The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne is a private foundation based in Hickory, North Carolina. In 2025, it reported 25 grants totaling $272,500, all to recipients in North Carolina; the listed grant purposes were program support.
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne at a glance
In short: The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne gave $273K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in North Carolina. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $272,500
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,900
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,276,595
- +4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 25, 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 417 6Th Street Nw, Hickory, NC 28601
Phone: (828) 324-2316
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was John's River Valley Camp ($52K). Together the top 10 received $219K.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 119 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 25 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 $241K (2024) to $298K (2022). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $273K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John's River Valley Camp Collettsville, NC | Program Support | $52,000 |
| Neighbors Network Conover, NC | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Corinth Reformed Church Hickory, NC | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | Program Support | $23,500 |
| Amvets Post 76 Hickory, NC | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Linc Newton, NC | Program Support | $18,000 |
| University Christian High School Hickory, NC | Program Support | $13,000 |
| Catawba College Salisbury, NC | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Catawba Valley Medical Center Fdn Hickory, NC | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Newton Depot Authority Newton, NC | Program Support | $9,000 |
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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 | $3,276,595 | $512,955 | $388,303 | $272,500 | 25 | $272,500 | $398,387 | $297,102 |
| 2024 | $3,151,943 | $200,111 | $354,355 | $240,500 | 25 | $240,500 | $88,815 | $280,699 |
| 2023 | $3,306,187 | $273,528 | $365,738 | $271,200 | 24 | $271,200 | $180,069 | $248,803 |
| 2022 | $3,398,397 | $174,403 | $405,695 | $298,436 | 22 | $298,436 | $69,678 | $256,965 |
| 2021 | $3,629,689 | $294,516 | $400,145 | $286,500 | 23 | $286,500 | $182,849 | $293,649 |
| 2020 | $3,735,318 | $150,228 | $342,963 | $241,820 | 21 | — | $49,707 | $250,804 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne reported a distributable amount of $297K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 recipients included organizations whose own missions describe work in community services, education, arts, historic preservation, and conservation. For example, Neighbors Network says it provides resources and services to help adults 50 and older thrive in community; Wake Forest University describes its work as higher education; and Western Piedmont Symphony says it enriches and engages western North Carolina communities through symphonic music and educational opportunities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission or focus-area list for the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $272,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $52,000, with a median of $5,000. Larger grants included John’s River Valley Camp ($52,000), Neighbors Network ($40,000), Corinth Reformed Church ($25,000), Wake Forest University ($23,500), AMVETS Post 76 ($18,000), and LINC ($18,000). Each was listed for program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Martha A Sowers, Anne A Wepner, and Claude S Abernethy III as trustees.
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne A. Wepner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Claude S. Abernethy III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Martha A. Sowers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne
How much does The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne give each year?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne gave $273K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $241K across 25 grants.
What is The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's typical grant size?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,900, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne that year got $18K on average.
Where does The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne give grants?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne 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 Hickory, NC (11 grants) and Newton, NC (7 grants).
Does The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (25 grants).
Who are The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's largest grantees?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's largest 2025 grantees include John's River Valley Camp ($52,000), Neighbors Network ($40,000) and Corinth Reformed Church ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $273K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $297K (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 The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 recipients included organizations whose own missions describe work in community services, education, arts, historic preservation, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's EIN?
The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6561536. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-claude-s-jr-and-raenelle-aberne-morg_2b0c85fc5c634159b578d022553fcc12
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_276561536_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-claude-s-jr-and-raenelle-aberne-morg_2b0c85fc5c634159b578d022553fcc12},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Claude S Jr and Raenelle Aberne'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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