Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean

FAYETTEVILLE, NC EIN: 31-1470721

The Thomas R & Elizabeth E McLean Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Established in 1998, the foundation is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on improving quality of life in the region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$25.2M

+15.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.3M

+20.4% YoY

Grant Count

19

-9.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$67K

+33.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary mission is to improve the quality of life in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

The foundation supports the following areas of interest:

  • Human services
  • Health
  • Education
  • Children and youth
  • Arts and culture
  • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$2,500 to $250,000

Ready to take the next step with Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean?

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in North Carolina, with emphasis on Cumberland County.

Grant Distribution by State

1states

Cities

Chapel HillFayettevilleLake WaccamawRaleighSpring Lake

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (2024):

  • Total assets: $25.2 million
  • Total annual giving: $1.3 million
  • Total revenue: $5.23 million
  • Total expenses: $1.89 million
  • Total liabilities: $5,450
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$3M$4M$6M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$25,190,856$21,851,702$21,683,754
Revenue$5,229,818$1,844,155$954,274
Expenses$1,894,253$1,669,501$1,894,124
Qualifying Distributions$1,510,154$1,282,125$1,413,629
Net Investment Income$4,892,294$1,564,816$892,680
Distributable Amount$1,460,233$1,338,827$1,354,835

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$342K$685K$1M$1M20 grants202024 grants202121 grants202221 grants202319 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVE…$250KMETHODIST UNIVERSITY$250KNC CIVIL WAR CENTER$200KFAYETTEVILLE AREA OPERAT…$115KFTCC FOUNDATION$100KFTCC FOUNDATION$60KCAPE FEAR REGIONAL THEATRE$50KCUMBERLAND COMMUNITY FOU…$50KTHE ARTS COUNCIL$50KCOMMUNITY CONCERTS OF FA…$40K

Grant Size Distribution

105 grants across all recorded years

69<$50K15$50–100K15$100–250K6$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fayetteville State University Foundation Inc ($250,000), Methodist University ($250,000), Nc Civil War Center ($200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AMERICAN RED CROSS - SANDHILLS CHAPTER FAYETTEVILLE, NCBLOOD SAVING LIVES: FIGHTING CANCER$15,000
CAMP CORRAL RALEIGH, NCCUMBERLAND COUNTY CAMPERSHIP FUND$2,500
SANDHILLS FAMILY HERITAGE ASSOCATION SPRING LAKE, NCCIVIC CENTER RENOVATIONS$2,500
FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC FAYETTEVILLE, NCFREE SUMMER SCHOLL PROGRAM$250,000
CAPE FEAR REGIONAL THEATRE FAYETTEVILLE, NCNEW CONSTRUCTION & CONSTRUCTION CAMP$50,000
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER FAYETTEVILLE, NCHELP, HOPE & HEALING$20,000
COMMUNITY CONCERTS OF FAYETTEVILLE NC FAYETTEVILLE, NCUNRESTRICTED/PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES$40,000
CONNECTIONS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY FAYETTEVILLE, NCDAY RESOURCE CENTER$5,000
COOL SPRING DOWNTOWN DISTRICT INC FAYETTEVILLE, NCOPERATION DOWNTOWN$40,000
CUMBERLAND CHORAL ARTS FAYETTEVILLE, NC24-25 CONCERT SEASON$4,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is led by the following officers:

  • Jennifer Elam — President (25 hours/week, $81,000 compensation)
  • Angela Ashworth — Vice-President/Secretary (25 hours/week, $80,000 compensation)
  • Paul Elam — Vice-President/Treasurer (5 hours/week, $61,000 compensation)
  • Claire Shaw — Vice-President (20 hours/week, $61,000 compensation)
  • Faison Covington — Vice-President/Assistant Secretary (5 hours/week, $61,000 compensation)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JENNIFER ELAMPRESIDENT$90KANGELA ASHWORTHVICE-PRESIDENT / SECRETARY$81KPAUL ELAMVICE-PRESIDENT / TREASURER$70KCLAIRE SHAWVICE-PRESIDENT$70KFAISON COVINGTONVICE-PRESIDENT / ASST SECR$70KKENSLEY EDGEVICE-PRESIDENT / PUBLIC RELA…$48K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ANGELA ASHWORTHVICE-PRESIDENT / SECRETARY25$81,100
PAUL ELAMVICE-PRESIDENT / TREASURER5$70,254
JENNIFER ELAMPRESIDENT25$90,254
CLAIRE SHAWVICE-PRESIDENT20$70,254
FAISON COVINGTONVICE-PRESIDENT / ASST SECR5$70,254
KENSLEY EDGEVICE-PRESIDENT / PUBLIC RELATIONS25$47,500

Contact Information

Mailing Address: PO Box 58329 Fayetteville, NC 28305-8329

Office Address: 400 Westwood Shopping Center Suite 210 Fayetteville, NC 28314

Telephone: 910-252-8858

EIN: 31-1470721

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean fund?

The foundation's primary mission is to improve the quality of life in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The foundation supports the following areas of interest: • Human services • Health • Education • Children and youth • Arts and culture • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking

How do I apply for a grant from Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $2,500 to $250,000 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Types of support include project support and general operating support **Recent Activity:** • 21 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period • Total annual distributions: approximately $1.3 million

Where does Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean make grants?

The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in North Carolina, with emphasis on Cumberland County.

What size grants does Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean award?

In 2024, Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean awarded 19 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean's EIN?

Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1470721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities

Go from researching Thomas R & Elizabeth E Mclean to a real strategy.

Plan your approach