The Rostan Family Foundation concentrates on local community strengthening in Valdese and the surrounding Burke County region, funding municipal projects, recreation infrastructure, land conservation, and faith-based social services. Grants are sizable and often unrestricted/‘philanthropic’ in purpose, and the foundation also supports regional educational institutions with a preference for established, place-based organizations.
A defining pattern of Rostan Family Foundation’s recent giving is its repeated support for Valdese civic life, with multiple large grants to Town of Valdese and Friends of the Valdese Rec Inc. The foundation’s philanthropy is closely tied to local institutions and community-serving organizations in Burke County, including churches, ministries, conservation groups, and arts groups. Recent awards range from six-figure support for municipal and recreation projects to steady mid-sized gifts for social services and cultural programming. Rostan Family Foundation also backs place-based institutions that shape daily life in the region. Waldensian Presbyterian Church received a $100,000 grant in 2024 and a $30,000 grant in 2023, while Burke United Christian Ministries received $113,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2023. The foundation has also supported regional environmental stewardship through Foothills Conservancy of NC Inc and educational institutions such as the NC School of Science and Math Foundation. Across the recent grant list, its giving reflects a preference for established organizations rooted in western North Carolina communities.
Community recreation and local public space are clear priorities. Friends of the Valdese Rec Inc received $130,000 in 2023, and Town of Valdese received $100,000 in 2025, $69,100 in 2024, and $75,000 in 2023, showing sustained support for municipal and recreation-related work. Faith-based social services are another recurring theme. Burke United Christian Ministries received $113,000 in 2025, $50,000 in 2023, and $30,000 in 2024. East Burke Christian Ministries also received $20,000 in 2024, and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina received $50,000 in 2025. The foundation also funds conservation and cultural or educational institutions. Foothills Conservancy of NC Inc received $62,500 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2025, while the NC School of Science and Math Foundation received $100,000 in 2024.
Typical grants cluster around a middle band of support: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. Recent awards also show larger discretionary gifts, including several at $50,000 and above. The grant list suggests recurring support for some recipients over multiple years, including Town of Valdese, Burke United Christian Ministries, and Old Colony Players Inc. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent data also points to philanthropic, often unrestricted-purpose grants rather than narrowly designated project support.
$680K
$9.8M
$2.5M
$729K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, relatively few but large grants with a strong local/regional focus; repeat funding to municipal and community organizations and a mix of faith-based, civic, conservation, and educational recipients. Grants are typically philanthropic/general support rather than narrowly restricted program gifts.
Notable grantees: Town of Valdese, Friends of the Valdese Rec, Inc., Waldensian Presbyterian Church, Foothills Conservancy of NC, Inc., NC School of Science and Math Foundation
Grantmaking is entirely in North Carolina, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. Valdese and Morganton appear most often in the recent list, alongside Drexel, Hildebran, Durham, and McAdenville. Specific recipient locations include Town of Valdese in Valdese, Burke United Christian Ministries in Morganton, Grow With Drexel in Drexel, East Burke Christian Ministries in Hildebran, and Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation Inc in McAdenville. The foundation’s giving is local rather than multi-state or international.
The recent grants show support for municipal projects, recreation, faith-based social services, land conservation, arts, and education. Examples include Town of Valdese, Friends of the Valdese Rec Inc, Burke United Christian Ministries, Foothills Conservancy of NC Inc, and NC School of Science and Math Foundation.
The grant-size distribution is centered at $10,000, with a p25 of $5,000 and a p75 of $20,000. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $100,000, $113,000, and $130,000.
No. The recipient country distribution shows 101 grants in the US, and 100% of grants went to recipients in North Carolina.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Town of Valdese in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Burke United Christian Ministries in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Old Colony Players Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE RIDGE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC | MORGANTON, NC | $130,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BURKE UNITED CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES | MORGANTON, NC | $122,500 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK INC | CONNELLY SPRINGS, NC | $60,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| APPLESEED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INC | SALISBURY, NC | $60,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| AMOREM BURKE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE | VALDESE, NC | $35,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| OLD COLONY PLAYERS INC | VALDESE, NC | $30,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BURKE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLCHEM DEPENDENCY | MORGANTON, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| WALDENSIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM | VALDESE, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| EAST BURKE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES | HILDEBRAN, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CAROLINA OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CATAWBA RIVERKEEPER FOUNDATION INC | MCADENVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NC INC | MORGANTON, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| AMERICAN WALDENSIAN AID SOCIETY INC | VALDESE, NC | $11,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| OLIVE HILL COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BURKE COUNTY | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY ACTION | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| REASON SPAY AND NEUTER | RUTHERFORD COLLEGE, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| OPTIONS INC | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE MEETING PLACE MISSION | MORGANTON, NC | $7,500 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| YMCA OF CATAWBA VALLEY | HICKORY, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| LITERACY COUNCIL OF BURKE COUNTY | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| WALDENSIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | VALDESE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CHILDREN'S CANCER PARTNERS OF THE CAROLINAS | SPARTANBURG, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE MENTAL HEALTH FUND INC | HICKORY, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| SALVATION ARMY OF BURKE CO | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF BURKE COUNTY | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BURKE COUNTY FRIENDS FOR ANIMALS INC | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF VALDESE | VALDESE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| MIMOSA CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTER INC | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| A BETTER LIFE ANIMAL RESCUE INC | MORGANTON, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BIG BROTHERBIG SISTER OF WESTERN NC | ASHEVILLE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| ANIMAL SERVICES FOUNDATION | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $3,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER INC | HILDEBRAN, NC | $500 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BURKE UNITED CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES | MORGANTON, NC | $113,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| TOWN OF VALDESE | VALDESE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA | MORGANTON, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| HISTORIC VALDESE FOUNDATION INC | VALDESE, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| GROW WITH DREXEL | DREXEL, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BURKE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLCHEM DEPENDENCY | MORGANTON, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NC INC | MORGANTON, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE ENOLA GROUP | MORGANTON, NC | $22,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| OLD COLONY PLAYERS INC | VALDESE, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CATAWBA RIVERKEEPER FOUNDATION INC | MCADENVILLE, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| JOHNS RIVER VALLY CAMP | COLLETSVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| GOOD SAMARITAN CLINIC | MORGANTON, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE MEETING PLACE MISSION | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BURKE COUNTY | MORGANTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| WALDENSIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | VALDESE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| SAMARITANS PURSE | BOONE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| YMCA OF CATAWBA VALLEY | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC |
FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK INC
$60,000PHILANTHROPIC
APPLESEED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INC
$60,000EDUCATIONAL
AMOREM BURKE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
$35,000PHILANTHROPIC
OLD COLONY PLAYERS INC
$30,000PHILANTHROPIC
BURKE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLCHEM DEPENDENCY
$25,000PHILANTHROPIC
WALDENSIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
$20,000PHILANTHROPIC
EAST BURKE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
$20,000PHILANTHROPIC
CAROLINA OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION
$15,000PHILANTHROPIC
FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NC INC
$15,000PHILANTHROPIC
AMERICAN WALDENSIAN AID SOCIETY INC
$11,000PHILANTHROPIC
OLIVE HILL COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BURKE COUNTY
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY ACTION
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
REASON SPAY AND NEUTER
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
OPTIONS INC
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE MEETING PLACE MISSION
$7,500PHILANTHROPIC
LITERACY COUNCIL OF BURKE COUNTY
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
WALDENSIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE MENTAL HEALTH FUND INC
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
SALVATION ARMY OF BURKE CO
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF BURKE COUNTY
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
BURKE COUNTY FRIENDS FOR ANIMALS INC
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF VALDESE
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
MIMOSA CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTER INC
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
A BETTER LIFE ANIMAL RESCUE INC
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
BIG BROTHERBIG SISTER OF WESTERN NC
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC
ANIMAL SERVICES FOUNDATION
$3,000PHILANTHROPIC
CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER INC
$500PHILANTHROPIC
TOWN OF VALDESE
$100,000PHILANTHROPIC
PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
HISTORIC VALDESE FOUNDATION INC
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
GROW WITH DREXEL
$40,000PHILANTHROPIC
BURKE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLCHEM DEPENDENCY
$25,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE ENOLA GROUP
$22,000PHILANTHROPIC
OLD COLONY PLAYERS INC
$20,000PHILANTHROPIC
JOHNS RIVER VALLY CAMP
$15,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE MEETING PLACE MISSION
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BURKE COUNTY
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC
WALDENSIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC