The Anonymous Fund is a private foundation based in Greensboro, North Carolina, established in 1999. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation with no employees, managed by a board of trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.6M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$521K
-13.9% YoY
Grant Count
24
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-35.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Anonymous Fund reported a distributable amount of $422K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities span multiple sectors including:
- Education (elementary education, scholarships, teacher fellowships, innovative educational opportunities)
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Historic preservation
- Community development
- Environmental initiatives
- Health services
The foundation takes a place-based approach, with particular emphasis on supporting rural and underserved communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not currently maintain live grant opportunities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Anonymous Fund primarily funds organizations in:
- North Carolina
- New Mexico
- District of Columbia
With particular emphasis on eastern North Carolina communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $8,636,676
- Total revenues: $502,774
- Total expenses: $716,581
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,636,676 | $8,428,189 | $8,296,024 |
| Revenue | $502,774 | $497,049 | $508,667 |
| Expenses | $716,581 | $836,837 | $1,083,723 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $606,307 | $720,348 | $972,411 |
| Net Investment Income | $415,460 | $402,521 | $437,227 |
| Distributable Amount | $421,834 | $406,381 | $430,019 |
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
140 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cone Health Philanthropy ($100,000), Samaritan's Purse ($100,000), University of North Carolina at Greensboro ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL WALLINGFORD, CT | TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME INFORMED, ACTIVE, AND RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY. | $5,000 |
| CONE HEALTH PHILANTHROPY GREENSBORO, NC | TO ELIMINATE HEALTH INEQUITIES BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS AND PROMOTING WELLNESS ACROSS THE REGION. | $100,000 |
| DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SERVE THE SPIRITUAL AND PASTORAL NEEDS OF CATHOLICS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. | $5,000 |
| EASTERN MUSIC FESTIVAL GREENSBORO, NC | TO PROMOTE MUSICAL ENRICHMENT, EXCELLENCE, COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND DIVERSITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND CONCERTS. | $50,000 |
| FAMILY SERVICE OF GREENSBORO FOUNDATION JAMESTOWN, NC | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. | $2,500 |
| FRIENDS FOR AN EARLIER BREAST CANCER TEST INC GREENSBORO, NC | TO SAVE LIVES BY FUNDING RESEARCH FOR EARLIER DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER THROUGH INNOVATIVE BIOLOGICAL TESTING. | $10,000 |
| GREENHILL CENTER FOR NC ART GREENSBORO, NC | TO PROMOTE THE VISUAL ART AND ARTISTS OF NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. | $10,000 |
| GREENSBORO URBAN MINISTRY GREENSBORO, NC | TO EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED BY OFFERING FOOD, SHELTER, AND SOLUTIONS. | $1,000 |
| LENSIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SANTA FE, NM | TO ENRICH LIVES BY BRINGING DIVERSE ART AND PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE HISTORIC LENSIC THEATER. | $5,000 |
| MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION SANTA FE, NM | TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO SYSTEM BY FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCATING FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION. | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by three trustees:
- Joseph M Bryan Jr.
- Ronald P Johnson
- Kimela J Griffin
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH M BRYAN JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RONALD P JOHNSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM P MASSEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Anonymous Fund fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities span multiple sectors including: • Education (elementary education, scholarships, teacher fellowships, innovative educational opportunities) • Arts and culture • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Historic preservation • Community development • Environmental initiatives • Health services The foundation takes a place-based approach, with particular emphasis on supporting rural and underserved communities.
How do I apply for a grant from The Anonymous Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 45 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $521,000 • Typical award range: $1,000–$300,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Samaritan's Purse: $100,000 • University of North Carolina at Greensboro: $100,000 • The Santa Fe Opera: $50,000 The foundation does not currently maintain live grant opportunities.
Where does The Anonymous Fund make grants?
The Anonymous Fund primarily funds organizations in: • North Carolina • New Mexico • District of Columbia With particular emphasis on eastern North Carolina communities.
What size grants does The Anonymous Fund award?
In 2024, The Anonymous Fund awarded 24 grants totaling $521K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Anonymous Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Anonymous Fund reported a distributable amount of $422K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Anonymous Fund's EIN?
The Anonymous Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2152734. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Anonymous Fund'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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