Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $119,250 (2024)
• Assets: $20 million
• Grant Range: Varies (median $9,000)
• Total Grants (2024): 12
• Geographic Focus: Primarily North Carolina, with some out-of-state grants
• Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Location: High Point, NC

Note: No public contact information available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation Inc was established in 2020 (IRS ruling year) and operates as a private independent foundation based in High Point, North Carolina. With assets of $20 million and total contributions of $17 million, the foundation honors the legacy of Meredith Slane Finch Person Michener (1925-2023), who was passionate about helping children and maintained relationships with organizations including Crossnore Residential Foster Care Home, Opportunity Early Childhood Education, and The Boys and Girls Club of High Point. The foundation distributed $119,250 in grants in 2024 across 12 organizations. While initial IRS records indicated the foundation's mission as "providing food for those in need," recent grant-making patterns demonstrate a primary focus on education and children's programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-selected grants rather than formal application programs. Recent grants (2024) demonstrate the following funding priorities:

Major Recent Grants:

• Opportunity Inc: $30,000 - Support of mission to provide high quality education to children
• Art Gallery at Congdon Yards: $20,000 - Providing art exhibits, events, and educational opportunities
• Woodberry Forest School: Funding for independent preparatory education (Virginia)
• Sophia Academy: Support for independent girls' education (Rhode Island)

Grant Range: The foundation makes grants of varying sizes with a median grant amount of $9,000 in 2024.

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the foundation prioritizes:

• K-12 Education: Independent schools and educational institutions serving children
• Early Childhood Education: Organizations providing quality early learning opportunities
• Arts Education: Programs combining art exhibits with educational programming
• Youth Development: Organizations focused on children's activities and development
• Community Support: Local North Carolina organizations, particularly in the High Point area

What They Don't Fund

• The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests
• Organizations must be preselected by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

• Meredith Kempton Finch - Vice President (daughter of the foundation's namesake)
• Sumner Slane Finch - Secretary/Treasurer (son of the foundation's namesake)

Both executives are listed with $0 compensation, indicating volunteer leadership by family members carrying forward Meredith Slane Finch Person Michener's philanthropic vision.

The foundation operates as a family foundation with governance decisions made by the Finch family members who continue their mother's legacy of supporting children and education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, who select organizations that align with the foundation's mission and the founder's philanthropic interests.

Organizations interested in funding from this foundation would need to:

• Have an established relationship with the foundation's trustees
• Be specifically selected by the Finch family members who oversee the foundation
• Align with the founder's documented interests in children's education and development

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's founder, Meredith Slane Finch Person Michener, was known to have relationships with specific organizations including Crossnore Residential Foster Care Home, Opportunity Early Childhood Education, and The Boys and Girls Club of High Point. Her children, who now lead the foundation, continue to support organizations in these areas.

Organizations working in children's education, particularly in the High Point, NC area or in independent education settings, may be of interest to the foundation. However, there is no documented process for organizations to approach the foundation directly.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and timing.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, there is no formal application process. Organizations that have received grants from this foundation share the following characteristics:

• Strong educational mission: All documented grants support educational institutions or programs with clear educational components
• Focus on children and youth: Consistent with the founder's documented passion for helping children
• Quality programming: Recipients like Opportunity Inc received funding explicitly for "high quality education to children"
• Mix of local and broader impact: While based in High Point, NC, the foundation supports organizations beyond North Carolina, including preparatory schools in Virginia and Rhode Island
• Arts integration: The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards grant demonstrates interest in organizations that combine arts and education

The foundation appears to value organizations that would have aligned with Meredith Slane Finch Person Michener's documented interests in children's welfare, education, and community development.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - all grants are trustee-initiated
• Family-driven philanthropy: Decisions are made by the founder's children who continue her legacy
• Education-focused: Primary emphasis on children's education, from early childhood through preparatory school
• Relationship-based: The foundation supports organizations connected to the founder's interests and relationships
• Substantial assets, selective giving: With $20 million in assets but only 12 grants annually, the foundation is highly selective
• Geographic flexibility: While based in North Carolina, the foundation supports quality educational institutions nationally
• Median grant size: With a median grant of $9,000, the foundation makes grants of varying sizes depending on the organization and need

References

• Cause IQ Organization Profile: Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/meredith-slane-finch-michener-foundation,831392394/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io Profile: Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation Inc (EIN: 83-1392394). https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/831392394-meredith-slane-finch-michener-foundation-inc/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Charity Navigator: Meredith Slane Finch Michener Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/831392394 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• J. C. Green & Sons Funeral Home: Obituary for Meredith (Slane) Finch Person Michener. https://www.jcgreenandsons.com/obituary/Meredith-FinchPersonMichener (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• IRS Classification: T22 Private Independent Foundation within Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations category