Strowd Roses Inc
Strowd Roses Inc is a private foundation based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It supports local nonprofits through grants and in-kind donations and maintains the Gene Strowd Community Rose Garden, a public garden in Chapel Hill.
Strowd Roses Inc at a glance
In short: Strowd Roses Inc gave $247K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in North Carolina. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $246,567
- -2.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -25.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,483
- +31.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,062,031
- +11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 26, 2025)
- 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 September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Strowd Roses Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applicants submit an online application. New applicants, and applicants who have not received a grant in more than three years, must schedule a virtual meet-and-greet with the executive director before applying. Applicants using a fiscal sponsor must contact the executive director before applying because additional paperwork is required. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing, a local government entity, or fiscally sponsored by one of these; they must also have a current North Carolina charitable solicitation license or statutory exemption. The foundation does not fund individuals or endowments, summer camp programs, or programs held in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools or specifically for its students. It also provides an annual block grant to the Public School Foundation for school-based projects and summer camp attendance.
- Review Cycle
- The application opens November 15 and is due January 31; award decisions are made by June 15.
- Deadline
- The application opens November 15 and is due January 31; award decisions are made by June 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Hudson Fuller
Mailing address: PO Box 3558, Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Phone: (984) 664-5465
Website: https://strowdroses.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Strowd Roses Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation ($106K). Together the top 10 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
190 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 185 grants of 190 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Proposals must serve residents of Chapel Hill and the local surrounding community. Applicant organizations may be located elsewhere if their services or programs benefit residents of Chapel Hill and the immediate surrounding areas. All listed 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Strowd Roses Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 26 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $247K (2025) to $369K (2023). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $247K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation Carrboro, NC | General Support | $106,000 |
| Pee Wee Homes Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,188 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties Durham, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Community Home Trust Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Inter-Faith Council for Social Service Carrboro, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Orange County Rape Crisis Center Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Porch Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Refugee Community Partnership Carrboro, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Women's Center DBA Compass Center Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Young Mens Christian Association of the Triangle Area Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Strowd Roses 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,062,031 | $523,885 | $412,973 | $246,567 | 26 | $405,297 | $514,893 | $457,028 |
| 2024 | $9,056,734 | $1,148,065 | $415,196 | $253,340 | 35 | $396,405 | $626,046 | $426,621 |
| 2023 | $8,111,451 | $306,205 | $467,037 | $369,180 | 44 | $512,382 | $297,558 | $375,286 |
| 2022 | $7,463,174 | $172,389 | $395,139 | $303,000 | 45 | $377,959 | $144,128 | $394,239 |
| 2021 | $9,299,234 | $406,135 | $355,752 | $272,362 | 40 | $337,577 | $394,097 | $441,245 |
| 2020 | $8,784,519 | $300,043 | $425,554 | $350,235 | 46 | — | $288,516 | $385,950 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Strowd Roses Inc reported a distributable amount of $457K 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
Strowd Roses says it invests in nonprofit organizations enhancing the lives of Chapel Hill residents and the surrounding community. Its four focus areas are essential human services; education and workforce development; fostering community; and caring for nature and the environment.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate some of the organizations it supports. Pee Wee Homes says it builds and manages affordable, accessible small homes for people who have experienced homelessness. The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service says its mission is to confront the causes and respond to the effects of poverty. PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro says it fights hunger by mobilizing neighbors to provide food for families, schools, and pantries. The Orange County Rape Crisis Center says it works to stop sexual violence and its impact through support, education, and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Strowd Roses awarded 26 grants totaling $246,567. The grants ranged from $221 to $106,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest listed award was $106,000 to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation for general support. Other notable grants included $10,188 to Pee Wee Homes and $10,000 each to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties, Community Home Trust, Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, Orange County Rape Crisis Center, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Refugee Community Partnership, The Women’s Center DBA Compass Center, and the YMCA of the Triangle Area. These grants were listed for general support.
The foundation says grants generally range from $5,000 to $20,000, with an average grant of $10,000. Award amounts vary based on organizational capacity, scope of services to the Chapel Hill community, community needs, and the amount available to give. Grant funds must benefit Chapel Hill or Carrboro residents, be used for charitable purposes, and be spent within one year. Apart from those conditions, funds are unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Caroline Williams as president/director; Nathaniel Davis Sr and Matthew Sullivan as vice-presidents/directors for partial years; Aaron Westrick as treasurer/director; Rosario Vila as secretary/director; Carol Kelly, Katie Loovis, and Hudson Fuller as directors. Hudson Fuller is also identified as executive director.
Strowd Roses Inc is led by Caroline A. Williams, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Caroline A. Williams
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Hudson Fuller
Executive Director
Program Officer - → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
$24K (2023) → $40K (2025)
Carol Kelly
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Aaron Westrick
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Nathaniel Davis Sr.
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $620 (2025)
Rosario Vila
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $2K (2025)
Matthew Sullivan
Vice President & Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Katie Loovis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Richard Kwok (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Christine Ellestad (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Caroline Pence (2020–2023) — Program Officer -
- Former: Kristen Smith (2022) — Director
- Former: Jane Cousins (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kristen Smith Young (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lee Storrow (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nate Davis (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $40K, to Hudson Fuller (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Strowd Roses Inc
How much does Strowd Roses Inc give each year?
Strowd Roses Inc gave $247K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $253K across 35 grants.
What is Strowd Roses Inc's typical grant size?
Strowd Roses Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,483, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Strowd Roses Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does Strowd Roses Inc give grants?
Strowd Roses Inc 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 Chapel Hill, NC (14 grants), Carrboro, NC (7 grants) and Durham, NC (2 grants).
Does Strowd Roses Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Strowd Roses Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Strowd Roses Inc's largest grantees?
Strowd Roses Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation ($106,000), Pee Wee Homes ($10,188) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Strowd Roses Inc?
Strowd Roses Inc reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $405K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $457K (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 Strowd Roses Inc fund?
Strowd Roses says it invests in nonprofit organizations enhancing the lives of Chapel Hill residents and the surrounding community. Its four focus areas are essential human services; education and workforce development; fostering community; and caring for nature and the environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Strowd Roses Inc?
Applicants submit an online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Strowd Roses Inc's EIN?
Strowd Roses Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2241874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Strowd Roses Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/strowd-roses-inc-morg_33fff3461c6f45be99aea86a484f2e71
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562241874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Strowd Roses Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/strowd-roses-inc-morg_33fff3461c6f45be99aea86a484f2e71},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Strowd Roses 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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