George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds five areas: military support, special needs, at-risk youth, education and faith-based initiatives, so your work needs to fit one of them.
- Only organisations that are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and not private operating foundations should apply, because the online form asks them to confirm this and proposals answering No are not funded.
- About 8 in 10 of its 198 grants fall between $5,000 and $85,000, with a median of $25,000, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant was $150,000.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but since 97% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier one, a newcomer should make a clear, well-matched, modest first request.
- No geographic focus is stated, so the area is not a rule; the filings show most grants in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Tennessee, Florida and the United States.
Overview
George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation is a US private foundation based in Greensboro, NC.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation makes grants to a wide variety of charitable organisations and partners with 501(c)(3) charities across five programme areas: military, special needs, at-risk youth, education and faith-based initiatives. It describes its approach as enhancing impactful programmes, fostering innovation and bolstering existing systems and organisations. In military giving it partners with charities supporting service members, veterans and their families, including housing assistance for veterans and gold-star families. Its special-needs work supports organisations improving the lives of people with disabilities. For at-risk youth, it focuses on education, mentorship and support; its education work promotes innovative learning, access for underprivileged communities and vocational training. Faith-based organisations offer spiritual guidance, community service and support to people in need.
Themes
- Military support
- Special needs
- At-risk youth
- Education
- Faith-based initiatives
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Tennessee, Florida and the United States.
What They Don't Fund
- Proposals for which the answer is No to Are you a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that is not a private operating foundation?
How to apply
Organisations submit an online application form, beginning with organisational information and confirmation that they are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisations that are not private operating foundations; the form proceeds to financial information and a project or programme summary.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 198 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 15%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 82 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Gary Sinese Foundation · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Wounded Warrior Project · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Tunnels to Towers Foundation · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Caldwell Academy · Scholarship funding$150,0002024 tax year
- JDRF · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Samaritan's Purse · General support$125,0002024 tax year
- Kids and Pros · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Hope Academy · Scholarship funding$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sally Alexander — Secretary / Treasurer
- Robert Buchanan — President
- George Buchanan III — Vice President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,109,442 | $1,008,500 | $48,960,254 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,035,259 | $2,915,000 | $72,231,304 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,893,889 | $3,665,000 | $76,265,111 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (336) 255-4142
- Greensboro, NC
- buchananfoundation.com
Applying to George and Sarah Buchanan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (336) 255-4142
- Greensboro, NC
- buchananfoundation.com