The Bill and Sharon Allen Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-5854617 · since 2007basaff.org/home·Charlotte, Mecklenburg County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.1M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$2,500 to $40,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$20,000

Typical grant (median)

29 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The foundation funds nonprofit work in the Charlotte region, with a stated priority for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and it particularly backs programmes that promote fun, active and healthy lifestyles for young people, so an organisation should approach it only if its work fits that focus and it is recognised as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3).
Its stated application method is by invitation only and it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered and a warm introduction is the realistic route.
Typical grants run from $2,500 to $40,000, with about 8 in 10 of its grants in that band and a median of $20,000, though its largest grant was $330,000, so a request in the middle of that range fits its usual pattern.
Repeat giving is strong, as 81% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier one, so a newcomer should expect competition and should be ready to provide a written report on outcomes and financial accounting if funded.

Overview

The Bill and Sharon Allen Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Charlotte, 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 supports nonprofit activities throughout the Charlotte region and focuses on organisations that work to improve communities. It particularly funds nonprofit organisations and programmes promoting fun, active and healthy lifestyles for young people in the communities it serves. Its approach includes seed funding for start-ups and backing established community organisations with programmes and services that reflect its mission; it also seeks to help beyond financial assistance through personal volunteering and connections in the business community. Grants are primarily offered to organisations working within Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and organisations must be recognised as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3).

Themes

Healthy youth lifestyles

Geographic Focus

Priority: Charlotte region; Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

How to apply

The site provides an online application asking organisations to describe themselves and the programme or service for which they seek funding.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% 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 91 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation generally supports programmes and services that help young people develop responsible, creative, active and healthy lifestyles.
Grant recipients must provide a written report evaluating the funded programme or service, including outcomes and financial accounting for grant expenses.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

North Carolina92%

Pennsylvania3%

Vermont2%

South Carolina1%

Georgia<1%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%

The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations The Bill and Sharon Allen Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).

Grants

29 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k7%

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k0%

$10k–$25k48%

$25k–$50k31%

$50k–$100k0%

$100k–$250k7%

$250k–$500k3%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Arts Plus · Arts education organization
$270,0002024 tax year
Paramount Institute of Cosmetic Arts · Operational Support
$200,0002024 tax year
Knothole Foundation · Promote baseball in underserved communities
$100,0002024 tax year
Carolina Thread Trail · assist communities plan and develop connecting trails in a 15 county area surrounding Charlotte
$35,5002024 tax year
Philips Academy of North Carolina · School for students with learning disabilities and autism
$30,0002024 tax year
Pirates Charities · Youth health, fitness, and education programs
$30,0002024 tax year
Right Moves for Youth · Work with students to improve school attendance, improve behavior, and engage in education.
$30,0002024 tax year
Good Samaritan Haven · Operational Support
$30,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Bill Allen — President / Director
Jeffrey Scribner — Trust Officer

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$1,408,947	$1,107,000	$21,117,851	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$1,300,291	$1,067,000	$23,601,104	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,332,568	$1,070,000	$27,000,305	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.