The Stewards Fund
The Stewards Fund was a private foundation based in Clinton, North Carolina. Its 2021 Form 990-PF was marked as a final return, and the filing states that the foundation distributed its remaining cash and ceased operations. Its 2021 grants went to charitable organizations in North Carolina.
The Stewards Fund at a glance
In short: The Stewards Fund gave $2.0M across 50 grants in 2021 (avg $40K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $1,980,670
- -30.4% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 50
- -28.6% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $39,613
- -2.5% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Stewards Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The filing says it ceased operations after distributing its remaining cash.
- Contact
Mailing address: 207 N Chestnut Street, Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 590-4511
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Stewards Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was CASA ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 120 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2021 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Stewards Fund gives
- 53% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2021) to $2.8M (2020). In 2021 it made 50 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA Raleigh, NC | Grant for Kings Ridge | $500,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Orange Chapel Hill, NC | Capital Campaign Challenge Grant | $250,000 |
| Healing Transitions Raleigh, NC | Capital Campaign Grant | $150,000 |
| Urban Ministries of Durham County Durham, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $104,600 |
| Housing for New Hope Durham, NC | Grant for Housing Collaborative Projects | $100,000 |
| Interfaith Council for Social Services Chapel Hill, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $71,677 |
| Habitat for Humanity Wake Raleigh, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $71,250 |
| Big Brother Big Sisters of the Triangle Morrisville, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $71,163 |
| Habitat for Humanity Orange Chapel Hill, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $69,233 |
| Interfaith Food Shuttle Raleigh, NC | Challenge Grant for General Operating Support | $58,645 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2020 filing reported assets of $5,188,375. The 2021 filing states that $2,988,806 in cash remained to be distributed as liquidating distributions and that the foundation had no other assets.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $-10,073 | $2,055,971 | $1,980,670 | 50 | $2,053,547 | $15,249 | $141,038 |
| 2020 | $5,188,375 | $77,770 | $2,935,293 | $2,844,812 | 70 | — | $73,349 | $303,705 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stewards Fund reported a distributable amount of $141K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The sources do not state a mission for the funder. Its 2021 grants included support for housing, homelessness services, recovery services, food assistance, and other charitable work. For example, CASA describes its mission as providing access to stable, affordable housing for people who are homeless or at risk. Healing Transitions describes peer-based recovery services for people experiencing homelessness, while Inter-Faith Food Shuttle says it works to feed neighbors, teach self-sufficiency, and grow healthy foods. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the fund made 50 grants totaling $1,980,670. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $500,000 to CASA for Kings Ridge, $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity Orange for a capital campaign challenge grant, and $150,000 to Healing Transitions for a capital campaign grant. Other notable grants included $104,600 to Urban Ministries of Durham County, $100,000 to Housing for New Hope, and $71,677 to Interfaith Council for Social Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed Anne B Faircloth as president and Anna Neal Blanchard as general manager. Trustees listed were Marian Bergdolt, Haywood Holderness, Wyndham Robertson, Kathryn West, Gordon Grubb Co Grubb Ventures, and Micheline Malson.
The Stewards Fund is led by Anne B. Faircloth, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Anne B. Faircloth
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gordon Grubb Co Grubb Ventures
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Haywood Holderness
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathryn West
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marian Bergdolt
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Micheline Malson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wyndham Robertson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anna Neal Blanchard
General Manager
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $54K (2021)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $54K, to Anna Neal Blanchard (General Manager).
Frequently asked questions about The Stewards Fund
How much does The Stewards Fund give each year?
The Stewards Fund gave $2.0M across 50 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $2.8M across 70 grants.
What is The Stewards Fund's typical grant size?
The Stewards Fund's median grant in 2021 was $10,000, and its average grant was $39,613, across 50 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Stewards Fund give grants?
The Stewards Fund gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (25 grants), Durham, NC (15 grants) and Chapel Hill, NC (4 grants).
Does The Stewards Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of The Stewards Fund's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Stewards Fund's largest grantees?
The Stewards Fund's largest 2021 grantees include CASA ($500,000), Habitat for Humanity Orange ($319,233 across 2 grants) and Healing Transitions ($190,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does The Stewards Fund fund?
The sources do not state a mission for the funder. Its 2021 grants included support for housing, homelessness services, recovery services, food assistance, and other charitable work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Stewards Fund?
The foundation stated that it made 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 ↑
How much is The Stewards Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Stewards Fund reported a distributable amount of $141K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stewards Fund's EIN?
The Stewards Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1482138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does The Stewards Fund 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 2020–2021
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