The Golden Leaf Inc
The Golden Leaf Inc, known as the Golden LEAF Foundation, is a public charity based in Rocky Mount, an individual recipient Established in 1999, it makes grants to increase economic opportunity in the state’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities.
The Golden Leaf Inc at a glance
In short: The Golden Leaf Inc gave $161.3M across 131 grants in 2025 (avg $1.2M), mostly in North Carolina. 68% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $161,263,303
- +33.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 131
- +10.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,231,018
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $156,620
- Total assets
- $1,527,467,982
- +8.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (89 of 131, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Golden Leaf Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 301 N Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 442-7474
Website: https://goldenleaf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from The Golden Leaf Inc
Community-Based Grants Initiative – Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone
The Golden Leaf Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Economic Catalyst Grant Program
The Golden Leaf Inc
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship Grant
The Golden Leaf Inc
Amount
Up to US $14,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Golden Leaf Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mountain BizCapital Inc ($57.5M). Together the top 10 received $122.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
500 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 127 grants of 500 (25%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus is an individual recipient, especially rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities. In filing year 2025, 100% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 131 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Golden Leaf Inc open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 89 of 131 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.5M; repeat grants $592K. How we count
Medians: $138K first-time, $212K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $56.2M (2023) to $161.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 131 grants totaling $161.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BizCapital Inc Asheville, NC | Hurricane Helene Small Business Loans & Helene Small Business Recovery Fund Request | $57,500,000 |
| North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Raleigh, NC | Golden LEAF Schools | $25,000,000 |
| Wilson Community College Wilson, NC | Wilson Biologics Training Center Equipment | $13,000,000 |
| Methodist University Inc Fayetteville, NC | Job Creation and New Regional Educational Pathways with Methodist University Cape Fear Valley School of Medicine | $8,000,000 |
| North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Raleigh, NC | Housing Projects | $6,000,000 |
| North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority Raleigh, NC | Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship (2025-2026) | $3,116,173 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $3,000,000 |
| North Carolina Baptist Men Cary, NC | Helene Relief Project | $2,940,000 |
| County of Robeson Lumberton, NC | Robeson County Site Development Project & Shell Project | $2,875,000 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC | Expanding Advanced Manufacturing Pathways at RCCC & Expanding Automotive Technology Pathways in Cabarrus County | $2,225,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Golden Leaf Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,527,467,982 | $171,537,614 | $169,872,591 | $161,263,303 | 131 | $89,719,146 |
| 2024 | $1,403,937,165 | $79,124,718 | $127,468,546 | $120,708,483 | 119 | $39,009,507 |
| 2023 | $1,292,166,073 | $57,758,666 | $63,535,535 | $56,181,459 | 96 | $27,563,917 |
| 2022 | $1,203,014,453 | $127,682,126 | $133,047,066 | $126,685,340 | 80 | $84,903,145 |
| 2021 | $1,379,237,142 | $181,900,922 | $141,559,804 | $135,774,770 | 74 | $86,190,829 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. Its website also identifies economically distressed communities as part of its mission and describes four priority areas: Job Creation and Economic Investment, Workforce Preparedness, Agriculture, and Community Competitiveness and Capacity.
Its Open Grants Program supports projects aligned with its priority areas, and its SITE Program supports site identification, due diligence, and development. Economic Catalyst grants may support public infrastructure, job training, building improvements, or equipment tied to projects that create jobs. The foundation’s website says governmental entities and 501(c)(3) organizations may apply; funds must serve charitable, scientific, educational, or tax-exempt public purposes.
Among the organizations it supported in 2025, Mountain BizCapital described its mission as building an entrepreneurial community in an individual recipient, while Methodist University described its purpose as providing liberal arts-based undergraduate and graduate education and distinctive professional programs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s foundation said it raises and manages funds to support the college.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 131 grants totaling $161,263,303. Grant amounts ranged from $9,194 to $57,500,000, with a median award of $156,620.
The largest reported 2025 awards included $57.5 million to Mountain BizCapital for the Hurricane Helene Small Business Loans and Helene Small Business Recovery Fund request; $25 million to the an individual recipient Department of Public Instruction for Golden LEAF Schools; $13 million to Wilson Community College for Wilson Biologics Training Center equipment; and $8 million to Methodist University for job creation and new regional educational pathways with the Cape Fear Valley School of Medicine. Other large awards included $6 million to the an individual recipient Housing Finance Agency for housing projects and $2.94 million to an individual recipient Baptist Men for a Helene relief project.
The website says the Open Grants Program accepts applications throughout the year and uses a two-stage review process. It encourages potential applicants to take the Project Fit Quiz and contact staff before submitting an application. Open Grants awards are capped at $500,000. The Economic Catalyst Program has no stated maximum award. The website also describes SITE Program phases for identification, due diligence, and development.
The foundation’s FAQ lists $36.5 million budgeted for new awards in fiscal year 2026–2027 across existing grant programs, excluding scholarships: $15 million for SITE, $8.5 million for Open Grants, $10 million for Economic Catalyst, and $3 million for SPARC. The FAQ notes that additional awards in new programs or initiatives may also be made.
For awards approved by the board, the foundation’s 2024 filing says grantees must sign a Grantee Acknowledgement & Agreement and attend a grants management training session unless waived for good cause. Grant conditions may need to be met before funds are released, and interim and final reports are required. The filing describes payment as following receipt of the signed agreement, evidence that preconditions have been met, and a written payment request.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ralph Strayhorn III as board chair, Brian Raynor as vice chair, Bobbie J Richardson as secretary, and Jeffrey Lee as treasurer and assistant secretary. Directors listed include Barry Z Dodson, Buddy Keller, Charles P Brown, David L Rose, and Donald E Flow. Darryl Moss is listed as a director whose service ended in January 2025.
The Golden Leaf Inc is led by Scott T. Hamilton, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 19 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott T. Hamilton
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$240K (2021) → $303K (2025)
Ralph Strayhorn III
Board Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
$936 (2021) → $1K (2025)
Charles P. Brown
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$1K (2024) → $1K (2025)
Darryl Moss
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
David L. Rose
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $1K (2025)
Johnathan Rhyne Jr.
Director
Secretary → Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2024
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$624 (2024) → $1K (2025)
Laurence Lilley
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$832 (2023) → $936 (2025)
Marilyn M. Chism
Director of Programs
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$109K (2021) → $131K (2025)
Randy Isenhower
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$728 (2021) → $1K (2025)
S. Lawrence Davenport
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$624 (2021) → $1K (2025)
Thomas F. Taft Sr.
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $832 (2025)
Angela Gailliard
Director of Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$46K (2023) → $124K (2025)
Barry Z. Dodson
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald E. Flow
Director
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Buddy Keller
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jarette Sampson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Easley Jr.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bobbie J. Richardson
Secretary
Secretary → Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2023
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Brian Raynor
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$832 (2024) → $832 (2025)
Edward P. Lord
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$166K (2021) → $218K (2025)
Jonathan P. Boyd
Vice President of Investments
Director of Investments → Vice President of Investments, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$121K (2021) → $148K (2025)
Kasey E. Ginsberg
Vice President & Chief of Staff
Director of Programs & External Affai → Vice President & Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$117K (2021) → $168K (2025)
Erica L. Smith
Vice President of Finance
Controller → Vice President of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$138K (2023) → $172K (2025)
Jeffrey Lee
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
Director → Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
$208 (2024) → $936 (2025)
Former officers (7)
- Former: Jerome Vick (2021–2024) — Director · Filing note: Ended 072023
- Former: Terri Adou-Dy (2021–2024) — Director of Programs & Programs Administrator · Filing note: Ended 062024
- Former: Murchison Biggs (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Rhea Barnes (2023) — Senior Director Administrator Services · Filing note: Ended oct 2022
- Former: Beth A Edmondson (2021–2022) — Controller
- Former: Lee Roberts (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas S Hester Jr. (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $303K, to Scott T Hamilton (President/CEO). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Golden Leaf Inc
How much does The Golden Leaf Inc give each year?
The Golden Leaf Inc gave $161.3M across 131 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $120.7M across 119 grants.
What is The Golden Leaf Inc's typical grant size?
The Golden Leaf Inc's median grant in 2025 was $156,620, and its average grant was $1,231,018, across 131 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Golden Leaf Inc that year got $1.5M on average.
Where does The Golden Leaf Inc give grants?
The Golden Leaf Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (5 grants), Wilson, NC (4 grants), Asheville, NC (3 grants) and Salisbury, NC (3 grants).
Does The Golden Leaf Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 131 grants with a stated purpose on The Golden Leaf Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Food Distribution Assistance Program" (59 grants) and "Helene Relief Project" (13 grants).
Who are The Golden Leaf Inc's largest grantees?
The Golden Leaf Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Mountain BizCapital Inc ($57,500,000), North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ($25,000,000) and Wilson Community College ($13,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Golden Leaf Inc?
The Golden Leaf Inc reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $171.5M.
What does The Golden Leaf Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Golden Leaf Inc?
The Golden Leaf Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check goldenleaf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Golden Leaf Inc's EIN?
The Golden Leaf Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2204473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Golden Leaf Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Golden Leaf Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-golden-leaf-inc-morg_efd27279a2fd4d29be047912e42f1f5b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522204473_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Golden Leaf Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-golden-leaf-inc-morg_efd27279a2fd4d29be047912e42f1f5b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Golden Leaf 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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