North Carolina Arts Foundation
The Foundation's mission is to bring private and public sector partners into collaborations that extend the benefits of the arts to residents across the state. As North Carolina emerges from the pandemic, a top priority is to find resources for arts initiatives that benefit youth.
North Carolina Arts Foundation at a glance
In short: North Carolina Arts Foundation gave $903K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $301K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $902,500
- +308.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $300,833
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $992,573
- -9.8% 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.
Who North Carolina Arts Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Carolina Arts Council ($620K). Together the top 3 received $903K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How North Carolina Arts Foundation gives
- Giving grew 129% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $221K (2024) to $903K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $903K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Arts Council Raleigh, NC | NC Arts Disaster Relief Grant - Hurricane Helene Relief | $620,000 |
| Asheville Area Arts Council Asheville, NC | Hurricane Helene Relief | $200,000 |
| Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc Asheville, NC | Hurricane Helene Relief | $82,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $992,573 | $1,774,499 | $1,878,632 | $902,500 | 3 | $53,511 |
| 2024 | $1,100,833 | $1,004,596 | $615,048 | $221,000 | Total only | $23,344 |
| 2023 | $718,228 | $262,471 | $698,168 | $386,000 | Total only | $16,351 |
| 2022 | $1,142,667 | $757,398 | $557,144 | $393,627 | 2 | $856 |
| 2021 | $942,413 | $567,690 | $473,123 | $406,000 | 2 | $902 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About North Carolina Arts Foundation
Based on IRS filings
North Carolina Arts Foundation is a public charity, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $993K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $903K. Net investment income was $54K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
North Carolina Arts Foundation is led by Wayne Martin, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wayne Martin
Executive Director
Executive Officio → Executive Director - Interim, 2022
Executive Director - Interim → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$26K (2022) → $120K (2025)
John Willingham
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Cheek
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Walston
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Logan
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marla Adams
Director
Director → President Elect, 2023
President Elect → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Nipper Bowles
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Davy Arch
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Mitchell
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lowder
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Sims
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Fetscher
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Hill
Executive Officio
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lisa Church (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Mitchell (2021–2022) — President Elect
- Former: Vicki Vitiello (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Lisa Anderson (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $120K, to Wayne Martin (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about North Carolina Arts Foundation
How much does North Carolina Arts Foundation give each year?
North Carolina Arts Foundation gave $903K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $221K in grants paid.
What is North Carolina Arts Foundation's typical grant size?
North Carolina Arts Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $300,833, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does North Carolina Arts Foundation give grants?
North Carolina Arts Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (2 grants).
Does North Carolina Arts Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on North Carolina Arts Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is North Carolina Arts Foundation?
North Carolina Arts Foundation reported $993K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What is North Carolina Arts Foundation's EIN?
North Carolina Arts Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3987880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
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Figures come from North Carolina Arts Foundation'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.
North Carolina Arts Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?