Tri-County Telephone Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Belhaven, NC EIN: 56-1742130

Tri-County Telephone Foundation is a private foundation, based in Belhaven, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $925K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 15 grants totaling $69K. Net investment income was $17K.

Key facts about Tri-County Telephone Foundation

EIN: 56-1742130
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $69,375
Grants made (2024): 15
Average grant: $4,625
Median grant: $1,485
New grantees (estimate): 57% first-time grantees (8 of 14, 2024)
Total assets: $925,101
Primary geography: North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Tri-County Telephone Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Tri-County Telephone Foundation's 15 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Belhaven, NC (4 grants), Washington, NC (4 grants), Bath, NC (3 grants) and Pantego, NC (2 grants). None of its 15 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (13 grants).

Is Tri-County Telephone Foundation open to new grantees?

57%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 8 of 14 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $993 repeat.

29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$925K

-0.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$69K

+79.7% YoY

Grant Count

-11.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

+103.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tri-County Telephone Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Tri-County Telephone Foundation

Based on IRS filings

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

North Carolina $69K (100%)

Share of all 15 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

North Carolina Texas

Cities

BelhavenWashingtionWashingtonBathPantegoKinstonEngelhardPikevillePinetownDurhamGastoniaPlymouth

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$925,101	$925,229	$968,197
Revenue	$42,151	$33,559	$35,237
Expenses	$94,213	$58,900	$47,915
Qualifying Distributions	$69,375	$38,611	$33,776
Net Investment Income	$17,313	$13,270	$20,098
Distributable Amount	$45,878	$47,638	$52,015

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

83 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include (19) Scholarships ($19,000), Terra Ceia Christian School ($11,015), Beaufort County Community College Small Business Center ($10,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
(19) SCHOLARSHIPS Belhaven, NC	EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS	$19,000
TERRA CEIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Pantego, NC	DONATION	$11,015
BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS CENTER Washington, NC	DONATION	$10,000
COASTAL PREGNANCY CENTER Washington, NC	DONATION	$10,000
PUNGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Belhaven, NC	DONATIONDONATION	$10,000
BEAUFORT COUNTY PANTEGO COMMUNITY CENTER Pantego, NC	DONATION	$3,000
ST THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Bath, NC	DONATION	$2,500
WILKINSON COMMUNITY EVENT CENTER Belhaven, NC	DONATION	$1,485
HYDE COUNTY HOTLINE INC Engelhard, NC	DONATION	$500
WASHINGTONBEAUFORT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION Washington, NC	DONATION	$500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
C Wayne Black	President	3	—
Gary R Burbage	First Vice President	2	—
Ronnie Huettmann	Second Vice President	2	—
Rodney E Woolard	Secretary/Treasurer	2	—
Stacey Bowen	Assistant Secretary/Treasu	2	—
Charles Williams	Director	1	—

Frequently Asked Questions

How large is Tri-County Telephone Foundation?

As of 2024, Tri-County Telephone Foundation holds $925K in total assets with $42K in annual revenue. It awarded 15 grants totaling $69K in 2024.

Where does Tri-County Telephone Foundation operate?

Tri-County Telephone Foundation has awarded grants in North Carolina, Texas.

What size grants does Tri-County Telephone Foundation award?

In 2024, Tri-County Telephone Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $69K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Tri-County Telephone Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tri-County Telephone Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Tri-County Telephone Foundation's EIN?

Tri-County Telephone Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1742130. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.