The Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The trust operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic giving in specific areas of health research and human services.
Key facts about Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust
- EIN
- 56-6505336
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $335,191
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- Average grant
- $18,622
- Median grant
- $19,826
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (7 of 18, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,713,339
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust's 18 itemized 2025 grants were North Carolina (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, NC (13 grants) and Grimesland, NC (2 grants). None of its 18 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "501C3 Purposes" (17 grants).
Is Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 18 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust
- How to evaluate Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$335K
+4.9% YoY
Grant Count
18
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust reported a distributable amount of $458K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's giving priorities center on organizations engaged in cancer and arthritis research. The foundation also supports education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with a geographic emphasis on North Carolina and South Carolina.
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust primarily funds organizations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 18 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $5,713,339
Total Annual Giving: $335,191
The foundation's financial data is based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing from 2025.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,713,339 | $5,652,281 | $5,683,173 |
| Revenue | $560,564 | $437,643 | $243,931 |
| Expenses | $499,506 | $468,535 | $502,959 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $422,860 | $404,459 | $420,790 |
| Net Investment Income | $491,453 | $363,347 | $184,751 |
| Distributable Amount | $458,291 | $430,352 | $400,472 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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
79 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include St Pauls Episcopal Church ($51,766), Food Bank - Central & Eastern NC ($25,000), Rebuilding Together Pitt County ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $51,766 |
| FOOD BANK - CENTRAL & EASTERN NC Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER PITT COUNTY Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| FEED YOUR NEIGHBOR FOOD PANTRY Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $22,600 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $21,766 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF COASTAL PLAIN Winterville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $21,766 |
| CARENET COUNSELING EAST Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| STRAIGHTWAY CHURCH Ayden, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| CHICOD CHORAL DEPARTMENT Greenville, NC | 501C3 PURPOSES | $19,652 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust is led by James G. Sullivan, Chairman on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James G. Sullivan
Chairman
On filings since 2020
2.8 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $24K (2025)
Danny McNally
Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Andrew S. Cannan
Member
On filings since 2022
1.3 hrs/week
$9K (2022) → $11K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bank Of America (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Hudak (2020) — Member
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
Contact Information
Location: 4242 Six Forks Road, Floor 1, Raleigh, NC 27609-6084
Telephone: 252-756-8888
Administrative Contact: Bank of America (serves as trustee/administrator)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust fund?
The trust's giving priorities center on organizations engaged in cancer and arthritis research. The foundation also supports education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with a geographic emphasis on North Carolina and South Carolina.
How do I apply for a grant from Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $75,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $335,191 in total giving according to its most recent financial data. **Grant Activity:** The trust maintains an active grantmaking program, though specific application procedures are not detailed in available sources.
Where does Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust make grants?
The Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust primarily funds organizations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
What size grants does Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust award?
In 2025, Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust awarded 18 grants totaling $335K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust reported a distributable amount of $458K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust's EIN?
Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6505336. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mildred Sheffield Wells Char Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
James J & Mamie Richardson Perkins
Raleigh, NC
Assets
$10.9M
Grants
26
Total Given
$754K
Eddie and Jo Allison Smith
Greenville, NC
Assets
$302.1M
Grants
206
Total Given
$20.7M
Tr Uw Vivian S West -
Raleigh, NC
Assets
$5.6M
Grants
15
Total Given
$375K
W Russell and Patricia Davis Duke
Greenville, NC
Assets
$398K
Grants
82
Total Given
$245K
The Cannon Foundation Inc
Concord, NC
Assets
$351.7M
Grants
218
Total Given
$14.6M
University Health Systems of Eastern
Greenville, NC
Assets
$58.9M
Grants
35
Total Given
$3.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation
Raleigh, NC
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
Bill and Faye Stallings Family Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$30K
Blackwelder Family Foundation
Greenville, NC
Assets
$31.3M
Grants
7
Total Given
$240K
Bill & Agnes Monk Family Foundation
Greenville, NC
Assets
—
Grants
40
Total Given
$1.7M
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
Assets
—
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
More Funders in North Carolina
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.