Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation
To develop and administer programs to promote, support, and enhance the Rutherford county board of education, the Rutherford county schools and the students attending those schools.
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation gave $147K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $147,249
- +82.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,406
- +36.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,025
- Total assets
- $921,868
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rutherford County Schools ($147K across 8 grants).
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 24 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation gives
- Giving grew 236% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2022) to $561K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Backpack Box Truck | $43,749 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | BackPack Coordinator | $39,305 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Rutherford Early college Omegabytes | $23,856 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Backpack Program Supplies | $10,049 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | 20242025 Expenditures | $10,000 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Robotics Team | $9,205 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Support ScienceProject STEAM | $7,500 |
| Rutherford County Schools Forest City, NC | Helping Hands for the Homeless | $3,585 |
Ready to take the next step with Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $921,868 | $403,537 | $341,638 | $147,249 | 8 | $608 |
| 2024 | $859,969 | $396,669 | $217,409 | $80,927 | 6 | — |
| 2023 | $680,709 | $261,207 | $697,445 | $561,294 | 6 | $491 |
| 2022 | $1,116,947 | $677,463 | $326,878 | $43,814 | 2 | $463 |
| 2021 | $766,362 | $259,472 | $397,924 | $54,281 | 2 | $884 |
| 2020 | $904,814 | $907,675 | $281,264 | $104,017 | 2 | $1,300 |
About Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Forest City, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $922K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $147K. Net investment income was $608.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation is led by Ritchie Garland, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ritchie Garland
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Janet Mason
Chairman
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Amy Smith
Executive Assistant
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jackie Hampton
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mike Gavin
Secretarytreasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretarytreasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Brad Teague (2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Janice Parris (2020) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Shane Earley (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Tripp Flack (2020) — Chairman
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.
Frequently asked questions about Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation
How much does Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation give each year?
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation gave $147K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $81K across 6 grants.
What is Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,025, and its average grant was $18,406, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation give grants?
Rutherford County Schools Education 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 Forest City, NC (8 grants).
Does Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation?
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation reported $922K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $404K.
What is Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation?
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Forest City, NC. It holds $922K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's EIN?
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2771407. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in North Carolina
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds capital projects, regional or statewide programs, and organizational capacity building that strengthen North Carolina communities; it favors projects with broad or replicable impact and does not fund operating budgets or shortfalls. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,250 to $1 million, with a median of $2,500. Applications are accepted at any time and typically reviewed semiannually.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Dogwood Health Trust
Asheville, NC
Dogwood Health Trust funds work in housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness that improves wellbeing in Western North Carolina, including its 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $21 million, with a median of $37,500; application requirements vary by funding opportunity.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
835
Total Given
$148.2M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports charitable organizations and community programs in areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, and the arts. Its typical grant was $15,000 in 2025; it serves communities statewide, with an emphasis on rural North Carolina, and accepts applications through specific affiliate, giving-circle, and other grant programs.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with grants also benefiting fields such as health, conservation, and human services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000 and ranged from about $5,000 to $1.39 million; it primarily serves Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. It accepts applications for competitive discretionary programs during open grant cycles; donor-advised fund grants are also made.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation'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.
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?