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North Carolina Arts Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Raleigh, NC EIN: 46-3987880 Website

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.

Key facts about North Carolina Arts Foundation

In short: North Carolina Arts Foundation gave $903K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $301K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
46-3987880
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$902,500
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$300,833
Median grant
$200,000
Total assets
$992,573
Primary geography
North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$993K

-9.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$903K

+308.4% YoY

Grant Count

3

Avg Grant Size

$301K

How North Carolina Arts Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 129% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 3 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

RaleighAshevilleGreenvilleWinston-Salem

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2 grants20212 grants2022Total only2023Total only20243 grants2025

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.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

North Carolina Arts Council: $620KNorth Carolina Arts Council$620KAsheville Area Arts Council: $200KAsheville Area Arts Council$200KBlue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc: $83KBlue Ridge National HeritageArea Inc$83K

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

2<$50K1$50–100K1$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 7 (29%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
North Carolina Arts Council Raleigh, NCNC Arts Disaster Relief Grant - Hurricane Helene Relief$620,000
Asheville Area Arts Council Asheville, NCHurricane Helene Relief$200,000
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc Asheville, NCHurricane Helene Relief$82,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$992,573$1,100,833$718,228
Revenue$1,774,499$1,004,596$262,471
Expenses$1,878,632$615,048$698,168
Net Investment Income$53,511$23,344$16,351

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 16, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 29, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)

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

Wayne Martin — Executive Director: $120KWayne MartinExecutive Director$120K

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.

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