The Edward M Armfield Sr Foundation I appears to prioritize expanding college access in North Carolina, demonstrated by a single large grant supporting the Carolina College Advising Corps. The foundation gives regionally focused, programmatic funding aimed at strengthening college advising capacity for high school students in the Carolinas.
A $500,000 grant to Shifted for the Carolina College Advising Corps anchors The Edward M Armfield Sr Foundation I’s recent giving and points to a clear interest in college-access advising in North Carolina. The foundation also backed the same advising network through UNC-affiliated channels, including $200,000 to UNC - Carolina College Advising Corps and $170,000 to UNC-Chapel Hill Carolina Coll Adv Corps in 2023, showing a sustained relationship with that work. Alongside advising, the foundation supports scholarships for individual students and program funding for institutions that serve college-bound learners. Recent higher-education grants include support for UNC-Greensboro, Davidson College, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, and UNC-Charlotte. Its portfolio also reaches into local education and community organizations in Greensboro and nearby North Carolina communities. The pattern suggests a foundation that mixes direct student support with institutional and programmatic grants, especially where those grants strengthen pathways into higher education and local educational capacity. In the Triad area, that includes both college access infrastructure and community-based organizations connected to student preparation and support.
College access is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s recent grants. In 2025, it gave $500,000 to Shifted for the Carolina College Advising Corps, and in 2023 it gave $200,000 to UNC - Carolina College Advising Corps and $170,000 to UNC-Chapel Hill Carolina Coll Adv Corps. It also supported undergraduate access directly through scholarships to UNC-Greensboro, Davidson College, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, and UNC-Charlotte. Beyond higher education, the foundation funds local education capacity. It gave $187,500 to Communities in Schools in Greensboro in 2025 and $144,000 to Commun in Schools of Greater Greensboro in 2023. It also made a $100,000 grant to Guilford Education Alliance, indicating support for school-connected infrastructure in the Greensboro area. Community-oriented grants appear as well. Backpack Beginnings received $200,000 in 2023, and Ready for School Ready for Life received $66,667 in 2025, both tied to local family and child-support work.
$3.1M
$46.4M
$6.8M
$3.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $52K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$52K
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Highly concentrated: a single, large ($500,000) programmatic grant to one organization, suggesting strategic, big-ticket support rather than many small grants or broad diversification.
Notable grantees: SHIFTED (recipient of the Carolina College Advising Corps grant)
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $51,750 at the 75th percentile, though the recent list includes several six-figure awards. The foundation gives in a mix of scholarships, operating support, and program grants rather than using a single grant type. Recipients recur across years: Davidson College, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, and Center for Creative Leadership all appear in multiple years or with multiple awards. It is classified as a regular funder and also funds individuals, which aligns with the scholarship pattern in the recent grants.
The grant record is heavily concentrated in North Carolina: 81% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and North Carolina is also the top state by grant count. Greensboro is the most visible city in the portfolio, with awards to Shifted, Communities in Schools, Backpack Beginnings, Action Greensboro, Ready for School Ready for Life, and Center for Creative Leadership. Other North Carolina recipient cities include Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Charlotte, Davidson, Asheboro, Winston-Salem, and Boone. Outside North Carolina, recent grants reach Atlanta and Chattanooga.
The foundation supports college-access and advising programs, scholarships for individual students, school and district initiatives, ESL program support, and local community projects. Recent grants include Carolina College Advising Corps funding, scholarships at multiple North Carolina colleges and universities, and grants to Greensboro-based education and family-support organizations.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals and its recent grants include scholarships to UNC-Greensboro, Davidson College, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, and UNC-Charlotte.
Its typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $51,750 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also show larger commitments, including multiple six-figure grants.
North Carolina is the top state by grant count, and 81% of grants go to recipients in that state. Greensboro appears frequently, along with Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Charlotte, Davidson, Asheboro, Winston-Salem, and Boone.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once across recent years, including Davidson College, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, and Center for Creative Leadership. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHIFTED | GREENSBORO, NC | $500,000 | 2025 | CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS GRANT |
| UNC - CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2025 | CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS GRANT |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE | DAVIDSON, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | GRANT DAVIDSON TRUST |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS | GREENSBORO, NC | $187,500 | 2025 | GRANT |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $97,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOONE, NC | $96,291 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP | GREENSBORO, NC | $80,000 | 2025 | SURRY COUNTY SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE |
| ACTION GREENSBORO | GREENSBORO, NC | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, CAMPUS GSO, BUILD S.M.A.R.T COMMS CAPAIGN |
| UNC-CHARLOTTE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $70,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| READY FOR SCHOOL READY FOR LIFE | GREENSBORO, NC | $66,667 | 2025 | GRANT |
| UNC-CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $66,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MOTIVATIONAL FOUNDATION THE BLAKE ODUM | GREENSBORO, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| MONTREAT COLLEGE | MONTREAT, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY | HICKORY, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CITY OF ASHEBORO | ASHEBORO, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | ZOO CITY SPORTS COMPLEX |
| GREENSBORO LITERARY ORGANIZATION - GREENSBORO BOUND | GREENSBORO, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR GREENSBORO BOUND |
| HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY | HIGH POINT, NC | $27,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| GREENSBORO CHILDREN'S MUSUEM | GREENSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| GUILFORD EDUCATION ALLIANCE | GREENSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA | GREENSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION |
| NCCJ | GREENSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| UNC-WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $24,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MT AIRY CITY SCHOOLS | MT AIRY, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | FUNDING FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAMS |
| UNC - GREENSBORO -BRINGING OUT THE BEST | GREENSBORO, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| SALVATION ARMY OF SURRY COUNTY | MT AIRY, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL HOLDIAY GIFT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS |
| ELKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS | ELKIN, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT ESL PROGRAMS |
| MEREDITH COLLEGE | RALEIGH, NC | $17,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $14,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $14,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $12,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ELON UNIVERSITY | ELON, NC | $12,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY | CONWAY, SC | $12,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $12,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $12,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY | BUIES CREEK, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $11,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FERRUM COLLEGE | FERRUM, VA | $11,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| GREENSBORO COLLEGE | GREENSBORO, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST& STATE UNIV | BLACKSBURG, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY | BOILING SPRINGS, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, NC | $7,400 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| GUILFORD COLLEGE | GREENSBORO, NC | $6,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN CAROLINA | ASHEVILLE, NC | $5,155 | 2025 | GRANT |
| LIMESTONE COLLEGE | GAFFNEY, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| GREENSBORO DAY SCHOOL | GREENSBORO, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE PROJECTS |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NC | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| GROVE CITY COLLEGE | GROVE CITY, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| VIRGINIA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY | RICHMOND, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS | CONWAY, AR | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
SHIFTED
$500,000CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS GRANT
UNC - CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS
$200,000CAROLINA COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS GRANT
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
$200,000GRANT DAVIDSON TRUST
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
$187,500GRANT
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$97,000SCHOLARSHIP
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$96,291SCHOLARSHIP
SURRY COUNTY SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, CAMPUS GSO, BUILD S.M.A.R.T COMMS CAPAIGN
UNC-CHARLOTTE
$70,000SCHOLARSHIP
UNC-CHAPEL HILL
$66,500SCHOLARSHIP
MOTIVATIONAL FOUNDATION THE BLAKE ODUM
$50,000GRANT
CITY OF ASHEBORO
$40,000ZOO CITY SPORTS COMPLEX
GREENSBORO LITERARY ORGANIZATION - GREENSBORO BOUND
$40,000OPERATING SUPPORT FOR GREENSBORO BOUND
NCCJ
$25,000GRANT
MT AIRY CITY SCHOOLS
$20,000FUNDING FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
UNC - GREENSBORO -BRINGING OUT THE BEST
$20,000GRANT
SALVATION ARMY OF SURRY COUNTY
$20,000ANNUAL HOLDIAY GIFT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS
ELKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
$20,000SUPPORT ESL PROGRAMS
MEREDITH COLLEGE
$17,500SCHOLARSHIP
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$14,500SCHOLARSHIP
ELON UNIVERSITY
$12,500SCHOLARSHIP
COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
$12,500SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
$12,500SCHOLARSHIP
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
$11,000SCHOLARSHIP
GREENSBORO COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST& STATE UNIV
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
$7,400SCHOLARSHIP
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN CAROLINA
$5,155GRANT
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
$5,000SCHOLARSHIP
GREENSBORO DAY SCHOOL
$5,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE PROJECTS
VIRGINIA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
$5,000SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
$5,000SCHOLARSHIP