The Way Foundation
The Way Foundation was a private foundation based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Its 2020 IRS filing was marked as its final return: the board adopted a resolution to dissolve the foundation on December 29, 2020, and the filing states that it terminated its status under IRC Section 507(b)(1)(A). The foundation therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
The Way Foundation at a glance
In short: The Way Foundation gave $198K across 24 grants in 2020 (avg $8K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $198,000
- Grants made (2020)
- 24
- Average grant
- $8,250
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (76% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Way Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The final filing stated that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It described an application template requiring attachments such as an IRS exemption letter, a current board list, financials, and a mission statement, with awards determined by the board of directors. These are historical filing instructions, not current application guidance, because the foundation’s 2020 return was marked final.
- Review Cycle
- The filing stated “received anytime”; this is historical information and does not indicate an open application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing stated “received anytime”; this is historical information and does not indicate an open application cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Jacquelyn H Gillilan
Mailing address: PO Box 4107, Wilmington, NC 28406
Phone: (910) 799-1815
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Way Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Convoy of Hope ($30K). Together the top 10 received $136K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2020 grant dollars were reported by recipient state as NC 76%, MO 18%, OH 3%, WA 3%, and AZ 2%. The listed grants show substantial support for North Carolina organizations, alongside grants to organizations in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 24 grants totaling $198K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Convoy of Hope Springfield, MO | Various Ministries | $30,000 |
| The Salvation Army Wilmington, NC | Missions, Disaster Relief, Serve the Elderly and Other | $25,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Missions, Disaster Relief and Other | $20,000 |
| Wilmington Carenet Counseling Center Wilmington, NC | Mental Health Counseling | $20,000 |
| Familyworks Ministries Greenville, NC | Various Ministries | $10,000 |
| Coastal Christian High School Wilmington, NC | High School Minsitries, Including Scholarship Asssitance | $8,000 |
| Methodist Home for Children Wilmington, NC | Mission and Housing for Children | $8,000 |
| Baptist Mid-Missions Cleveland, OH | Various Missions | $5,000 |
| Christian Library International Raleigh, NC | Various Missions | $5,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Kansas City, MO | Various Ministries | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2020 filing stated that, as of December 31, 2020, the foundation’s only asset was cash of $83,203, and that cash had been disbursed as grants and liquidation-related expenses. It also reported uncashed checks of $83,203 as of that date.
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $199,822 | $206,703 | $198,000 | 24 | $9,140 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Way Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for organizations whose work, as described by those organizations, included feeding and disaster response (Convoy of Hope), counseling and education (Wilmington CareNet Counseling), and spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine (Samaritan’s Purse). Other supported organizations described work in Christian education, hospice, humanitarian relief, and assistance to people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $198,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
The largest listed grants were $30,000 to Convoy of Hope for “various ministries”; $25,000 to The Salvation Army for missions, disaster relief, and service to the elderly and others; and $20,000 each to Samaritan’s Purse for missions and disaster relief, and Wilmington CareNet Counseling Center for mental health counseling. Other listed grants included $10,000 to FamilyWorks Ministries and $8,000 each to Coastal Christian High School and Methodist Home for Children.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed John S. Gillilan Jr. as chairman, John C. Martin as vice chairman, Armied A. Godwin III as president and treasurer, Jackie Martin as secretary, and Cindy Godwin as a board member.
The Way Foundation is led by Armied A. Godwin III, President\treasurer on the 2020 filing; none of the 5 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Armied A. Godwin III
President\treasurer
New on the 2020 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John S. Gillilan Jr.
Chairman
New on the 2020 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Godwin
Board Member
New on the 2020 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Martin
Secretary
New on the 2020 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John C. Martin
Vice Chairman
New on the 2020 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "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 Way Foundation
How much does The Way Foundation give each year?
The Way Foundation gave $198K across 24 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Way Foundation's typical grant size?
The Way Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,250, across 24 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Way Foundation give grants?
The Way Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, NC (14 grants).
Does The Way Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2020: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Way Foundation's 2020 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various Ministries" (7 grants) and "Various Missions" (4 grants).
Who are The Way Foundation's largest grantees?
The Way Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include Convoy of Hope ($30,000), The Salvation Army ($25,000) and Samaritan's Purse ($20,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The Way Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Way Foundation?
The final filing stated that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Way Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, The Way Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Way Foundation's EIN?
The Way Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0572015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 18, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Way 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.
The Way Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?