Short Family Foundation
Short Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cornelius, North Carolina. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Short Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Short Family Foundation gave $467K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in North Carolina. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $466,722
- +18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -8.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,056
- +30.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,897,037
- +4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (8 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (71% 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 Short Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation requests a letter detailing the charitable purpose and the organization’s qualification under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Awards are limited to eligible corporations, trusts, funds, foundations, or community chests for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.
- Review Cycle
- September 30 annually.
- Deadline
- September 30 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: Rodney A Short
Mailing address: 17211 Connor Quay Ct, Cornelius, NC 28031
Phone: (704) 896-2112
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Short Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was High Country Young Life ($90K). Together the top 10 received $309K.
Grant Size Distribution
185 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 185 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, North Carolina recipients received 71% of grant dollars. Other leading recipient states were Florida (6%), Texas (4%), Missouri (4%), and Louisiana (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Short Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 31 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% 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 $123K (2019) to $467K (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $467K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| High Country Young Life Boone, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $90,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $51,000 |
| Community in Christ Lutheran Church Cornelius, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $30,000 |
| Lake City Church Mooresville, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $30,000 |
| American Heart Association Dallas, TX | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $20,000 |
| Convoy of Hope Springfield, MO | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $20,000 |
| Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $20,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Durham, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $20,000 |
| Home for Our Troops Taunton, MA | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $15,000 |
| Pine Lake Preparatory Mooresville, NC | Financial Support for Charitable Organization | $12,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Short Family Foundation?
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 | $5,897,037 | $931,700 | $474,961 | $466,722 | 31 | $466,849 | $243,038 | $546,926 |
| 2024 | $5,654,546 | $2,993,404 | $409,902 | $393,361 | 34 | $401,164 | $288,953 | $405,888 |
| 2023 | $5,187,853 | $602,455 | $324,832 | $308,411 | 45 | $308,411 | $160,350 | $291,009 |
| 2022 | $4,910,230 | $769,537 | $269,832 | $251,431 | 42 | $251,431 | $82,391 | $254,231 |
| 2021 | $4,410,525 | $1,415,838 | $254,704 | $234,200 | 33 | $234,200 | $174,992 | $225,036 |
| 2020 | $3,249,391 | $892,534 | $169,986 | $150,000 | 37 | — | $45,196 | $146,137 |
| 2019 | $2,526,843 | $310,561 | $143,166 | $122,750 | 30 | — | $64,555 | $132,747 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Short Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $547K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated. Its grants include support for religious and charitable organizations, as well as organizations working in areas such as health, emergency and humanitarian aid, housing, and family services. For example, Samaritan’s Purse describes its work as providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine. Ronald McDonald House describes providing accommodations and services for families traveling for children’s medical treatment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $466,722. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $90,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest grants included $90,000 to High Country Young Life, $51,000 to Samaritan’s Purse, and $30,000 each to Community in Christ Lutheran Church and Lake City Church.
Other notable 2025 grants included $20,000 each to the American Heart Association, Convoy of Hope, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Ronald McDonald House; $15,000 to Home for Our Troops; and $12,500 to Pine Lake Preparatory.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Short Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Norma G. Short
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rodney A. Short
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Short Family Foundation
How much does Short Family Foundation give each year?
Short Family Foundation gave $467K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $393K across 34 grants.
What is Short Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Short Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,056, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Short Family Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Short Family Foundation give grants?
Short Family Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boone, NC (3 grants), Davidson, NC (3 grants), Charlotte, NC (3 grants) and Mooresville, NC (2 grants).
Does Short Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Short Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support for Charitable Organization" (31 grants).
Who are Short Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Short Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include High Country Young Life ($90,000), Samaritan's Purse ($51,000) and Community in Christ Lutheran Church ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Short Family Foundation?
Short Family Foundation reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $467K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $547K (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 Short Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated. Its grants include support for religious and charitable organizations, as well as organizations working in areas such as health, emergency and humanitarian aid, housing, and family services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Short Family Foundation?
The foundation requests a letter detailing the charitable purpose and the organization’s qualification under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Short Family Foundation's EIN?
Short Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-6081835. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 7, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Short Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in North Carolina
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
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
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Short Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/short-family-foundation-morg_78022ca81c23414eb8f17a77f1aca133
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_326081835_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Short Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/short-family-foundation-morg_78022ca81c23414eb8f17a77f1aca133},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Short 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.
Short Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?