NC Idea
NC Idea is a private foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. It supports entrepreneurs and North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through grants and programs, with a stated aim of helping people achieve their entrepreneurial potential.
NC Idea at a glance
In short: NC Idea gave $2.6M across 190 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in North Carolina. 60% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,569,331
- +56.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 190
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,523
- +41.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $51,637,053
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (106 of 177, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to NC Idea
- Review Cycle
- The Fall 2026 cycle lists August 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern as the application deadline.
- Deadline
- The Fall 2026 cycle lists August 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Nc Idea
Mailing address: 411 W Chapel Hill Street Suite C2, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 941-5600
Website: https://ncidea.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who NC Idea funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First Flight Venture Center ($74K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $556K.
Grant Size Distribution
904 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 836 grants of 904 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NC Idea describes its work as serving entrepreneurs throughout North Carolina. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina; the reported shares for New York, California, and Texas were 1%, 0%, and 0%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 190 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is NC Idea open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 106 of 177 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 26% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 213% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2024) to $3.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 190 grants totaling $2.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Black Girl Magic Market Angier, NC | Ecosystem Grants | $65,000 |
| First Flight Venture Center Research Triangle Park, NC | Ecosystem Grants | $63,360 |
| Forward Cities Durham, NC | Ecosystem Grants | $60,000 |
| Ab Community Durham, NC | Ecosystem Grants | $51,667 |
| Matcha Nude Arden, NC | Seed Grants | $50,000 |
| Wheelprice Charlotte, NC | Seed Grants | $50,000 |
| Atlantic Fish CO Raleigh, NC | Seed Grants | $45,000 |
| Hoppy Planet Foods Charlotte, NC | Seed Grants | $45,000 |
| Prospera Charlotte, NC | Ecosystem Grants | $45,000 |
| Sunlight Cary, NC | Seed Grants | $45,000 |
Ready to take the next step with NC Idea?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,637,053 | $4,087,431 | $5,666,010 | $2,569,331 | 190 | $5,237,899 | $3,217,114 | $2,462,197 |
| 2024 | $51,479,301 | $2,335,957 | $4,460,236 | $1,638,646 | 172 | $4,142,643 | $2,016,901 | $2,436,462 |
| 2023 | $52,864,812 | $3,122,027 | $6,348,635 | $3,479,170 | 168 | $5,864,660 | $2,837,992 | $2,631,711 |
| 2022 | $59,546,476 | $6,221,014 | $5,590,363 | $3,566,291 | 207 | $5,395,654 | $4,809,371 | $2,946,029 |
| 2021 | $61,717,458 | $7,754,867 | $5,406,350 | $2,992,086 | 167 | — | $7,436,832 | $2,587,952 |
| 2019 | $53,627,716 | $2,010,973 | $3,783,384 | $2,115,051 | 105 | — | $1,592,426 | $2,650,925 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, NC Idea reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NC Idea’s mission is to strengthen North Carolina’s economy through grants and programs, delivered directly and through a network of partners, in support of its vision to help people achieve their entrepreneurial potential. Its website describes support for entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow high-potential companies, as well as funding to strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Its MICRO and SEED programs support innovative, growth-oriented North Carolina companies. MICRO provides project-based funding to help young companies validate assumptions and develop a business model; SEED provides funding to early-stage companies seeking to scale.
The 2025 grants show support for both companies and ecosystem partners. For example, First Flight Venture Center describes its mission as providing resources to early-stage science companies, and Forward Cities describes its work as equipping community leaders and catalyzing narrative change. Webb Squared says it provides incubator and accelerator services to Black and brown entrepreneurs in rural North Carolina.
Grantmaking
In 2025, NC Idea made 190 grants totaling $2,569,331. Grant amounts ranged from $1,050 to $65,000, with a median of $7,500. Among the largest awards were $65,000 to Black Girl Magic Market for ecosystem grants, $63,360 to First Flight Venture Center for ecosystem grants, and $60,000 to Forward Cities for ecosystem grants. Company awards included $50,000 each to Matcha Nude and WheelPrice for SEED grants.
NC Idea offers two entrepreneur grant programs: MICRO ($10,000) and SEED ($50,000), both described as non-dilutive funding. Grant solicitations generally take place twice a year. A company may apply to either MICRO or SEED, but not both, in a given cycle; a MICRO recipient may apply for SEED in a future cycle if it meets the eligibility requirements. MICRO applicants are assessed on areas including the idea, technology, team, market, competition, strategy, funding, and impact. Eligibility requirements include geography, industry, stage of development, team, market opportunity, and prior and future investment. MICRO companies must be headquartered in North Carolina, conduct a majority of their corporate operations there, and agree to maintain that majority for at least 12 months after completing the grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas R. Ruhe as CEO and Spencer Disher as board chair. Board members listed are Heather McWhorter, David Morris, Tom Snyder, Sonja Ebron, Jerry Edmonds III, Jose Alvarez, Krista Covey, and Keith Luedeman.
NC Idea is led by Thomas R. Ruhe, CEO on every filing since 2019; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas R. Ruhe
CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$328K (2019) → $410K (2025)
Spencer Disher
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonja Ebron
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Edmonds III
Board Member
Board Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jose Alvarez
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Luedeman
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Krista Covey
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Morris
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather McWhorter
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Snyder
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Linda Hall (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Luke Walling (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Stelfanie Williams (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Garrett Hinshaw (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg Brown (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Patti Gillenwater (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Peyton Anderson (2019–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Jerry Edwards III (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Levert (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sean O'Leary (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Walt Brown (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $410K, to Thomas R Ruhe (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about NC Idea
How much does NC Idea give each year?
NC Idea gave $2.6M across 190 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 172 grants.
What is NC Idea's typical grant size?
NC Idea's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $13,523, across 190 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from NC Idea that year got $13K on average.
Where does NC Idea give grants?
NC Idea gives mostly in North Carolina: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (26 grants), Charlotte, NC (24 grants), Raleigh, NC (23 grants) and Winston-Salem, NC (11 grants).
Does NC Idea give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 190 grants with a stated purpose on NC Idea's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Engage Grants" (58 grants), "Micro Grants" (45 grants) and "Ecosystem Grants" (35 grants).
Who are NC Idea's largest grantees?
NC Idea's largest 2025 grantees include First Flight Venture Center ($73,860 across 2 grants), Ab Community ($71,667 across 2 grants) and Black Girl Magic Market ($65,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is NC Idea?
NC Idea reported $51.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does NC Idea fund?
NC Idea’s mission is to strengthen North Carolina’s economy through grants and programs, delivered directly and through a network of partners, in support of its vision to help people achieve their entrepreneurial potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from NC Idea?
NC Idea has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ncidea.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is NC Idea's EIN?
NC Idea's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0702442. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work NC Idea funds
Science & Technology Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in NC Idea's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). NC Idea funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nc-idea-morg_7b6cf3c0bc8c42169d2a3bf6269a524d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010702442_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{NC Idea funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nc-idea-morg_7b6cf3c0bc8c42169d2a3bf6269a524d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from NC Idea'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.
NC Idea down — hundreds of funders to go?