The R A Bryan Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education in North Carolina, primarily supporting North Carolina State University through both academic units and student aid. Their giving is narrowly focused, funding engineering programs and scholarships/student support rather than a broad mix of causes. Grants are large and targeted, typically directed to a small number of institutional beneficiaries.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a very small set of repeat grantees (multi-year or multiple gifts to NC State entities) rather than many small or diverse recipients.
R a Bryan Foundation Inc. shows a clear pattern of sustained support for North Carolina State University, with repeated large grants to both the School of Engineering and the Student Aid Association across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That long-running college-centered approach is the most distinctive feature of its giving. The foundation also extends similar-sized support to Campbell University, Pitt Community College, and other North Carolina institutions, but the center of gravity remains higher education. Its recent grants show a preference for large, targeted institutional awards rather than a broad spread of small gifts. In the education portfolio, the foundation backed engineering education, scholarship and student aid, and campus-level support through multiple six-figure grants. Beyond higher education, its list includes health care, human services, and religious organizations, but those areas appear alongside the larger education commitments rather than replacing them. The foundation’s philanthropy is local in scope and overwhelmingly tied to North Carolina recipients. The recurring support to NC State, together with additional awards to other in-state colleges and universities, suggests a funder focused on strengthening specific institutions and the student experience within them.
Engineering education is a recurring theme. The foundation gave $200,000 in 2025 to Ncsu School of Engineering, following $200,000 in 2024 and 2023, reinforcing a multi-year commitment to that academic unit. Student support is another central thread. Ncsu Student Aid Association received $300,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025, along with a $100,000 grant in 2023, indicating sustained backing for undergraduate aid and scholarship support. The foundation also supports other North Carolina higher-education institutions. Campbell University-student Union received $100,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Pitt Community College received $75,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Those awards show that its educational giving is not limited to one campus. Outside education, the foundation has also funded health care and human services organizations, including Vidant Medical Center Foundation, American Red Cross Wilmington, and 3hc.
Typical grant sizes cluster around mid-five-figure and low-six-figure awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $13,750, and the 75th percentile is $40,000. The recent-grants list also includes repeated six-figure gifts, which sit well above the median. Giving is clearly recurring rather than one-off, with the same recipients appearing across multiple years, especially in education. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking appears institutional and locally focused, with North Carolina recipients dominating the record.
$1.2M
$24.4M
$4.4M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $5K and $40K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Notable grantees: NCSU School of Engineering, NCSU Student Aid Association, North Carolina State University (other units/institutional support)
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in North Carolina, which accounts for 99% of grants in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients appear in Raleigh, Buies Creek, Greenville, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Chapel Hill, Morehead City, and Mount Olive. The list shows a statewide but still local pattern, with repeated support for institutions in eastern and central North Carolina. All recorded recipient-country grants are in the United States.
Higher education is the clearest focus, especially North Carolina State University. The foundation has also funded Campbell University, Pitt Community College, and University of Mount Olive, while additional grants have gone to health care, human services, and religious organizations.
Yes. Ncsu School of Engineering and Ncsu Student Aid Association both received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Campbell University-student Union and Pitt Community College also appear in multiple years, showing a recurring pattern rather than one-time gifts.
The 25th percentile grant is $5,000, the median is $13,750, and the 75th percentile is $40,000. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $300,000 and several $200,000 and $100,000 grants.
Its giving is local and concentrated in North Carolina. The data shows 99% of grants go to recipients in NC, with recent recipients in Raleigh, Buies Creek, Greenville, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Chapel Hill, Morehead City, and Mount Olive.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCSU STUDENT AID ASSOCIATION | RALEIGH, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NCSU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING | RALEIGH, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY-STUDENT UNION | BUIES CREEK, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | GREENVILLE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GREENVILLE, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| 3HC | GOLDSBORO, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE |
| UNC HEALTH FOUNDATION INC | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| RYE FOUNDATION | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| AQUARIUM SOCIETY OF NC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| WAYNE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER | GOLDSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| WATCH | GOLDSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| THE FOUR DAY MOVEMENT | GOLDSBORO, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CONVERTING HEARTS | WAKE FOREST, NC | $24,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GOLDSBORO | GOLDSBORO, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| GOLDSBORO YMCA | GOLDSBORO, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WAYNE COUNTY | GOLDSBORO, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| STEPUP MINISTRY | RALEIGH, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| UNITED WAY OF WAYNE COUNTY | GOLDSBORO, NC | $12,500 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| TUSCARORA COUNCIL | GOLDBORO, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| YOUNG LIFE | GOLDSBORO, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| GO GLOBAL NC | WAKE FOREST, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CITY OF GOLDSBORO-MULTI SPORTS | GOLDSBORO, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CAMP SEA GULL & CAMP SEAFARER | ARAPAHOE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | CHILDREN'S CAMP |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF CARTERET CO | MOREHEAD CITY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| NC COASTAL FEDERALTION | NEWPORT, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY | RALEIGH, NC | $7,500 | 2025 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND | RALEIGH, NC | $7,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CAPE LOOKOUT ALBACORE FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $7,500 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| NC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| RELIANT MISSION | ORLANDO, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | MUSEUM |
| WAYNE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | GOLDSBORO, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GREATER WAYNE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | GOLDSBORO, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CAROLINA PUBLIC HUMANITIES | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE |
| CCNC FOUNDATION | PINEHURST, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| THE FOUNDATION OF WAYNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GOLDSBORO, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND HISTORY |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | RALEIGH, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| MISCELLANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS LESS THAN 2000 EACH | GOLDSBORO, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING SCHOOLS | GOLDSBORO, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GOLDSBORO CIVIC BALLET INC | GOLDSBORO, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| NCSU STUDENT AID ASSOCIATION | RALEIGH, NC | $300,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| NCSU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING | RALEIGH, NC | $200,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | GREENVILLE, NC | $100,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CARE |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY-STUDENT UNION | BUIES CREEK, NC | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $52,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GREENVILLE, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
NCSU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
$200,000EDUCATION
VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$100,000HEALTH CARE
PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$50,000EDUCATION
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILMINGTON
$50,000HUMAN SERVICES
3HC
$40,000HEALTHCARE
RYE FOUNDATION
$25,000HUMAN SERVICES
AQUARIUM SOCIETY OF NC
$25,000HUMAN SERVICES
WAYNE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER
$25,000ARTS AND HUMANITIES
WATCH
$25,000HEALTH CARE
THE FOUR DAY MOVEMENT
$25,000HUMAN SERVICES
CONVERTING HEARTS
$24,000RELIGIOUS
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GOLDSBORO
$20,000RELIGIOUS
GOLDSBORO YMCA
$20,000HUMAN SERVICES
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILMINGTON
$20,000RELIGIOUS
UNITED WAY OF WAYNE COUNTY
$12,500HUMAN SERVICES
TUSCARORA COUNCIL
$12,000HUMAN SERVICES
YOUNG LIFE
$12,000RELIGION
GO GLOBAL NC
$10,000EDUCATION
CITY OF GOLDSBORO-MULTI SPORTS
$10,000HUMAN SERVICES
CAMP SEA GULL & CAMP SEAFARER
$10,000CHILDREN'S CAMP
THE SALVATION ARMY OF CARTERET CO
$10,000HUMAN SERVICES
NC COASTAL FEDERALTION
$10,000HUMAN SERVICES
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY
$7,500ARTS AND HUMANITIES
INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND
$7,500EDUCATION
CAPE LOOKOUT ALBACORE FOUNDATION
$7,500HUMAN SERVICES
NC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000HUMAN SERVICES
RELIANT MISSION
$5,000MUSEUM
WAYNE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATION
GREATER WAYNE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$5,000HUMAN SERVICES
CAROLINA PUBLIC HUMANITIES
$5,000HEALTHCARE
CCNC FOUNDATION
$5,000HUMAN SERVICES
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
$5,000ARTS AND HISTORY
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$4,000HEALTH CARE
MISCELLANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS LESS THAN 2000 EACH
$3,000EDUCATION
COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING SCHOOLS
$2,500EDUCATION
GOLDSBORO CIVIC BALLET INC
$1,000ARTS AND HUMANITIES
NCSU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
$200,000EDUCATION
VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$100,000HEALTH CARE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILMINGTON
$52,000RELIGIOUS
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILMINGTON
$50,000HUMAN SERVICES
PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$50,000EDUCATION