RHI Legacy Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 56-0619367 · since 1929rhilegacyfoundation.com·Rutherford County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$1,000 to $50,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$10,263

Typical grant (median)

54 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your organisation works in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and addresses chronic disease, healthy eating or active living, your work fits the foundation's focus areas, provided you can show measurable benefits for county residents.
Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $50,000, and half were $10,000 or less, so a request near $10,000 is a realistic starting point, though its largest grant was $550,000.
Because 89% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, a first approach should rest on a clear match to its stated focus areas and a plan to sustain the work beyond the grant.
Applications go through its website by July 31, and organisations should not seek funds for debt retirement, unrestricted endowment funds or grants to individuals; former grantees must first complete their progress and final reports.

Overview

RHI Legacy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Rutherfordton, 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 support existing organisations and initiatives aligned with three health focus areas: chronic disease, healthy eating and active living. It supports programmes, projects and services that prevent chronic disease, identify it through early screening or improve health for residents already experiencing chronic disease; expand access to sufficient, healthy food; and encourage or facilitate active lifestyles. Its grants are intended to improve health and wellness for people living and working in the local area, with proposals expected to show measurable benefits for residents. Funding may address a project’s capital needs, meet a community need through a programme or service, or build an organisation’s capacity for long-term sustainability. Eligible applicants are exempt organisations, and its grants also go to government service organisations.

Themes

Chronic disease
Healthy eating
Active living

Geographic Focus

Rutherford County, North Carolina.

What They Don't Fund

UNRESTRICTED ENDOWMENT FUNDS
DEBT RETIREMENT
GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS
Former grantees who have not completed required progress reports and final reports

How to apply

Organisations complete and submit the application through the Foundation’s website.

Deadlines: Applications are due by July 31.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 89% 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 161 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

A request should address one of the identified focus areas.
The proposal should provide measurable benefits for Rutherford County residents.
The project should exemplify the Foundation’s Mission and Values.
The proposal should include a plan to sustain the programme beyond grant funding.
Awarded organisations should expect regular communication and site visits, with opportunities to discuss impact and partnership.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

North Carolina100%

South Carolina<1%

Michigan<1%

Georgia<1%

The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to organisations RHI Legacy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

54 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $10,263

How much do they typically give?

Share of 54 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k2%

$1k–$2.5k19%

$2.5k–$5k19%

$5k–$10k9%

$10k–$25k28%

$25k–$50k15%

$50k–$100k6%

$100k–$250k2%

$250k–$500k2%

Median $10,263 (tax year 2024)

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

Isothermal Community College Foundation · Active living
$252,5002024 tax year
Kidsenses · Healthy eating
$175,0002024 tax year
Chimney Rock Disaster Relief · Active living
$50,0002024 tax year
Town of Spindale · Active living
$50,0002024 tax year
Town of Lake Lure · Active living
$50,0002024 tax year
Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation · Healthy eating
$45,0002024 tax year
Rutherford County Senior Center · Healthy eating
$41,0002024 tax year
Basics Christian Ministries · Healthy eating
$35,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Jill Miracle — Community Impact
Terry W Hines — Executive Directo
Shirley Koone — Trustee
Jacqueline Hampton — Trustee
Judy Bond — Trustee
Cindy Buck — Trustee
Maggie Bell — Trustee
Paul Deck — Secretary / Treasurer
Jimmy Dancy — Vice Chair
Kerry Giles — Chair
David Eaker — Trustee
John Condrey — Trustee
Matt Bright — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$3,001,993	$2,400,016	$34,528,294	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$1,755,905	$1,173,858	$33,881,934	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$2,047,186	$1,173,597	$35,468,286	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.