The Griffin Endowment
The Griffin Endowment is a private foundation based in Greensboro, North Carolina. In its 2025 filing, it reported 25 grants totaling $176,743, with listed awards designated for program support.
The Griffin Endowment at a glance
In short: The Griffin Endowment gave $177K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in North Carolina. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $176,743
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- -13.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,070
- +7.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $3,155,949
- +1.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (4 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (72% 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 Griffin Endowment
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says to apply by letter to Haynes G Griffin. It lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Haynes G Griffin
Mailing address: 814 W Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: (336) 272-4157
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Griffin Endowment funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UNC Heatlth Foundation ($40K). Together the top 10 received $156K.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 133 grants of 136 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in North Carolina (72%), Florida (21%), New York (3%), Virginia (3%), and New Jersey (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Griffin Endowment open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 25 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $225 first-time, $5K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). 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 (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 $177K (2025) to $214K (2023). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $177K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNC Heatlth Foundation Chapel Hill, NC | Program Support | $40,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church Greensboro, NC | Program Support | $22,000 |
| Greensboro Science Center Greensboro, NC | Program Support | $21,518 |
| Greensboro Day School Greensboro, NC | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Society of the Four Arts Palm Beach, FL | Program Support | $10,000 |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro Greensboro, NC | Program Support | $10,000 |
| United Way of Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL | Program Support | $10,000 |
| The Packer Collegiate Institute Brooklyn, NY | Program Support | $6,000 |
| The Society of the Cincinnati Raleigh, NC | Program Support | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Griffin Endowment?
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 | $3,155,949 | $248,451 | $213,436 | $176,743 | 25 | $176,743 | $211,758 | $197,851 |
| 2024 | $3,120,934 | $109,214 | $226,145 | $191,092 | 29 | $191,092 | $74,455 | $187,343 |
| 2023 | $3,237,865 | $-154,316 | $259,401 | $213,936 | 32 | $213,936 | $86,400 | $183,542 |
| 2022 | $3,651,582 | $475,372 | $243,747 | $200,014 | 30 | $200,014 | $435,481 | $208,886 |
| 2021 | $3,419,957 | $438,432 | $220,383 | $183,012 | 20 | — | $401,061 | $200,514 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Griffin Endowment reported a distributable amount of $198K 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 grants show support for organizations including schools, a science center, churches, health-related organizations, and community and cultural organizations. For example, United Way of Greater Greensboro describes its mission as improving lives and creating thriving communities by mobilizing and uniting Greensboro’s caring power. Greensboro Beautiful says it works with the city, businesses, residents, and community organizations on community improvement and enhancement projects. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $176,743. Awards ranged from $100 to $40,000, with a median grant of $2,000. Among its largest awards were $40,000 to UNC HEATLTH FOUNDATION for program support; $22,000 to First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro for program support; $21,518 to Greensboro Science Center for program support; and $20,000 to Greensboro Day School for program support.
The foundation also gave $10,000 each to Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Society of the Four Arts, United Way of Greater Greensboro, and United Way of Palm Beach. The 2024 filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Clarence A Griffin III as president and Jeffrey Griffin and Haynes G Griffin as vice presidents.
The Griffin Endowment is led by Clarence A. Griffin III, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Clarence A. Griffin III
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Haynes G. Griffin
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Griffin
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Griffin Endowment
How much does The Griffin Endowment give each year?
The Griffin Endowment gave $177K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $191K across 29 grants.
What is The Griffin Endowment's typical grant size?
The Griffin Endowment's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $7,070, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Griffin Endowment that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Griffin Endowment give grants?
The Griffin Endowment gives mostly in North Carolina: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greensboro, NC (8 grants), Palm Beach, FL (6 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does The Griffin Endowment give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The Griffin Endowment's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (25 grants).
Who are The Griffin Endowment's largest grantees?
The Griffin Endowment's largest 2025 grantees include UNC Heatlth Foundation ($40,000), First Presbyterian Church ($22,000) and Greensboro Science Center ($21,518), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Griffin Endowment?
The Griffin Endowment reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $177K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $198K (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 Griffin Endowment fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations including schools, a science center, churches, health-related organizations, and community and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Griffin Endowment?
The 2024 filing says to apply by letter to Haynes G Griffin. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Griffin Endowment's EIN?
The Griffin Endowment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1687879. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Griffin Endowment's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Inc
Greensboro, NC
The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro funds nonprofits working in cultural vibrancy, economic mobility, health and wellness, and related community needs. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $15,000; Community Grants requests may be up to $25,000, primarily for organizations serving Greensboro or Guilford County, with a stated exception for certain direct-service organizations in nearby counties.
Assets
$289.6M
Grants
275
Total Given
$14.5M
Griffin Family Foundation
Greensboro, NC
The Greensboro-based Griffin Family Foundation supported schools, a church, a science center, and community and service organizations in 2025, with most grant dollars going to North Carolina and additional funding in Florida, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. It awarded 22 grants totaling $66,052, ranging from $100 to $11,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
22
Total Given
$66K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Hillsdale Fund
Greensboro, NC
Hillsdale Fund supports organizations working in areas including education, conservation, arts and culture, youth opportunity, and health care, with grants across the U.S. and the largest share in North Carolina. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,500 to $100,000, with a median of $15,000; it accepts applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$29.3M
Grants
69
Total Given
$1.5M
Smith Richardson Foundation Inc
Greensboro, NC
Smith Richardson Foundation funds research and writing on U.S. domestic public policy, national security, and foreign policy, with small direct-service grants for disadvantaged children and families in North Carolina and Connecticut. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $400,000, with a median of about $50,000; grants went mainly to organizations in Washington, DC, California, Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts. It accepts concept papers for policy projects, inviting full proposals if a project merits further consideration; direct-service grants are customarily solicited by its governors.
Assets
$557.9M
Grants
282
Total Given
$22.9M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Griffin Endowment funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-griffin-endowment-morg_720d26a8c83b4a329ac1652013c23a2d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561687879_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Griffin Endowment funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-griffin-endowment-morg_720d26a8c83b4a329ac1652013c23a2d},
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 Griffin Endowment'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.
The Griffin Endowment down — hundreds of funders to go?