Samara Fund Inc
Samara Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Burnsville, North Carolina. The organization was established in 2005 and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity. The foundation operates with no employees and focuses on grantmaking to support charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$228K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
38
+22.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samara Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $178K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ led projects, organizations, and scholarships, with a specific fund dedicated to this purpose.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made grants to organizations in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Average Grant
amount varies by year and recipient
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary grantmaking focus areas include Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The foundation also administers funding specifically for Vermont LGBTQ+ communities through a dedicated fund.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,825,617 to $2,830,244
- Total Revenue: $255,450
- Total Expenses: $241,621
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $108 (partial year data)
Funding Sources: The foundation has received support from The Grand Foundation Trust, which provided $7,942 in 2021 to support tax-exempt organizations in local communities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,830,244 | $2,825,617 | $2,811,788 |
| Revenue | $257,830 | $255,450 | $371,350 |
| Expenses | $253,203 | $241,621 | $246,660 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $228,000 | $219,500 | $224,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $104,032 | $86,828 | $54,722 |
| Distributable Amount | $177,807 | $206,330 | $223,399 |
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
169 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wellness in the Schools ($34,000), Southern Appalachian Highlands Cons ($25,000), Two Titmice Foundation ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABOUT THE ANIMALS CORP BISCAYNE PARK, FL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| ALTAPASS FOUNDATION LITTLE SWITZERLAND, NC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| BEACHES AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $3,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES INC MT PLESANT, PA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $750 |
| BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM ASHEVILLE, NC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $3,000 |
| BLUE MISSIONS GROUP INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| BROTHERS & SISTERS OF ISRAEL WYNNEWOOD, PA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| BRYANT UNIVERSITY SMITHFIELD, RI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $12,000 |
| COMMUNITY HOUSING COALITION OF MADI MARSHALL, NC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| DANCE NOW ENSEMBLE INC MIAMI BEACH, FL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE H KENT | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| EDWARD J EASTON | VP | — | — |
| NANCY EASTON | SECRETARY | — | — |
| WILLIAM MCGANN EASTON | TREASURER | — | — |
| ELIZABETH EASTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Samara Fund awarded $131,250 in grants to support Vermont LGBTQ+ led projects, organizations, and scholarships. This funding supported multiple organizations and scholarship recipients focused on advancing LGBTQ+ communities in Vermont.
The Samara Fund Awards $131,250 in Grants to Support Vermont LGBTQ+ Led Projects,Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samara Fund Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ led projects, organizations, and scholarships, with a specific fund dedicated to this purpose.
How do I apply for a grant from Samara Fund Inc?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $34,000 • Total giving in 2024: $228,000 • Average grant amount varies by year and recipient **Recent Grants (2023):** • Two Titmice Foundation: $15,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • Designs From the Heart: $13,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • Harlem Jets: $10,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • Additional 14 grants made in 2023 **Geographic Distribution:** The foundation has made grants to organizations in Florida, No…
Where does Samara Fund Inc make grants?
Primary grantmaking focus areas include Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The foundation also administers funding specifically for Vermont LGBTQ+ communities through a dedicated fund.
What size grants does Samara Fund Inc award?
In 2024, Samara Fund Inc awarded 38 grants totaling $228K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samara Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Samara Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $178K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Samara Fund Inc's EIN?
Samara Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2742189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Samara Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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