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Carolina Foothills Foundation

Provides medical and emotional services to terminally ill patients in rutherford county, north carolina.

$591k
Granted FY2025still arriving
10
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$125k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2023 to 2025.

Public Benefit$763kPublic Safety & Disaster$675kHousing & Shelter$450kHealth$328kHuman Services$274kPhilanthropy$242kFood & Nutrition$183kYouth Development$171kOther$0
02FY2025 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 10 grants below total $528,000, the rows itemized in this filing. The $591,114 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $63,114 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k1 grant · $7k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $136k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $385k
$40,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$72M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Out of the Ashes Inc$125,000
Polk County Council on Aging$100,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherf$100,000
Polk County Health&HumanSer A$60,000
Saluda Pop-Up Pantry$40,000
Share Thy Bread$40,000
Champions for Wildlife$25,000
Tryon Arts & Crafts School$16,000
Polk County Film Initiative$15,000
Polk County Public Libraries$7,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY23–25, $695k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 14%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 14%HICKORY NUT GORGE OUTREACH INC: $48k → 16%Yokefellow: $125k → 16%YOKEFELLOW SERVICE CENTER INC: $35k → 16%OUT OF THE ASHES INC: $200k → 16%Out of the Ashes Inc: $125k → 16%GRAHAMTOWN TEAM: $120k → 16%FAMILY RESOURCES OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY INC: $17k → 16%Union Mills Fire Department: $25k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

44%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.7M · 9 repeat orgs$2.1M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +28% since the first grant, against +6% for those funded once.

9 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
50

Total granted

$1.7M
$1.9M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+28%
+6%

Still filing today

56%
70%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 58% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $221k went to new ones.

50%100%’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’23’24’25
Public Safety & DisasterArts & CultureHuman ServicesEducationFood & NutritionHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • OO
    OUT OF THE ASHES INC
    2× · 2023–2025 · $325k · revenue +31% · 36% of their budget
  • YS
    Yokefellow Service Center
    2× · 2023–2024 · $185k · revenue +28%
  • BC
    BASICS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $40k · revenue +38%

Funded once

  • RL
    RUTHERFORD LIFE SERVICES INC
    one grant, 2023 · $207k · revenue -10%
  • RC
    RUTHERFORD COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INCgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $125k · revenue +172%
  • GT
    Grahamtown Team
    one grant, 2023 · $120k · revenue +12% · 26% of their budget
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Town of Unionville Volunteer Fire

Fire protection for the residents of unionville nc

Public Safety & Disaster
2
Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Fire protection services

—
3
Pocket Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Fire protection services

—
4
Reems Creek Valley Fire Department Inc

Providing volunteer fire department and rescue services to residents of reems creek and beaver dam, north carolina

—
5
Triangle Volunteer Fire Department

To provide First Responder and Fire Department Services for Pamlico County NC

Public Safety & Disaster
6
Goldston Rural Fire Department

To provide fire protection for the community

Public Safety & Disaster
7
Parkton Fire and Rescue Inc

The volunteer fire department serves the community in and around the town of parkton, nc.

Public Safety & Disaster
8
Jonas Ridge Fire & Rescue Inc

To provide fire and rescue protection services to the citizens of burke county nc

—
9
Yadkinville Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Provide fire protection and rescue services to residents of yadkinville, nc.

Public Safety & Disaster
10
Cooleemee Volunteer Fire Department

Provide fire protection services and fire prevention education for the community of cooleemee, nc.

Public Safety & Disaster
11
Rolesville Rural Fire Department

To provide fire services to the citizens of rolesville nc

Public Safety & Disaster
12
Rheasville Volunteer Fire Department

Volunteer fire department

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Saluda Volunteer Fire & Rescue Inc; the most unlike its peers is Sunny View Fire and Rescue. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

44 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 44 of the 64 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

7
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
44/44
Grantees still filing
22/44
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TOWN OF FOREST CITY: $313,300 · OtherTOWN OF FOREST CITYTOWN OF RUTHERFORDTON: $275,000 · OtherTOWN OF RUTHERFORDTONCITY OF SALUDA NORTH CAROLINA: $225,000 · OtherCITY OF SALUDA NORTH CAROLINARUTHERFORD COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $125,000 · OtherRUTHERFORD COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INCRUTHERFORD COUNTY LIBRARY: $118,716 · OtherRUTHERFORD COUNTY LIBRARYBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF RUTHERFORD: $100,000 · OtherPOLK COUNTY GOVERNMENT: $83,500 · OtherCHASE CORNER UNITED METHODIST MINISTRIES: $78,519 · Other+29 more: $763,065 · Other+29 moreOUT OF THE ASHES INC: $325,000 · Human ServicesOUT OF THE ASHES INCYokefellow Service Center: $185,000 · Human ServicesYokefellow Service Ce…Grahamtown Team: $120,000 · Human ServicesGrahamtown TeamHICKORY NUT GORGE OUTREACH INC: $48,000 · Human ServicesHICKORY NUT GORGE OUT…+1 more: $16,795 · Human ServicesHUDLOW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterTOWN OF COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterSHINGLE HOLLOW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterBILLS CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterGREENHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterCLIFFSIDE AREA FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterSALUDA VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterSANDY MUSH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterGREEN CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterELLENBORO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & DisasterPOLK COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC: $170,000 · PhilanthropyTogether Each Achieves More NC: $71,873 · PhilanthropyRUTHERFORD LIFE SERVICES INC: $206,895 · EmploymentPOLK COUNTY FILM INITIATIVE INC: $39,040 · Arts & CultureUNION MILLS LEARNING CENTER INC: $30,000 · Arts & CultureKIDSENSES INC: $29,500 · Arts & CultureChampions for Wildlife: $25,000 · Arts & CultureTRYON ARTS AND CRAFTS INC: $16,000 · Arts & CultureDreaming Stone Arts and Ecology Center: $10,000 · Arts & CultureShare Thy Bread: $40,000 · Food & NutritionTHE SALUDA POP-UP PANTRY: $40,000 · Food & NutritionTHERMAL BELT OUTREACH MINISTRY INC: $25,000 · Food & Nutrition
Other$2,082,100Human Services$694,795Public Safety & Disaster$250,000Philanthropy$241,873Employment$206,895Arts & Culture$149,540Food & Nutrition$105,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetOUT OF THE ASHES INC: $325,000 over 2y, 36% of budgetRUTHERFORD LIFE SERVICES INC: $206,895 over 1y, 9.4% of budgetYokefellow Service Center: $185,000 over 2y, 22% of budgetRUTHERFORD COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $125,000 over 1y, 9.3% of budgetGrahamtown Team: $120,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetTogether Each Achieves More NC: $71,873 over 1y, 54% of budgetRutherford Outdoor Coalition Inc: $67,500 over 1y, 35% of budgetPISGAH LEGAL SERVICES: $60,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPILGRIMS PATHWAY HOUSE OF REFUGE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetSOUTH MOUNTAINS CHRISTIAN CAMP INC: $49,100 over 1y, 10% of budgetHICKORY NUT GORGE OUTREACH INC: $48,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetBASICS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES INC: $40,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetShare Thy Bread: $40,000 over 1y, 6.1% of budgetTHE SALUDA POP-UP PANTRY: $40,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetPOLK COUNTY FILM INITIATIVE INC: $39,040 over 2y, 22% of budgetUNION MILLS LEARNING CENTER INC: $30,000 over 1y, 51% of budgetKIDSENSES INC: $29,500 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetHUDLOW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN: $25,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY: $25,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetTOWN OF COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT: $25,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetSHILOH DANIELTOWN OAKLAND FIRE DEPT: $25,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetSHINGLE HOLLOW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budgetBILLS CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: $25,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetSunny View Fire and Rescue: $25,000 over 1y, 4.7% of budgetGREENHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetCLIFFSIDE AREA FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetSALUDA VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetChampions for Wildlife: $25,000 over 1y, 4.9% of budgetSANDY MUSH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetGREEN CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE: $25,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetHIGHER ACADEMIA CORPORATION: $25,000 over 1y, 27% of budgetELLENBORO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetTHERMAL BELT OUTREACH MINISTRY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetRutherford County Schools Education Foundation: $22,500 over 1y, 8.6% of budgetPAVILLON INTERNATIONAL: $21,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBLUE RIDGE HOPE: $20,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetSt Luke's Foundation Inc: $19,965 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetFAMILY RESOURCES OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY INC: $16,795 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetISOTHERMAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 1y, 8.5% of budgetDreaming Stone Arts and Ecology Center: $10,000 over 1y, 6.4% of budgetYOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION of Greater Spartanburg: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMosaic Hope: $10,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Gateway Wellness FoundationNC46.9× affinity20 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Gateway Wellness Foundation · Dogwood Health Trust · The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc · Rhi Legacy Foundation Inc · Polk County Community Foundation Inc · The Cannon Foundation Inc · Wnc Bridge Foundation · Duke Energy Foundation · The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation · Foundation for the Carolinas · Manna Food Bank Inc · Timken Foundation of Canton

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Carolina Foothills Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Carolina Foothills Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    16report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 64 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

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