Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
The Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Spruce Pine, an individual recipient Its 2025 filing says it provides general support to charitable organizations and requires grants to have a measurable impact in Mitchell County, with surrounding areas of western an individual recipient considered upon special consideration.
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation gave $600K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in North Carolina. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $600,000
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,294
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,849,218
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Wells Fargo Bank and submit the foundation’s application form and materials. The filing says applications are accepted year-round, but must be submitted by June 30 for review at the annual meeting. The June 30, 2026 deadline has passed; the next deadline is not specified in the available information. Awards must have a measurable impact in Mitchell County, with surrounding areas of western an individual recipient considered upon special consideration.
- Contact
Application contact: Wells Fargo Bank
Mailing address: 100 North Main St 6Th Fl D40, Winson Salem, NC 27101-3818
Phone: (800) 352-3705
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
Who Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mitchell County Development ($335K). Together the top 10 received $590K.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 94 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing requires a measurable impact within Mitchell County, an individual recipient, and allows special consideration for surrounding areas of western an individual recipient All grant dollars itemized for 2025 went to recipients in an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $79K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $567K (2021) to $701K (2020). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $600K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell County Development Spruce Pine, NC | General Purpose | $335,400 |
| Penland School of Craft Penland, NC | Essential Water System Upgrades | $115,000 |
| Pisgah Legal Services Asheville, NC | Sustaining Free Legal in Mitchell CO | $45,000 |
| Greenlee Primary School Spruce Pine, NC | Smart Boards to Support Smart Kids | $27,000 |
| Buladean Community Center Bakersville, NC | Community Playground Project | $25,000 |
| Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Burnsville, NC | Ensuring a Bright Future for Atrc | $21,000 |
| Mitchell Community Health Bakersville, NC | Hurricane Helene Food Pantry | $6,600 |
| Mitchell County Safe Place Spruce Pine, NC | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Special Olympics Morrisville, NC | Special Olympics of Mitchell CO | $5,000 |
| Manna Food Bank Mills River, NC | General Purpose | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,849,218 | $1,195,706 | $759,941 | $600,000 | 17 | $641,538 | $1,095,493 | $691,881 |
| 2024 | $10,382,112 | $964,763 | $798,712 | $640,371 | 17 | $685,668 | $860,271 | $668,060 |
| 2023 | $10,216,061 | $521,516 | $782,410 | $641,500 | 17 | $673,002 | $413,812 | $623,560 |
| 2022 | $10,153,181 | $312,767 | $835,682 | $686,781 | 22 | $731,767 | $214,852 | $691,049 |
| 2021 | $10,675,775 | $685,090 | $752,461 | $567,347 | 21 | $643,974 | $584,058 | $756,719 |
| 2020 | $10,712,651 | $555,693 | $820,461 | $700,951 | 16 | — | $459,232 | $657,545 |
| 2019 | $10,952,287 | $520,462 | $737,323 | $600,076 | 18 | — | $424,384 | $659,936 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $692K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as providing funds for general support to various charitable organizations. Its stated geographic requirement is that grant-funded work have a measurable impact in Mitchell County; upon special consideration, impact in surrounding areas of western an individual recipient may qualify.
The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and projects. For example, Penland School of Craft describes itself as an international center for craft education that offers workshops, residencies, outreach programs, and a craft gallery. Pisgah Legal Services says it pursues justice for low-income people in western an individual recipient through legal assistance and advocacy. Other 2025 recipients include organizations working in food access, domestic-violence services, music education, and community health.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $600,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $335,400, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $335,400 to Mitchell County Development for general purposes, $115,000 to Penland School of Craft for essential water-system upgrades, and $45,000 to Pisgah Legal Services to sustain free legal services in Mitchell County. Other listed awards included $27,000 to Greenlee Primary School for smart boards and $25,000 to Buladean Community Center for a playground project.
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It directs applicants to contact Wells Fargo Bank and use the foundation’s application form and materials. The grant-program description says eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and that individual grants and operating expenses are not funded.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gina Phillips as president, Fred L Stout as vice president, G Byron Phillips as treasurer, and Van Phillips as secretary. Board members listed are Brandee Cook, Lindsey Canipe, Jennifer P Dellinger, Keith S Holtsclaw, Drey Phillips, and Adrienne Snyder.
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation is led by Gina Phillips, President on every filing since 2019; 9 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gina Phillips
President
On filings since 2019
25 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Adrienne Snyder
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $100 (2025)
Drey Phillips
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $5K (2025)
Fred L. Stout
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $0 (2025)
G. Byron Phillips
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Jennifer P. Dellinger
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $100 (2025)
Keith S. Holtsclaw
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Lindsey Canipe
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $100 (2025)
Van Phillips
Secretary
On filings since 2019
9 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Brandee Cook
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $100 (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Brandee Boone (2019–2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Gina Phillips (President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
How much does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation give each year?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation gave $600K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $640K across 17 grants.
What is Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $35,294, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation that year got $79K on average.
Where does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation give grants?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spruce Pine, NC (4 grants) and Bakersville, NC (3 grants).
Does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 53% of Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mitchell County Development ($335,400), Penland School of Craft ($115,000) and Pisgah Legal Services ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $642K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $692K (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 Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as providing funds for general support to various charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation?
Contact Wells Fargo Bank and submit the foundation’s application form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's EIN?
Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2225556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 24, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-l-phillips-family-foundation-morg_658a7d98c3784980b27fe9b9594c4e6f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562225556_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-l-phillips-family-foundation-morg_658a7d98c3784980b27fe9b9594c4e6f},
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 Samuel L Phillips Family 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.
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