Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
The Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust is a private foundation established in Sanford, North Carolina to continue the philanthropic legacy of Ruby Vann Crumpler McSwain (1918-2015), a prominent Lee County entrepreneur, artist, and North Carolina philanthropist. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a single employee and is managed by trustees who honor Ruby McSwain's vision of supporting her "beloved communities."
Key facts about Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
- EIN
- 46-7170073
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $957,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $34,179
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (5 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's 28 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sanford, NC (22 grants), Raleigh, NC (3 grants) and Cary, NC (2 grants). None of its 28 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fund Recipient's Exempt Purpose" (27 grants).
Is Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 28 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $66K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
- How to evaluate Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$957K
-22.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
-28.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust was created to advance the philanthropic legacy of Ruby McSwain, who was described as "one of the most prolific philanthropists in the last 20 years." The foundation focuses on:
- Education
- Agriculture
- Human services
- Community development
- Arts and culture
The foundation emphasizes partnerships with educational institutions and a strong commitment to supporting rural communities and Lee County initiatives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 - $300,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on:
- Lee County, North Carolina
- North Carolina statewide
Funding is restricted to in-state organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 28 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $28.4 million - $33 million
- Annual giving: $957,000
- Giving rate: 3.4% of assets
Historical Financials (2023):
- Total assets: $27,511,152
- Total revenues: $814,979
- Total expenses: $1,597,744
- Investment income and dividends: $696,177
- Net rental income: $23,735
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include City of Sanford ($250,000), Outreach Mission ($110,000), Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF SANFORD Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| OUTREACH MISSION Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $110,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC Raleigh, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| LEE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| NCSU - NC VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION Raleigh, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| TEMPLE THEATRE Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| SANFORD BRUSH & PALETTE CLUB Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPEINT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $32,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS Raleigh, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL CAROLINA Sanford, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Anita Blackmon
- Hubert L. Blackmon (Lynn Blackmon)
The trustees cared for Ruby McSwain until her passing and continue to manage the foundation according to her philanthropic vision.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubert L Blackmon | Trustee | 40 | $78,436 |
| Anita Blackmon | Trustee | 40 | $58,320 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation made a significant $1 million gift to the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace, a community development project designed to revitalize East Sanford, address food insecurity, celebrate Lee County's agricultural heritage, and create economic opportunities for food entrepreneurs and regional growers.
Sanford Agricultural Marketplace gets $1 million McSwain giftThe foundation has partnered with the Lee County Education Foundation on grant initiatives supporting Lee County schools, including a $150,000 grant for educational programs.
Lee County Education Foundation, Worthy Lands Trust team up for second $150,000\The trust has established endowments supporting the Sanford Brush & Palette Club and has created substantial endowments for arts scholarships at Meredith College and funding for the North Carolina Museum of Art's Museum Park expansion.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands fund?
The trust was created to advance the philanthropic legacy of Ruby McSwain, who was described as "one of the most prolific philanthropists in the last 20 years." The foundation focuses on: • Education • Agriculture • Human services • Community development • Arts and culture The foundation emphasizes partnerships with educational institutions and a strong commitment to supporting rural communities and Lee County initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands?
The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on: • Lee County, North Carolina • North Carolina statewide Funding is restricted to in-state organizations.
What size grants does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands award?
In 2024, Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands awarded 28 grants totaling $957K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's EIN?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-7170073. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.