Polk County Community Foundation Inc
Polk County Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Tryon, North Carolina, serving Polk County and surrounding communities, including Landrum, South Carolina. Founded in 1975, it receives charitable contributions and supports local nonprofits, students, teachers, and community needs through grants, scholarships, endowment funds, and other donor-directed charitable funds.
Polk County Community Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Polk County Community Foundation Inc gave $3.1M across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in North Carolina. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,067,747
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $61,355
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,549
- Total assets
- $76,751,540
- +16.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Polk County Community Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation welcomes grant and scholarship applications from local organizations, teachers, and students. Organizations generally begin with a Letter of Intent to confirm eligibility and project fit, then eligible organizations apply through the online grants portal. The Letter of Intent is not required for Slater grants or scholarships. The Foundation advises organizations new to it to contact the Foundation about eligibility; a committee reviews newly formed nonprofits and organizations without a grantmaking history. Different funds have different eligibility guidelines.
- Contact
Mailing address: 255 South Trade Street, Tryon, NC 28782
Phone: (828) 859-5314
Website: https://polkccf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Polk County Community Foundation Inc
Free Community Events Grant
Polk County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
US $3,000 - US $8,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Kirby Event Grants
Polk County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mary F. Kessler Fund Grant
Polk County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Polk County Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry Inc ($321K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 180 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation serves Polk County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas, including Landrum, South Carolina. Its website says grants and scholarships are available to local Polk County or Landrum organizations, students, and teachers, subject to the guidelines of each fund. In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 16% to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Polk County Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 50 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $45K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $3.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry Inc Columbus, NC | Support for food distribution, housing, medical & financial assistance for those in need | $320,888 |
| Polk County Schools Columbus, SC | Support for gifted camps, band program, field trips, internships, teacher conferences & educational travel, community partnerships, mentoring & special projects | $276,708 |
| Fence Tryon, NC | Support for 400+ Acre Nature & Equestrian Center | $203,775 |
| Hopeful Restoration Group Little River, SC | Donor advised fund distrubution to support storm recovery in Polk county | $200,000 |
| Sunny View Clubhouse Mill Spring, NC | Support Community Center Improvements & Programs | $186,900 |
| Tryon Fine Arts Center Tryon, NC | Support for community arts center programs, operations & facilities | $155,754 |
| Tryon Arts & Crafts Inc Tryon, NC | Support for arts education programs, community events, operations & facilities | $134,818 |
| Conserving Carolina Hendersonville, NC | Support for Land Conservation | $110,555 |
| Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross Tryon, NC | Endowment Fund Distributions for Operating Support | $97,710 |
| Tryon Little Theater Inc Tryon, NC | Support for Theater Programs & Community Center | $89,610 |
Ready to take the next step with Polk County Community Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $76,751,540 | $8,209,960 | $4,326,991 | $3,067,747 | 50 | $2,584,263 |
| 2024 | $65,749,988 | $4,359,340 | $3,647,577 | $2,596,958 | 44 | $2,500,137 |
| 2023 | $62,182,358 | $2,549,691 | $3,091,951 | $1,882,210 | 31 | $1,808,373 |
| 2022 | $56,500,870 | $3,247,757 | $2,512,033 | $1,378,460 | 30 | $902,156 |
| 2021 | $66,618,195 | $2,369,323 | $2,308,096 | $1,171,341 | 25 | $1,219,378 |
| 2020 | $61,835,986 | $3,595,104 | $3,041,183 | $1,989,804 | 29 | $1,001,331 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to administer entrusted funds for charitable, cultural, educational, and publicly beneficial activities in and around Polk County, North Carolina. Its activities include grants from unrestricted funds, scholarships for local students, distributions from endowment funds, planned-giving programs, and resources and meeting spaces for nonprofits.
The 2025 grants show support for a range of local work. For example, Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry says its mission is to provide basic assistance to Polk County residents who cannot meet basic needs. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center describes its work as preserving green space and providing educational and recreational opportunities connecting nature, animals, and people. Other grantees describe missions focused on disaster support, arts and theater, land conservation, and nature education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 50 grants totaling $3,067,747. Grant amounts ranged from $5,100 to $320,888, with a median of $30,549.
The largest reported awards included $320,888 to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry for food distribution, housing, medical, and financial assistance; $276,708 to Polk County Schools for educational programs and related activities; and $203,775 to FENCE for its nature and equestrian center. Other notable grants included $200,000 to Hopeful Restoration Group for storm recovery in Polk County, $186,900 to Sunny View Clubhouse for community center improvements and programs, and $155,754 to Tryon Fine Arts Center for programs, operations, and facilities.
The Foundation’s website describes competitive grants for organizations, grants for teachers, and scholarships for students. Listed grant opportunities include the Mary F. Kessler Fund Grant for projects in Tryon and Landrum with physical, scenic, cultural, intellectual, or educational benefits; Public Safety Organizations Grants for developing grantwriting expertise; and Kirby Event Grants for free community events. The public safety grant description says eligible organizations receiving this special program are ineligible for other Foundation grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter R. Franklin as chair, Susan S. McHugh as vice chair, A. Thomas Jackson as treasurer, and Kevin D. Burnett as secretary. Other listed directors are Carolyn Gibson, Dale L. McEntire, Frances H. Parker, Gordon B. Hamilton, Heidi L. Shull, and Matthew Pohsweg Jr. The website identifies Sara Barron Bell as the Foundation’s President and CEO and Noah Wood as Director of Grants.
Polk County Community Foundation Inc is led by Sara Barron Bell, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sara Barron Bell
President & CEO
Director → President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $209K (2025)
Peter R. Franklin
Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale L. McEntire
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norma W. Batchelder
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
A. Thomas Jackson
Treasurer
Chair → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Gibson
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan S. McHugh
Vice Chair
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frances H. Parker
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin D. Burnett
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gordon B. Hamilton
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi L. Shull
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Pohsweg Jr.
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Monica E Jones (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Sherry M Carter (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Stacey Lindsay (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Faith Weathington (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Philip H. Burrus III (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jay Geddings (2022) — Director
- Former: Carol E. Jackson (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Elizabeth Nager (2020–2021) — President & CEO
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $209K, to Sara Barron Bell (President & CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Polk County Community Foundation Inc
How much does Polk County Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc gave $3.1M across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 44 grants.
What is Polk County Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $30,549, and its average grant was $61,355, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Polk County Community Foundation Inc that year got $35K on average.
Where does Polk County Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tryon, NC (19 grants), Columbus, NC (9 grants), Saluda, NC (5 grants) and Asheville, NC (3 grants).
Does Polk County Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Polk County Community Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Polk County Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry Inc ($320,888), Polk County Schools ($276,708) and Fence ($203,775), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Polk County Community Foundation Inc?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc reported $76.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.2M.
What does Polk County Community Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to administer entrusted funds for charitable, cultural, educational, and publicly beneficial activities in and around Polk County, North Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Polk County Community Foundation Inc?
The Foundation welcomes grant and scholarship applications from local organizations, teachers, and students. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Polk County Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Polk County Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0168751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Polk County Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Polk County Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/polk-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_b089b2b1df2a471fbe53d4b98d57439e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510168751_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Polk County Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/polk-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_b089b2b1df2a471fbe53d4b98d57439e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Polk County Community Foundation Inc'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.
Polk County Community Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?