The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Richlands, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing reports 56 grants totaling $538,500, with nearly all grant dollars going to recipients in North Carolina.
Key facts about The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc
In short: The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc gave $539K across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in North Carolina. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 56-1950780
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $538,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- Average grant
- $9,616
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (7 of 56, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,518,754
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
-8.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$539K
+22.9% YoY
Grant Count
56
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+18.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $571K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 56 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including churches, humanitarian and community organizations, a volunteer fire department, and groups serving young people.
Among its grantees, Samaritan’s Purse describes its work as providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. Richlands Volunteer Fire Department says it provides fire protection in its local district and surrounding areas. Brigade Boys & Girls Club says it aims to help young people realize their potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 56 grants totaling $538,500. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $319,000, with a median grant of $2,000. The largest awards included $319,000 to Richlands Methodist Church, $30,000 to The Refuge Church, and $27,000 to Samaritan’s Purse. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Coastal NC FCA and Mt Vernon Baptist Church, and $8,500 to Richlands Volunteer Fire Department.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 1% to recipients in New York, and less than 1% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $426K (2020) to $557K (2022). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $539K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Richlands Methodist Church ($319K). Together the top 10 received $427K.
Grant Size Distribution
278 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 272 grants of 278 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Richlands Methodist Church Richlands, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $319,000 |
| The Refuge Church Ayden, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $30,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Charlotte, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $27,000 |
| Coastal NC FCA Jacksonville, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $10,000 |
| Mt Vernon Baptist Church Charlotte, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $10,000 |
| Richlands Volunteer Fire Department Richlands, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $8,500 |
| Onslow Pregnancy Resource Center Jacksonville, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $7,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association of Eastern NC Raleigh, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $5,000 |
| Brigade Boys & Girls Club Wilmington, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $5,000 |
| Encounter 61 Church Emerald Isle, NC | To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization. | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,518,754 | $436,576 | $635,343 | $538,500 | 56 |
| 2023 | $6,049,725 | −$346,126 | $516,683 | $438,030 | 54 |
| 2022 | $7,642,891 | $325,432 | $685,217 | $557,250 | 55 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,518,754 | $6,049,725 | $7,642,891 |
| Revenue | $436,576 | $-346,126 | $325,432 |
| Expenses | $635,343 | $516,683 | $685,217 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $541,198 | $439,272 | $562,663 |
| Net Investment Income | $117,381 | $143,431 | $237,205 |
| Distributable Amount | $570,816 | $465,918 | $469,978 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leon W Sylvester III and Mary S Hargett as directors.
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leon W. Sylvester III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary S. Hargett
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 295, Richlands, NC 28574
Phone: (919) 394-3261
Frequently asked questions about The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc gave $539K across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $438K across 54 grants.
What is The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $9,616, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richlands, NC (26 grants), Jacksonville, NC (8 grants), Charlotte, NC (5 grants) and Wilmington, NC (2 grants).
Does The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 56 grants with a stated purpose on The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Charitable Mission of the Organization." (56 grants).
Who are The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Richlands Methodist Church ($319,000), The Refuge Church ($30,000) and Samaritan's Purse ($27,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $541K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $571K (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 Sylvester Family Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including churches, humanitarian and community organizations, a volunteer fire department, and groups serving young people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1950780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Sylvester Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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