Stonecutter Foundation Inc
Stonecutter Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Spindale, North Carolina. It makes grants, and its filing states that it generally contributes to local educational institutions and civic organizations.
Stonecutter Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Stonecutter Foundation Inc gave $820K across 16 grants in 2026 (avg $51K), mostly in North Carolina. 25% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $820,095
- +24.1% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $51,256
- +31.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $8,519,096
- +3.5% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Stonecutter Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing names Terri Barringer as the contact for requests and describes the materials to submit above.
- Review Cycle
- N/A, according to the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- N/A, according to the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Terri Barringer
Mailing address: 230 Spindale Street, Spindale, NC 28160
Phone: (828) 521-1653
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stonecutter Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Rutherford County Habitat for Human ($411K). Together the top 10 received $788K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 91 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2026 filing reports that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 1% to Virginia, and 1% to Washington, DC. The listed North Carolina recipients include organizations in Rutherfordton, Spindale, Asheville, Gastonia, Lake Lure, Shelby, and Forest City.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Stonecutter Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 50% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 90% 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 (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $526K (2022) to $820K (2026). In 2026 it made 16 grants totaling $820K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County Habitat for Human Rutherfordton, NC | Community | $410,975 |
| Rutherford Housing Partnership Rutherfordton, NC | Community | $132,000 |
| ICC Foundation Spindale, NC | Education | $50,000 |
| Kidsenses Children's Museum Rutherfordton, NC | Community | $50,000 |
| App School Foundation Asheville, NC | Education | $50,000 |
| Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NC | Community | $33,000 |
| Trinity School Rutherfordton, NC | Education | $24,480 |
| Hatch AVL Foundation Asheville, NC | Education | $20,000 |
| Lake Lure Flowering Bridge Lake Lure, NC | Community | $10,000 |
| Earl Scruggs Music Festival Inc Shelby, NC | Education | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Stonecutter Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $8,519,096 | $1,765,032 | $1,139,259 | $820,095 | 16 | $923,008 | $1,575,264 | $1,030,128 |
| 2025 | $8,228,777 | $916,674 | $968,621 | $660,629 | 17 | $753,625 | $737,260 | $937,910 |
| 2024 | $8,515,621 | $1,078,647 | $999,582 | $651,645 | 21 | $775,886 | $843,669 | $786,439 |
| 2023 | $8,483,391 | $460,472 | $957,120 | $675,000 | 18 | $773,173 | $290,188 | $704,530 |
| 2022 | $9,064,036 | $1,644,042 | $700,008 | $526,476 | 19 | $711,313 | $1,526,108 | $799,686 |
| 2021 | $8,285,342 | $1,009,717 | $699,236 | $573,904 | 24 | — | $917,801 | $636,704 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stonecutter Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2026 — 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 filing describes its general recipients as local educational institutions and civic organizations. Its 2026 grants included education and community purposes. Among its grantees, Rutherford Housing Partnership says its mission is to repair, improve, and weatherize homes for elderly, disabled, and low-income families; the Schiele Museum of Natural History says it inspires appreciation for science and the natural world through programs, exhibits, and research. Other grantees describe missions involving entrepreneurship, gardening education, and preserving and interpreting the legacy of the Vietnam War.
Grantmaking
In 2026, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $820,095. Grants ranged from $3,500 to $410,975, with a median of $15,000. The largest grants included $410,975 to Rutherford County Habitat for Human in Rutherfordton, North Carolina; $132,000 to Rutherford Housing Partnership in Rutherfordton; and $50,000 each to ICC Foundation in Spindale, Kidsenses Children’s Museum in Rutherfordton, and APP School Foundation in Asheville. Other listed awards included $33,000 to Schiele Museum of Natural History, $24,480 to Trinity School, and $20,000 to Hatch AVL Foundation.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It asks applicants to send donation requests to the foundation office, describing the organization’s purpose and the specific use for the donation. If applicable, requests should include project budgets and explain how the organization plans to raise the majority of project funding. Organizations that have not previously received a donation should provide documentation of nonprofit status. The filing says the foundation generally contributes to local educational institutions and civic organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists James R. Cowan as president/treasurer, Jason Harrill as vice president, and Myra H. Cowan as secretary. It also lists Dillard Morrow, Maria Hunnicutt, Carolyn Keever, Tiffany Lathan, and George Hughes as directors, and Terri C. Barringer as executive director.
Stonecutter Foundation Inc is led by James R. Cowan, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
James R. Cowan
President
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2022
Vice President & Treasurer → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Carolyn Keever
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Dillard Morrow
Director
Director → President, 2022
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Maria Hunnicutt
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Tiffany Lathan
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
George Hughes
Director
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Terri C. Barringer
Executive Di
Secretary → Executive Di, 2022
On filings since 2021
$74K (2021) → $106K (2026)
Myra H. Cowan
Secretary
Treasurer → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jason Harrill
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: D. Daniel Briscoe (2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $106K, to Terri C Barringer (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Stonecutter Foundation Inc
How much does Stonecutter Foundation Inc give each year?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc gave $820K across 16 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $661K across 17 grants.
What is Stonecutter Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $15,000, and its average grant was $51,256, across 16 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stonecutter Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does Stonecutter Foundation Inc give grants?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rutherfordton, NC (5 grants), Spindale, NC (3 grants) and Asheville, NC (2 grants).
Does Stonecutter Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Stonecutter Foundation Inc's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (7 grants) and "Education" (6 grants).
Who are Stonecutter Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Rutherford County Habitat for Human ($410,975), Rutherford Housing Partnership ($132,000) and ICC Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Stonecutter Foundation Inc?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $923K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (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 Stonecutter Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its general recipients as local educational institutions and civic organizations. Its 2026 grants included education and community purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stonecutter Foundation Inc?
The 2025 filing names Terri Barringer as the contact for requests and describes the materials to submit above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stonecutter Foundation Inc's EIN?
Stonecutter Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6044820. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS May 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stonecutter Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stonecutter-foundation-inc-morg_89841e310d8240a88e6eb87fa371e110
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_566044820_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stonecutter Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stonecutter-foundation-inc-morg_89841e310d8240a88e6eb87fa371e110},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Stonecutter Foundation Inc'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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