The Raftelis Foundation
The Raftelis Foundation is a private foundation based in Cornelius, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations serving community, education, arts, religious, animal-adoption, and public-safety purposes.
The Raftelis Foundation at a glance
In short: The Raftelis Foundation gave $14K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state South Carolina. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,400
- -69.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- -37.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,440
- -51.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $190,846
- +152.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Raftelis Foundation
- 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: 17533 Paradise Cove Court, Cornelius, NC 28031
Phone: (704) 894-0540
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Raftelis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brookgreen Gardens ($5K). Together the top 10 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in South Carolina (35% of grant dollars), North Carolina (29%), Florida (21%), Indiana (9%), and Maryland (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Raftelis Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $433; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 74% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 547% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2024) to $63K (2020). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $14K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brookgreen Gardens Murrells Inlet, SC | Community Garden | $5,000 |
| Eckerd College St Petersburg, FL | Performing Arts | $3,000 |
| Davidson College Presby Church Davidson, NC | CHURCH | $2,750 |
| E2D Davidson, NC | Education | $1,000 |
| Bethlehem University Foundation Beltville, MD | CHURCH | $1,000 |
| Kiwanis Indianapolis, IN | Children's Support Services | $1,000 |
| CDM Foundation South Bend, IN | Church Seminary | $250 |
| Peninsula Community Fund Cornelius, NC | Animal Adoption Agency | $250 |
| Watauga Rescue Squad Boone, NC | Search & Rescue | $100 |
| Cornelius Lemley Fire Rescue Cornelius, NC | General Support | $50 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $190,846 | $128,302 | $15,620 | $14,400 | 10 | $14,400 | $127,082 | $2,633 |
| 2023 | $75,523 | $-3,398 | $48,925 | $47,380 | 16 | $47,582 | $1,316 | $4,634 |
| 2022 | $116,246 | $9,736 | $53,453 | $51,875 | 14 | $51,875 | $8,158 | $7,538 |
| 2021 | $187,341 | $19,362 | $57,541 | $55,857 | 14 | $55,857 | $17,678 | $9,945 |
| 2020 | $219,407 | $11,503 | $64,797 | $62,877 | 16 | — | $9,631 | $11,178 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Raftelis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included support for a community garden, performing arts, education, churches and seminary, children’s support services, animal adoption, search and rescue, and general support.
Among its grantees, Brookgreen Gardens says its mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit American sculpture and South Carolina’s native flora and fauna. Eckerd College describes its mission as providing undergraduate liberal arts education and lifelong learning programs in Florida, within a covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). E2D says it expands economic opportunity by training young adults, transforming donated technology, and equipping North Carolina communities with digital tools.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $14,400. Grants ranged from $50 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000.
The largest grants were $5,000 to Brookgreen Gardens for a community garden, $3,000 to Eckerd College for performing arts, and $2,750 to Davidson College Presby Church for church purposes. Other grants included $1,000 each to E2D for education, Bethlehem University Foundation for church purposes, and Kiwanis for children’s support services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists George Raftelis as president and Eva Raftelis as director.
The Raftelis Foundation is led by George Raftelis, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
George Raftelis
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eva Raftelis
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Raftelis Foundation
How much does The Raftelis Foundation give each year?
The Raftelis Foundation gave $14K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $47K across 16 grants.
What is The Raftelis Foundation's typical grant size?
The Raftelis Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,440, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Raftelis Foundation that year got $433 on average.
Where does The Raftelis Foundation give grants?
The Raftelis Foundation's top state is South Carolina, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (29%) and Florida (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Davidson, NC (2 grants) and Cornelius, NC (2 grants).
Does The Raftelis Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of The Raftelis Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Raftelis Foundation's largest grantees?
The Raftelis Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Brookgreen Gardens ($5,000), Eckerd College ($3,000) and Davidson College Presby Church ($2,750), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Raftelis Foundation?
The Raftelis Foundation reported $191K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Raftelis Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a community garden, performing arts, education, churches and seminary, children’s support services, animal adoption, search and rescue, and general support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Raftelis Foundation?
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 Raftelis Foundation's EIN?
The Raftelis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2105040. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Raftelis Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Raftelis Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Raftelis Foundation'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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