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."
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
The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invitation-only basis and makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Decision-making follows trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs.
Grant Range
$5,000 - $300,000
How to Apply
**
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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
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 | — | — | — |
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 include City of Sanford ($250,000), Outreach Mission ($110,000), Food Bank of Central and Eastern Nc ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS RALEIGH, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BAPTIST ON MISSION CARY, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL CAROLINA SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BREAD OF LIFE MINISTRY OF SANFORD SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BREADBASKET OF SANFORD SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| CCCC FOUNDATION SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| CHRISTIANS UNITED OUTREACH CENTER SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| ENRICHMENT CENTER OF LEE COUNTY SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| FLOYD L KNIGHT SCHOOL SANFORD, NC | FUND RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
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 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?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $957,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 28 awards (2024) • Grant range: $5,000 - $300,000 • Median grant: $20,000 **Application Process:** The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invitation-only basis and makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Decision-making follows trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. **Recent Grants (2023-2024):** • Meredith College: $150,000 • Food Bank of Centr…
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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