The Health Foundation, Inc. is a public charity based in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, formed in 1991. It works to improve the health and well-being of people in Wilkes County through grantmaking, community initiatives, scholarships, and efforts to strengthen access to care.
Key facts about The Health Foundation Inc
In short: The Health Foundation Inc gave $977K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), mostly in North Carolina. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-1745194
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $977,490
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- Average grant
- $48,875
- Median grant
- $16,986
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,919,661
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Foundation’s website says Healthy Futures applicants must submit a Letter of Interest before receiving access to the full application; those grants are accepted on a rolling basis. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- For a timely Healthy Futures decision, submit a request before October 9, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$977K
+160.7% YoY
Grant Count
20
+42.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+82.5% YoY
Is The Health Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $17K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to improve the health and well-being of the people in our communities.” Its 2024 filing describes programs in scholarships, prevention, and access to care. Prevention work includes coalitions addressing healthy eating, active living, resiliency, and opioid use disorder. Access-to-care work includes a medical park and funding strategies intended to promote care through other locations, mobile services, and telemedicine.
Its grant programs support projects such as building work, equipment, general program support, service expansion, training, and small community projects in healthy eating, active living, and mental health or resiliency. The Foundation’s website says its funding opportunities are for organizations serving Wilkes County. Its 2024 grants included support for a range of local services. For example, Wilkes Dental Consortium says it serves underserved people in need of dental care; Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center of Wilkes says it supports children affected by abuse and their nonoffending caregivers; and Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes says it provides food assistance, including school backpack meals.
The Foundation also awards scholarships to students pursuing health care fields. These are awards to students, rather than grants for outside organizations. Its website lists nursing, radiography, dental assisting, and other allied health fields among eligible areas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation gave **$977,490 through 20 grants**. Grant amounts ranged from **$10,000 to $338,560**, with a median grant of **$16,986**.
Review Cycle
For a timely Healthy Futures decision, submit a request before **October 9, 2026**.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in North Wilkesboro and describes its work as focused on Wilkes County, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. The 2024 grantee list includes organizations and public entities in Wilkes County as well as recipients in other North Carolina locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $225K (2020) to $977K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $977K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Town of Wilkesboro ($339K). Together the top 10 received $863K.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 101 (91%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Wilkesboro Wilkesboro, NC | Funding for Playground Construction | $338,560 |
| Wilkes Recovery Revolution Inc North Wilkesboro, NC | Funding to provide peer support services / matching grant for annual operating support / wilkes fresh mobile market funding | $120,411 |
| Wilkes County Health Department Wilkesboro, NC | Funding for increased access to behavioral health care for middle school and high school students/ matching grant for annual operating support / diabetes prevention funding / fresh food voucher funding | $88,000 |
| Wilkes County Schools North Wilkesboro, NC | Grant made to purchase items needed by underserved school children / to provide partial funding for playground surfacing at a local elementary school / health mini grants | $76,897 |
| Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center of Wilkes Wilkesboro, NC | Matching grant for annual operating support / operational support to operate the child advocacy program | $70,000 |
| Wilkes Community Partnership for Children North Wilkesboro, NC | Matching grant for annual operating support / funding for parenting classes / health mini grant | $45,750 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC Winston-Salem, NC | Funding for farm fresh nourish to connect local farmers and food pantries | $40,000 |
| Wilkes Developmental Day School Wilkesboro, NC | Preschool playground refurbish / matching grant for annual operating support | $35,000 |
| Yadkin River Greenway North Wilkesboro, NC | Funding for Engineering Study for Bridge | $30,000 |
| Wilkes Dental Consortium Inc North Wilkesboro, NC | Matching grant for annual operating support / funding to purchase equipment / funding for teeth in need | $17,972 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,919,661 | $2,015,424 | $2,516,589 | $977,490 |
| 2023 | $6,088,810 | $1,831,037 | $1,609,937 | $374,933 |
| 2022 | $5,325,558 | $1,890,572 | $1,884,251 | $418,981 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,919,661 | $6,088,810 | $5,325,558 |
| Revenue | $2,015,424 | $1,831,037 | $1,890,572 |
| Expenses | $2,516,589 | $1,609,937 | $1,884,251 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,089 | $33,277 | $-19,602 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 27, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are David Shelton, president; J Richard Marlow, vice president; Jean Melton, treasurer; Beth Lovette, secretary; and directors Glenda Adams, Lee Bentley, William Clark, Mark Cook, Cam Finley, and Bill Harris.
The Health Foundation Inc is led by Heather Murphy, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Heather Murphy
Executive Director
Assistant Secretary → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $134K (2024)
David Shelton
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Smith
Finance Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$81K (2023) → $83K (2024)
Bill Harris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cam Finley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Huie
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dariel Rathmell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Swaim
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenda Adams
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Oliver
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Bentley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Spears
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Clark
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Cook
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Brown
Ex-Officio Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Willard
Ex-Officio Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Lovette
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Richard Marlow
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Melton
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Craig Bennett (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Brad Shinaman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Penny Musson (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $134K, to Heather Murphy (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 667, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Phone: (336) 838-1949
Website: https://healthywilkes.org
Frequently asked questions about The Health Foundation Inc
How much does The Health Foundation Inc give each year?
The Health Foundation Inc gave $977K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $375K across 14 grants.
What is The Health Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Health Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $16,986, and its average grant was $48,875, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Health Foundation Inc that year got $31K on average.
Where does The Health Foundation Inc give grants?
The Health Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were North Wilkesboro, NC (9 grants), Wilkesboro, NC (6 grants) and Boone, NC (2 grants).
Does The Health Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Health Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Health Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Health Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Town of Wilkesboro ($338,560), Wilkes Recovery Revolution Inc ($120,411) and Wilkes County Health Department ($88,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Health Foundation Inc?
The Health Foundation Inc reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does The Health Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to improve the health and well-being of the people in our communities.” Its 2024 filing describes programs in scholarships, prevention, and access to care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Health Foundation Inc?
The Foundation’s website says Healthy Futures applicants must submit a Letter of Interest before receiving access to the full application; those grants are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Health Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Health Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1745194. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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