Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands is a private foundation based in Sanford, North Carolina. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations including local public-service, education, arts, and youth organizations, as well as food assistance organizations.
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands at a glance
In short: Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands gave $957K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), mostly in North Carolina. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $957,000
- -22.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,179
- -28.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $28,425,801
- +3.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (5 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2280, Sanford, NC 27331
Phone: (919) 721-6725
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
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City of Sanford ($250K). Together the top 10 received $702K.
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 140 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. Recipients included organizations in Sanford and Raleigh.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 77% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $957K (2024) to $1.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $957K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $28,425,801 | $2,427,428 | $1,513,436 | $957,000 | 28 | $1,025,378 | $1,965,230 | $1,326,969 |
| 2023 | $27,511,152 | $814,979 | $1,597,744 | $1,240,000 | 26 | $1,274,882 | $505,908 | $1,232,305 |
| 2022 | $28,348,923 | $-700,142 | $2,166,705 | $1,657,000 | 27 | $1,743,915 | $520,684 | $1,330,969 |
| 2021 | $31,163,828 | $1,778,110 | $1,913,128 | $1,467,500 | 30 | $1,499,700 | $1,414,556 | $1,492,662 |
| 2020 | $31,346,453 | $1,679,291 | $1,599,775 | $1,035,780 | 29 | — | $1,251,831 | $1,372,125 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Outreach Mission says it assists homeless people with basic needs, including food, clothing, emergency shelter, and emotional support. The Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC describes its mission as nourishing people, building solutions, and empowering communities so no one goes hungry. The Lee County Education Foundation says it supports and enhances K–12 education in Lee County public schools. Temple Theatre Company describes its work as promoting cultural, educational, and recreational programs through live theatre, while Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Carolina says it aims to help young people reach their full potential.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $957,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000. Notable grants included $250,000 to the City of Sanford, $110,000 to Outreach Mission, $75,000 to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, and $50,000 each to the Lee County Education Foundation, NCSU–NC Veterinary Medical Foundation, and Temple Theatre.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Hubert L. Blackmon and Anita Blackmon as trustees.
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Anita Blackmon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $58K (2024)
Hubert L. Blackmon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $78K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $78K, to Hubert L Blackmon (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
How much does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands give each year?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands gave $957K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 26 grants.
What is Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's typical grant size?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $34,179, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands that year got $66K on average.
Where does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands give grants?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sanford, NC (22 grants), Raleigh, NC (3 grants) and Cary, NC (2 grants).
Who are Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's largest grantees?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands's largest 2024 grantees include City of Sanford ($250,000), Outreach Mission ($110,000) and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands?
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands reported $28.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Outreach Mission says it assists homeless people with basic needs, including food, clothing, emergency shelter, and emotional support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 ↑
Data last updated October 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
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruby-and-ernest-mcswain-worthy-lands-morg_2e283aaeac344b10a3792871b8ce84af
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_467170073_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruby-and-ernest-mcswain-worthy-lands-morg_2e283aaeac344b10a3792871b8ce84af},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands'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.
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