TSH Charitable Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, unrestricted grants with a clear local/regional orientation. Their giving supports community institutions — higher education (Appalachian State), local faith congregations (St. Luke’s UMC), and local animal welfare services — and they also use donor-advised channels (Schwab Charitable Fund) for grant-making. Grants are typically general operating or purpose-flexible, suggesting trust in recipients to allocate funds where most needed.
A defining feature of Tsh Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is its mix of relatively large, unrestricted grants to local institutions and flexible support through donor-advised channels. One of the largest gifts on file went to Schwab Charitable Fund for general and unrestricted purposes, alongside stock donations, showing that the foundation sometimes routes philanthropy through a DAF vehicle rather than only making direct operating grants. Direct grants in the record cluster around community anchors in western North Carolina. Appalachian State University Foundation received support for the App State Disaster Relief Fund, while St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Hickory received general support. The pattern extends beyond education and faith institutions: the foundation also backed humane-animal services, youth programs, housing, and community service organizations. In the recent grants list, recipients include Humane Society of Catawba County, Habitat for Humanity, Family Care Center, and Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. Most awards are unrestricted or purpose-flexible, and several are tied to facilities, repairs, endowment support, or program capacity. That combination suggests a funder that favors trust-based support for organizations serving local community needs rather than tightly restricted project funding.
Education appears as a recurring theme in Tsh Charitable Foundation’s grants. They gave $250,000 to Appalachian State University Foundation for the App State Disaster Relief Fund #993422, and later awarded $41,250 to the same grantee with stock included. In another education-related gift, Lenoir-Rhyne University received $60,000 for the endowment of the Visiting Writers Series. The foundation also funds animal welfare and facility capacity. Humane Society of Catawba County received $82,359 for veterinary equipment for a new clinic and $71,137 for facility repairs, indicating support for both service delivery and infrastructure. Community support organizations are another visible area. Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club received $40,000 for its outdoor initiative, while Family Care Center received $50,000 for general purposes. Housing-related work appears as well through Habitat for Humanity’s The Cottages at Ridgeview, Phase III.
$790K
$12.7M
$813K
$969K
Most grants fall between $10K and $26K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$26K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with few recipients; favors unrestricted/general operating support; supports local/regional nonprofits and sometimes routes gifts through donor-advised funds.
Notable grantees: Appalachian State University Foundation, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Humane Society of Catawba County, Schwab Charitable Fund
Typical grant size falls in a fairly tight mid-large band: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $26,479. The recent record shows a small number of larger awards alongside many $25,000 to $50,000 grants. The foundation also uses a donor-advised fund channel, as shown by the Schwab Charitable Fund grant and stock contributions. The grant list suggests repeat support across years rather than one-off giving. Appalachian State University Foundation, Humane Society of Catawba County, Foothills Conservancy of NC, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Safe Harbor Rescue Mission Inc, Habitat for Humanity, and several others appear more than once. Grants are commonly unrestricted or general operating in nature, with occasional purpose notes for facilities, endowment, or disaster relief.
Tsh Charitable Foundation gives heavily in North Carolina: 90% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The top recipient locations are concentrated in Hickory, Boone, and Morganton, with additional gifts in Lenoir, Arden, and Franklin. Hickory appears especially often across community, education, and human-services grants. Outside North Carolina, the recent-grants record includes only a small number of out-of-state recipients, such as Franklin, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with all listed grants going to US recipients.
The foundation’s recent grant pattern centers on mid-sized awards. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $26,479. The recent list also includes larger six-figure grants, but most awards sit in that middle band.
Yes, but most giving stays in North Carolina. The top state by grant count is NC, and 90% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grants also went to organizations in Franklin, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida.
The foundation funds education, religious service and missions, underserved populations, safe and healing environments, humane treatment of animals, and related community needs. Recent grants show support for disaster relief, a visiting writers series, veterinary clinic equipment, youth programming, housing, and conservation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Appalachian State University Foundation, Humane Society of Catawba County, Foothills Conservancy of NC, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Safe Harbor Rescue Mission Inc, and Habitat for Humanity. That points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
No. Both active grant programs indicate that Tsh Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOONE, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - APP STATE DISASTER RELIEF FUND #993422 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF CATAWBA COUNTY | HICKORY, NC | $71,137 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - FACILITY REPAIRS |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | HICKORY, NC | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - THE COTTAGES AT RIDGEVIEW, PHASE III |
| FREEDOM FARM MINISTRIES | BOONE, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - NEW LIFE CENTER AND CAMPUS |
| SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | HICKORY, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OUTDOOR INITIATIVE |
| NC SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AT MORGANTON FNDTN | MORGANTON, NC | $27,250 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - RESIDENT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS |
| HART SQUARE FOUNDATION | VALE, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - OFFICE RENOVATIONS |
| CATAWBA SCIENCE CENTER INC | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - FLUTTERBY BUTTERFLY HABITAT |
| HICKORY MUSEUM OF ART | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - VIRGIL ORTIZ EXHIBIT |
| SABRE SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - REFURBISHMENT OF 20 MILITARY AIRCRAFTS |
| CENTRO LATINO | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| GREATER HICKORY CCM | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - NUTRITION PLUS PROGRAM |
| WESTERN PIEDMONT SYMPHONY | HICKORY, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| SALT BLOCK FOUNDATION INC | HICKORY, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF CATAWBA VALLEY | HICKORY, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER | HICKORY, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | ORLANDO, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED ARTS COUNCIL OF CATAWBA COUNTY | HICKORY, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENTS OF CATAWBA CO | HICKORY, NC | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| CATAWBA VALLEY LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HICKORY SOUP KITCHEN INC | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - CHRISTMAS DINNER GIVEAWAY |
| FAMILY CARE CENTER | HICKORY, NC | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES |
| FAMILY ENTERPRISE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF CATAWBA COUNTY | HICKORY, NC | $82,359 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. VETERINARY EQUIPMENT FOR NEW CLINIC. |
| LENOIR -RHYNE UNIVERSITY | HICKORY, NC | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. ENDOWMENT OF THE VISITING WRITERS SERIES. |
| FAMILY CARE CENTER | HICKORY, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NC | MORGANTON, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL | HICKORY, NC | $48,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOONE, NC | $41,250 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. 250 SHARES OF APPLE STOCK. |
| CALDWELL HALFWAY HOUSE INC | LENOIR, NC | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | HICKORY, NC | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| GREATER HICKORY CCM | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| CENTRO LATINO | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HICKORY MUSEUM OF ART | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY | PUUNENE, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| SAFE HARBOR RESCUE MISSION INC | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| CATAWBA SCIENCE CENTER INC | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| YMCA OF CATAWBA VALLEY | HICKORY, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| MAUI UNITED WAY | WAILUKU, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HART SQUARE FOUNDATION | VALE, NC | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| WESTERN PIEDMONT SYMPHONY | HICKORY, NC | $20,550 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| EXODUS OUTREACH FOUNDATION INC | HICKORY, NC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | HICKORY, NC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| HICKORY SOUP KITCHEN INC | HICKORY, NC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| SALT BLOCK FOUNDATION INC | HICKORY, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENTS OF CATAWBA CO | HICKORY, NC | $12,500 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| CATAWBA VALLEY LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER | HICKORY, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOONE, NC | $8,690 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - APP STATE DISASTER RELIEF FUND #993422
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - THE COTTAGES AT RIDGEVIEW, PHASE III
FREEDOM FARM MINISTRIES
$50,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - NEW LIFE CENTER AND CAMPUS
SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$40,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OUTDOOR INITIATIVE
NC SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AT MORGANTON FNDTN
$27,250GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - RESIDENT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
HART SQUARE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - OFFICE RENOVATIONS
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - FLUTTERBY BUTTERFLY HABITAT
SABRE SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - REFURBISHMENT OF 20 MILITARY AIRCRAFTS
CENTRO LATINO
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
GREATER HICKORY CCM
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - NUTRITION PLUS PROGRAM
WESTERN PIEDMONT SYMPHONY
$20,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
SALT BLOCK FOUNDATION INC
$15,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF CATAWBA VALLEY
$15,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
UNITED ARTS COUNCIL OF CATAWBA COUNTY
$15,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENTS OF CATAWBA CO
$12,500GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
CATAWBA VALLEY LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
HICKORY SOUP KITCHEN INC
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - CHRISTMAS DINNER GIVEAWAY
FAMILY CARE CENTER
$8,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED - FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
FAMILY ENTERPRISE USA
$1,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. VETERINARY EQUIPMENT FOR NEW CLINIC.
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. ENDOWMENT OF THE VISITING WRITERS SERIES.
FAMILY CARE CENTER
$50,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
$48,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. 250 SHARES OF APPLE STOCK.
CALDWELL HALFWAY HOUSE INC
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
GREATER HICKORY CCM
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
CENTRO LATINO
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
SAFE HARBOR RESCUE MISSION INC
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
MAUI UNITED WAY
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
HART SQUARE FOUNDATION
$21,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
WESTERN PIEDMONT SYMPHONY
$20,550GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
HICKORY SOUP KITCHEN INC
$20,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
SALT BLOCK FOUNDATION INC
$15,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENTS OF CATAWBA CO
$12,500GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
CATAWBA VALLEY LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED