· Private foundation
Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands
Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
What it funded, over time
Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.
Where the money goes
Grants by size, and the largest recipients.
By grant size · FY2024
- Under $10k4 grants · $20k
- $10k–50k18 grants · $352k
- $50k–250k5 grants · $335k
- $250k+1 grant · $250k
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| CITY OF SANFORD | $250,000 |
| OUTREACH MISSION | $110,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC | $75,000 |
| NCSU - NC VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION | $50,000 |
| TEMPLE THEATRE | $50,000 |
| LEE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | $50,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY | $35,000 |
| SANFORD BRUSH & PALETTE CLUB | $32,000 |
| BREAD OF LIFE MINISTRY OF SANFORD | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL CAROLINA | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | $25,000 |
| INGRAM FAMILY YMCA | $25,000 |
| ENRICHMENT CENTER OF LEE COUNTY | $20,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS | $20,000 |
| CHRISTIANS UNITED OUTREACH CENTER | $20,000 |
Does the money reach high-need areas?
Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.
Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.
How this is measured
How this is measured
Who it funds again
Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.
36 repeat relationships: 23 still active in FY2024, 13 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).
How the two cohorts compare
Organizations
Total granted
Median revenue growth · since first grant
Still filing today
New vs renewed · share of each year
In FY2024, 66% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $330k went to new ones.
Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant
How this is measured
Backed again, and grew
- TNTHE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION INC5× · 2018–2022 · $1.5M · revenue +36%
- NCNORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC5× · 2018–2022 · $1.2M · revenue +265%
- NSNC STATE NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION INC4× · 2018–2021 · $500k · revenue +34%
Funded once
- GRGOLDSTON RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTgraduatedone grant, 2018 · $250k · revenue +45% · 83% of their budget
- NMNC MUSEUM OF ARTone grant, 2021 · $50k
- RVROBBINS VILLAGE THEATERone grant, 2017 · $50k
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.
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.
Provide financial support for all types of education and research within the college of sciences at north carolina state university.
To aid and promote, by financial assistance and otherwise, educational, research, and extension in the college of engineering at north carolina state university
The nc state alumni association engages alumni and friends through programs and services that foster pride and enhance a lifelong connection to nc state university ("nc state").
The mission of the north carolina central university foundation, inc., is to foster and promote the growth of higher education in north carolina and specifically north carolina central university by whatever name it may be designated, and…
To advance wilson college of textiles through engagement, partnership and philanthropy. as a charitable organization, the foundation supports the college and dean of the college and such support shall include but is not limited to…
Programs of credit unions which offer a wide variety of personal financial services exclusively to their members.
Inspiring philanthropy and strengthening our region through innovative community initiatives and quality services to donors and constituents.
The north carolina biotechnology center aids the biotechnology-related efforts of researchers, businesses, state and federal governments, and other agencies primarily through awards of grants and loans related to specific programs and…
The mission of hospice & community care is to give hope, comfort, and compassion to those that need it most. hospice & community care is a nonprofit healthcare organization providing hospice and palliative care to residents of york,…
To be north carolina's state orchestra, an orchestra achieving the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embracing its dual legacies of statewide service and music education.
Our mission is to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all north carolinians. we do this by collaborating with state, regional, local, and private-sector partners in new business recruitment, existing employer support,…
To support, represent and advocate for north carolina independent higher education.
How this is measured
23 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. 23 of the 46 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.
Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee
Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing
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.
- Who funds THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION INC ↗
- Who funds NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
- Who funds MEREDITH COLLEGE ↗
- Who funds NC STATE NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION INC ↗
- Who funds BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL CAROLINA ↗
- Who funds FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC ↗
- Who funds LEE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION ↗
- Who funds TEMPLE THEATRE COMPANY ↗
- Who funds GOLDSTON RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ↗
- Who funds OUTREACH MISSION INC ↗
- Who funds CHRISTIANS UNITED OUTREACH CENTER ↗
- Who funds THE ENRICHMENT CENTER OF LEE COUNTY INC ↗
- Who funds HELPING HANDS CLINIC INC ↗
- Who funds SANFORD BRUSH AND PALETTE CLUB INC ↗
- Who funds UNC HEALTH FOUNDATION INC ↗
- Who funds HOLLYS NEST ↗
- Who funds FAMILY PROMISE OF LEE COUNTY INC ↗
- Who funds NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION ↗
- Who funds Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption Inc ↗
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.
Open a dossier: The Perkins Foundation Inc · Duke Energy Foundation · United Way of Lee County Inc · North Carolina Community Foundation · Espere Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
How this is measured
How much its grantees rely on government
Each dot is one organization Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands. Bigger dots raise more.
How this is measured
Play a game based on Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands’ filings →