOUNT, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$10,000
ECSU FOUNDATION FOR JOHNNY PFEFFERKOM ELIZABETH CITY, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
GUILFORD COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME GREENSBORO, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
NC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RALEIGH, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$500
PEACEMAKERS OF ROCKY MOUNT ROCKY MOUNT, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC - UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$201,000
THE MOREHEAD-CAIN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION CHAPEL HILL, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$5,000
THE TRINITY FORUM WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
E WAYNE GIBSONMANAGER1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Make a Difference Fund?

Make a Difference Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in ROCKY MOUNT, NC. It holds $2.9M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Make a Difference Fund?

As of 2024, Make a Difference Fund holds $2.9M in total assets with $182K in annual revenue. It awarded 10 grants totaling $248K in 2024.

Where does Make a Difference Fund operate?

Make a Difference Fund has awarded grants in District of Columbia, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

What size grants does Make a Difference Fund award?

In 2024, Make a Difference Fund awarded 10 grants totaling $248K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Make a Difference Fund required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Make a Difference Fund reported a distributable amount of $154K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Make a Difference Fund's EIN?

Make a Difference Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0886415. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Make a Difference Fund's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

What could you do with Make a Difference Fund 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 Make a Difference Fund to a real strategy.

Plan your approach