Wilkes Medical Center Foundation
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation is a public charity based in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Formed in 2017, it provides philanthropic support for Wilkes Medical Center and makes grants to local nonprofit organizations to improve health care and health in its region.
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation at a glance
In short: Wilkes Medical Center Foundation gave $814K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), mostly in North Carolina. 55% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $814,348
- +53.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $74,032
- +25.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $13,816,625
- +19.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wilkes Medical Center Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1370 West D Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-3506
Phone: (336) 838-1111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilkes Medical Center Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation ($467K). Together the top 10 received $807K.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 54 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its work as serving Wilkes County and the surrounding region. All grant dollars listed in the 2024 filing went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wilkes Medical Center Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $135K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 18% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2019) to $814K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $814K.
*2021: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation North Wilkesboro, NC | To Support the Hospital | $466,726 |
| Wilkes Dental Consortium Inc North Wilkesboro, NC | To Provide Dental Services for Underprivileged | $150,000 |
| Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes Inc Wilkesboro, NC | To feed the hungry and food insufficient by providing a food pantry | $50,000 |
| Wilkes County Health Department Wilkesboro, NC | To fund increasing positive maternal/child health outcomes through access to contraception | $30,000 |
| Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center of Wilkes Wilkesboro, NC | Child Advocacy Program Support | $25,302 |
| Wilkes Rescue Squad Inc North Wilkesboro, NC | Funding for First Aid and Rescue Services | $25,000 |
| Carenet Counseling of Wilkes Inc North Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund Carenet Hope Fund | $24,645 |
| Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes North Wilkesboro, NC | Funding for Adult Day Health Services and Equipment | $15,675 |
| The Catherine H Barber Memorial Shelter North Wilkesboro, NC | Homeless Shelter Support | $10,000 |
| The Child Abuse Prevention Team of Wilkes County Wilkesboro, NC | Hydration and Healthy Eating Program | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,816,625 | $495,387 | $900,123 | $814,348 | 11 | $483,774 |
| 2023 | $11,569,482 | $849,018 | $617,037 | $529,359 | 9 | $184,172 |
| 2022 | $11,035,400 | $1,606,685 | $397,719 | $339,458 | 9 | $407,218 |
| 2021* | $11,111,972 | $2,794,402 | $869,354 | $771,073 | 20 | $440,968 |
| 2020 | $6,846,112 | $1,125,475 | $98,439 | $50,000 | 5 | $-52,192 |
| 2019 | $5,694,228 | $788,469 | $96,245 | $47,594 | 5 | $212,405 |
*2021: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the purposes of WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation, doing business as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center, and enhance the delivery of quality health care in the organization’s region. Its filing says it provides philanthropic support for hospital services and life-saving equipment, as well as support for other local nonprofit organizations.
The website identifies the 2026–2028 priorities as access to care; behavioral health, including mental health and substance use; and chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It says projects are considered for alignment with the Wilkes County Community Health Needs Assessment, with an exception possible in extreme circumstances.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of community services funded. Wilkes Dental Consortium says it serves children and adults in Wilkes and the surrounding region who need dental care. Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes says it operates a food pantry and a backpack meal program for low-income families with school-aged children. Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center says it provides services to children affected by sexual or severe physical abuse and their nonoffending caregivers. Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes describes its work as adult day health services, while Wilkes Developmental Day School says it provides day care and training for children with developmental disabilities.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists 11 grants totaling $814,348. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $466,726, with a median grant of $25,000. The largest grants included $466,726 to WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation to support the hospital, $150,000 to Wilkes Dental Consortium for dental services for underprivileged people, and $50,000 to Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes to support its food pantry. Other listed grants included $30,000 to the Wilkes County Health Department for work intended to improve maternal and child health outcomes through access to contraception, and $25,302 to Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center for program support.
A March 2025 foundation announcement reported an allocation of $522,205 for community investments. It highlighted projects involving dental hygiene, child car seats, food and transportation vouchers, mental health and substance-use services, and meals for food-insecure children.
The foundation’s website describes Community Health Care and Health Impact grant programs. It requires applicant organizations to have valid 501(c)(3) tax status and says projects should enhance quality health care and promote improved health in the region. The application page states that Community Health Care grant applications are currently being accepted. The foundation page separately says applications for the 2026 Community Health Care and Health Impact Grant Programs have closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Zach Luffman as chair, Holly Minton as vice chair, and Lori McNeil as secretary. It also lists Ann Absher, Jim Sanders, Susan Cogdill, A. Lee Herring, Mick Zulpo, Jackie Mallory, and Graylin Carlton as directors. A. Lee Herring’s listing specifies service through December 11, 2024.
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation is led by Zach Luffman, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Zach Luffman
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Absher
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Graylin Carlton
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
A. Lee Herring
Director
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Sanders
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Cogdill
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Mallory
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mick Zulpo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Wald
Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2022
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Minton
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori McNeil
Secretary
Director & Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Colleen M. Manolovich (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Martha S. Nichols (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Brenda Page (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Gerald Lankford (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Chad Brown (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Delores Porter (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Lee Herring (2019–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Robert L. Johnson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Gary Gunderson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: James N. Smoak (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: John M. Logsdon (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Percy Lee Goforth Jr. (2019–2020) — Vice Chairman
- Former: William C. Warden Jr. (2019–2020) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Wilkes Medical Center Foundation
How much does Wilkes Medical Center Foundation give each year?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation gave $814K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $529K across 9 grants.
What is Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's typical grant size?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $74,032, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wilkes Medical Center Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Wilkes Medical Center Foundation give grants?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were North Wilkesboro, NC (6 grants) and Wilkesboro, NC (5 grants).
Does Wilkes Medical Center Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's largest grantees?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation ($466,726), Wilkes Dental Consortium Inc ($150,000) and Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes Inc ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wilkes Medical Center Foundation?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation reported $13.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $495K.
What does Wilkes Medical Center Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the purposes of WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation, doing business as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center, and enhance the delivery of quality health care in the organization’s region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilkes Medical Center Foundation?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's EIN?
Wilkes Medical Center Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2345613. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wilkes Medical Center Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wilkes-medical-center-foundation-morg_cb1bf96342684320bd66b91f864f5224
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_822345613_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wilkes Medical Center Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wilkes-medical-center-foundation-morg_cb1bf96342684320bd66b91f864f5224},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Wilkes Medical Center 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.
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