The Joseph M Bryan Foundation
The Joseph M Bryan Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and opened in 1997 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The foundation was created following the death of philanthropist Joseph McKinley Bryan in 1995. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of two employees and serves the greater Greensboro area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.4M
-6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
-67.0% YoY
Grant Count
59
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-69.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph M Bryan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support the economic, cultural, educational, and recreational enrichment of the lives of citizens in the greater Greensboro, North Carolina area. A central mission of the foundation is making improvements to and enhancements of the Joseph M. and Kathleen Bryan Park.
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human Services
- Cultural and community enrichment initiatives
- Economic development projects
Grantmaking
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on the greater Greensboro, North Carolina area, with some giving in North Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2022): $59,871,696
- Total assets (2024): $48,373,230
Annual Giving & Revenue:
- Total giving (2024): $2,859,563
- Annual giving (2022): $1,714,318
- Total revenues (2022): $2,521,815
- Total expenses (2022): $3,325,655
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,373,230 | $51,925,665 | $59,871,696 |
| Revenue | $2,140,672 | $2,815,281 | $2,521,815 |
| Expenses | $4,012,212 | $9,870,964 | $3,325,655 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,661,095 | $9,551,765 | $2,909,728 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,792,848 | $2,497,310 | $2,223,810 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,214,100 | $2,925,443 | $3,032,763 |
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
234 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Action Greensboro ($355,000), United Way of Greater Greensboro ($300,000), Ready for School Ready for Life ($250,274).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTION GREENSBORO GREENSBORO, NC | OPERATIONS & YP SUPPORT; BOOMERANG GREENSBORO SUPPORT, IMPACT LUNCHEON 2024 SPONSORSHIP; 2024 SALES TAX CAMPAIGN/PUBLIC EDUATION | $355,000 |
| AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION BRASELTON, GA | WYNDHAM INVITATIONAL JUNIOR-AM | $5,500 |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER GREENSBORO GREENSBORO, NC | ANNUAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ASH-RAND RESCUE SQUAD & EMS ASHEBORO, NC | ANNUAL FUND DRIVE | $100 |
| BIKES FOR KIDS FOUNDATION GREENSBORO, NC | NEW BIKES AND HELMETS | $10,000 |
| BRYAN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT GREENSBORO, NC | BRYAN COLLEGIATE GOLF TOURNAMENT | $32,025 |
| BRYAN PARK GREENSBORO, NC | UNRESTRICTED | $49,649 |
| CITY OF GREENSBORO GREENSBORO, NC | HENRY AND SHIRLEY FRYE SCULPTURES | $4,952 |
| CITY OF GREENSBORO GREENSBORO, NC | LANDSCAPING CENTER CITY PARK PATIO | $25,767 |
| CITY OF GREENSBORO GREENSBORO, NC | MONUMENT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- E. S. Melvin - Trustee and Leadership Contact
- Carole W Bruce - Trustee
- Shirley T Frye - Trustee
The foundation is guided by a strategic approach to grantmaking informed by the question: "Would Mr. Bryan approve?"
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| E S MELVIN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 30 | $252,478 |
| CAROLE W SIMMS | SEC-TREAS/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SHIRLEY T FRYE | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| J EDWARD KITCHEN | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 30 | $186,000 |
| DAVID G ALTMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROBERT E LONG | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LOUISE F BRADY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 324 W. Wendover Ave., Suite 207, Greensboro, NC 27408
Mailing Address: PO Box 21927, Greensboro, NC 27420-1927
Phone: (336) 378-5396 or (336) 691-9803
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joseph M Bryan Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support the economic, cultural, educational, and recreational enrichment of the lives of citizens in the greater Greensboro, North Carolina area. A central mission of the foundation is making improvements to and enhancements of the Joseph M. and Kathleen Bryan Park. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human Services • Cultural and community enrichment initiatives • Economic development projects
How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph M Bryan Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation makes approximately 48-54 grants annually • Total giving in 2022: $2,859,563 • Total giving in 2024: $2,859,563 **Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $100 to $6,096,912 • Grant range typically $15,000 to $30,000 through various programs **Recent Grant Examples (2022):** • United Way of Greater Greensboro: $300,000 (Annual Support) • Wyndham Championship: $235,000 (Annual Support) • Piedmont Triad Partnership: $150,000 (Investment for Economic Developm…
Where does The Joseph M Bryan Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on the greater Greensboro, North Carolina area, with some giving in North Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri.
What size grants does The Joseph M Bryan Foundation award?
In 2024, The Joseph M Bryan Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Joseph M Bryan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Joseph M Bryan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Joseph M Bryan Foundation's EIN?
The Joseph M Bryan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1548051. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joseph M Bryan Foundation'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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