Sears Family Foundation Inc
Sears Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $113K. Net investment income was $24K.
Key facts about Sears Family Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 26-1589867
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $113,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $10,273
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,126,718
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Sears Family Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Sears Family Foundation Inc's 11 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (91%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (8 grants) and Asheville, NC (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Sears Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Sears Family Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Sears Family Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
-7.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$113K
+117.3% YoY
Grant Count
11
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+58.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sears Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $95K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Sears Family Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Sears Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $113K. Net investment income was $24K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,126,718 | $1,219,092 | $721,711 |
| Revenue | $24,751 | $553,087 | $57,950 |
| Expenses | $117,125 | $55,706 | $184,889 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $115,891 | $54,598 | $183,434 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,247 | $52,529 | $57,568 |
| Distributable Amount | $94,611 | $62,070 | $59,681 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
58 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include A Place at the Table ($30,000), The Green Chair Project ($25,000), Gift of Life International ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE AT THE TABLE Raleigh, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $30,000 |
| THE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT Raleigh, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL Fresh Meadows, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| STEPUP MINISTRY Raleigh, NC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY Raleigh, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| FAMILIES TOGETHER Raleigh, NC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| THE WOMEN'S CENTER Raleigh, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| BELOVED ASHEVILLE Asheville, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| MANNA FOODBANK Asheville, NC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WAKE COUNTY Raleigh, NC | GENERAL PURPOSESE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn H Sears | President | — | — |
| James R Sears | Vice Preside | — | — |
| Casie S Kerr | Secretary | — | — |
| J Ryan Sears | Treasurer | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sears Family Foundation Inc?
Sears Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Raleigh, NC. It holds $1.1M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Sears Family Foundation Inc?
As of 2024, Sears Family Foundation Inc holds $1.1M in total assets with $25K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $113K in 2024.
Where does Sears Family Foundation Inc operate?
Sears Family Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Iowa, North Carolina, New York, South Dakota.
What size grants does Sears Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Sears Family Foundation Inc awarded 11 grants totaling $113K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sears Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sears Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $95K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sears Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sears Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1589867. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.