The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing records grants to North Carolina organizations working in areas including education, medical research, social services, food assistance, and the arts.
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc gave $198K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in North Carolina. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $198,000
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,333
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $3,387,182
- +6.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% 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 Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Robert L. Edwards as the contact and lists no required form or materials and no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert L Edwards
Mailing address: 1001 West Fourth Street, Winstonsalem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 607-7314
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of NC at Greensboro School of Education ($25K). Together the top 10 received $148K.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 124 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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 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 $180K (2023) to $240K (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $198K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of NC at Greensboro School of Education Greensboro, NC | Education Purposes; Funding Scholarships | $25,000 |
| The Summit School Winston-Salem, NC | Technology Project at the School; Other Educational Endeavors | $25,000 |
| Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc?
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 | $3,387,182 | $478,538 | $249,748 | $198,000 | 27 | $198,000 | $426,790 | $221,403 |
| 2023 | $3,177,026 | $296,636 | $233,747 | $179,500 | 24 | $179,500 | $242,389 | $199,322 |
| 2022 | $3,122,309 | $330,022 | $289,983 | $239,500 | 29 | $239,500 | $279,539 | $204,030 |
| 2021 | $3,147,236 | $521,532 | $276,193 | $224,700 | 29 | $224,700 | $470,039 | $221,429 |
| 2020 | $2,948,237 | $203,916 | $237,595 | $186,500 | 15 | — | $152,821 | $188,755 |
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.
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 include support for schools and education programs, a stroke research fund, a history museum, and organizations providing services such as lodging for people traveling for medical treatment and food assistance.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. The Summit School says it provides a challenging curriculum in a caring environment to help students develop their potential; Noble Academy says it empowers students with learning differences in a comprehensive, supportive educational environment. Third Street Education Center describes its work as supporting community transformation and trusted relationships in West Greenville. Bookmarks says it fosters reading and writing in Forsyth County through a book festival, school programs, and other events.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $198,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $3,000. Notable awards included $25,000 each to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Education, The Summit School, and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; $20,000 to Noble Academy; and $15,000 to SECU Family House. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Smith Winborne Self as director and vice president; Robert L. Edwards as director, secretary, and treasurer; and Robert Sheldon as director.
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert L. Edwards
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert Sheldon
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Smith Winborne Self
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc
How much does The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc gave $198K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $180K across 24 grants.
What is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $7,333, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Winston-Salem, NC (12 grants), Durham, NC (3 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include University of NC at Greensboro School of Education ($25,000), The Summit School ($25,000) and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc?
The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $198K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $221K (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 Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for schools and education programs, a stroke research fund, a history museum, and organizations providing services such as lodging for people traveling for medical treatment and food assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc?
The filing names Robert L. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sara-smith-self-foundation-inc-morg_932a0c5f59644e869c901dd360eb41b3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203631059_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sara-smith-self-foundation-inc-morg_932a0c5f59644e869c901dd360eb41b3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Sara Smith Self Foundation Inc'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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