Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
The Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation is a private independent foundation located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Established in 2000 and granted tax-exempt status in March 2002, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking in North Carolina.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$640K
-0.2% YoY
Grant Count
17
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
-0.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $668K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Mitchell County, North Carolina, by supporting charitable organizations active in the area. While the primary geographic focus is Mitchell County, grants may extend to surrounding areas of western North Carolina upon special consideration.
The foundation supports organizations in the following program areas:
- Arts, culture, and humanities
- Education
- Health
- Human services
The foundation also provides giving for higher education and health care, particularly hospitals.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically does not fund:
Grant Range
$500 to $300,000
Review Cycle
June 30 for summer meeting
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes grants with measurable impact within Mitchell County, North Carolina. Upon special consideration, grants may be awarded to organizations in surrounding areas of western North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (2024):
- Total assets: $10,382,112
- Total revenues: $964,763
- Total expenses: $798,712
- Total liabilities: $0
Recent Annual Giving:
- 2024: $640,371 in total giving across 22 grants
- 2023: $687,000 in total giving across 22 grants
- 2022: $567,000 in total giving across 21 grants
- 2021: $701,000 in total giving across 16 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,382,112 | $10,216,061 | $10,153,181 |
| Revenue | $964,763 | $521,516 | $312,767 |
| Expenses | $798,712 | $782,410 | $835,682 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $685,668 | $673,002 | $731,767 |
| Net Investment Income | $860,271 | $413,812 | $214,852 |
| Distributable Amount | $668,060 | $623,560 | $691,049 |
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
93 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ymca of Avery County ($250,000), Mitchell County Schools ($106,571), Mayland Community College Fnd ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BULADEAN COMMUNITY CENTER BAKERSVILLE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $37,800 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| ECU MEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES GREENVILLE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| GO GLOBAL INC COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| HIGH COUNTRY YOUTH BALLET INC NEWLAND, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $45,000 |
| LILY BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH BAKERSVILLE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| MARYLAND EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL SPRUCE PINE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $45,000 |
| MAYLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FND SPRUCE PINE, NC | RESTAURANT COMPLETION | $75,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| MITCHELL COUNTY SAFE PLACE SPRUCE PINE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- Gina Phillips – President
- Fred L Stout – Vice President
- G Byron Phillips – Treasurer
- Van Phillips – Secretary
- Board Members: Brandee Cook, Lindsey Canipe, Jennifer P Dellinger, Keith S Holtsclaw, Drey Phillips, and Adrienne Snyder
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GINA PHILLIPS | PRESIDENT | — | $5,000 |
| FRED L STOUT | VICE PRESIDE | — | $5,000 |
| G BYRON PHILLIPS | TREASURER | — | $5,000 |
| VAN PHILLIPS | SECRETARY | 9 | $5,000 |
| BRANDEE COOK | BOARD MEMBER | — | $100 |
| LINDSEY CANIPE | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $100 |
| JENNIFER P DELLINGER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $100 |
| KEITH S HOLTSCLAW | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $5,000 |
| DREY PHILLIPS | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $5,000 |
| ADRIENNE SNYDER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $100 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 400, Spruce Pine, NC 28777-0400
- Phone: 800-352-3705
- Website: www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/phillips-family-foundation/
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Mitchell County, North Carolina, by supporting charitable organizations active in the area. While the primary geographic focus is Mitchell County, grants may extend to surrounding areas of western North Carolina upon special consideration. The foundation supports organizations in the following program areas: • Arts, culture, and humanities • Education • Health • Human services The foundation also provides giving for hi…
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $500 to $300,000 • Median grant amount: approximately $3,800 to $4,000 • Average annual number of grants: 16 to 22 grants per year **Application Process:** • Annual application deadline: June 30 for summer meeting • Each application must include a letter of recommendation that: • Does not exceed 2 pages in length • Is addressed to the Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation with a current date • Is specific to the purpose of the grant request **Funding Limi…
Where does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes grants with measurable impact within Mitchell County, North Carolina. Upon special consideration, grants may be awarded to organizations in surrounding areas of western North Carolina.
What size grants does Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $640K — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $668K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Samuel L Phillips Family Foundation'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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