The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Winstonsalem, NC EIN: 20-3631059

The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Winstonsalem, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 27 grants totaling $198K. Net investment income was $427K.

Key facts about The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc

EIN: 20-3631059
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $198,000
Grants made (2024): 27
Average grant: $7,333
Median grant: $3,000
New grantees (estimate): 15% first-time grantees (4 of 27, 2024)
Total assets: $3,387,182
Primary geography: North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's 27 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winstonsalem, NC (12 grants), Durham, NC (3 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

Is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 27 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.

78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
In 2024 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.4M

+6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$198K

+10.3% YoY

Grant Count

+12.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

-1.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $221K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

North Carolina $198K (100%)

Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Mp North Carolina Virginia

Cities

WinstonsalemGreensboroRaleighDurhamAsheboroDanburyClemmonsGreenvilleHillsboroughWinstosalemBurbankArdenChapel HillCharlotteGrensboroNew BernNewport NewsRichmond

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$3,387,182	$3,177,026	$3,122,309
Revenue	$478,538	$296,636	$330,022
Expenses	$249,748	$233,747	$289,983
Qualifying Distributions	$198,000	$179,500	$239,500
Net Investment Income	$426,790	$242,389	$279,539
Distributable Amount	$221,403	$199,322	$204,030

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

124 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of NC at Greensboro School of Education ($25,000), The Summit School ($25,000), Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
UNIVERSITY OF NC AT GREENSBORO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Greensboro, NC	EDUCATION PURPOSES; FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS	$25,000
THE SUMMIT SCHOOL Winstonsalem, NC	TECHNOLOGY PROJECT AT THE SCHOOL; OTHER EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS	$25,000
WAKE FOREST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER Winstonsalem, NC	FOR THE CC SMITH STROKE FUND FOR STROKE RESEARCH	$25,000
NOBLE ACADEMY Grensboro, NC	EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES TO PURSUE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL WITHIN A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT	$20,000
SECU FAMILY HOUSE Winstonsalem, NC	HOSPITAL HOSPITALITY HOUSE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE LODGING IN A CARING ENVIRONMENT FOR REFERRED ADULT PATIENTS AND/OR THEIR CAREGIVERS WHO TRAVEL TO WINSTON-SALEM FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT	$15,000
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY Raleigh, NC	SUPPORT OF MUSEUM OF HISTORY	$10,000
BREAKTHROUGH T1D Charlotte, NC	RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE FOR DEABETES AND ITS COMPLICATIONS	$10,000
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST NC Winstonsalem, NC	SUPPORT ACROSS NORTHWEST NC TO BRING TO LIFE SHARED VISION OF HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES	$6,500
CHRIST SCHOOL Arden, NC	SUPPORT IN RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE HELENE	$6,000
THIRD STREET EDUCATION CENTER Greenville, NC	LEARNING CENTER THAT SERVES CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INVOLVES LOCAL PARENTS	$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Smith Winborne Self	Director, Vice President	—	—
Robert L Edwards	Director, Secretary, Treasurer	—	—
Robert Sheldon	Director	—	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc?

The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Winstonsalem, NC. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc?

As of 2024, The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc holds $3.4M in total assets with $479K in annual revenue. It awarded 27 grants totaling $198K in 2024.

Where does The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc operate?

The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, Mp, North Carolina, Virginia.

What size grants does The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc awarded 27 grants totaling $198K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $221K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3631059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.