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Rhi Legacy Foundation Inc. is a private corporation based in RUTHERFORDTON, NC. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1929. The principal officer is Terry W Hines. It holds total assets of $43.2M. Annual income is reported at $18M. The foundation is governed by 15 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2021 to 2024. The foundation primarily funds organizations in Rutherford County and North Carolina. According to available records, Rhi Legacy Foundation Inc. has made 193 grants totaling $6.9M, with a median grant of $15K. Annual giving has grown from $958K in 2021 to $1.2M in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $4.8M distributed across 108 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $550K, with an average award of $36K. The foundation has supported 85 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in North Carolina and Michigan. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
## How to Approach the RHI Legacy Foundation
The RHI Legacy Foundation is a health-focused community foundation in Rutherford County, North Carolina, with approximately $43 million in assets. It evolved from the former Rutherford Hospital Foundation after a 2014 joint venture between Rutherford Hospital, Inc. and Duke LifePoint Healthcare. The foundation's entire grantmaking strategy revolves around three focus areas: chronic disease prevention, healthy eating, and active living.
To succeed with this funder, applicants must tightly align their proposal with one of these three pillars. The foundation is deeply place-based — only organizations serving Rutherford County residents are eligible. This hyper-local focus means the foundation values intimate knowledge of the community, relationships with local stakeholders, and demonstrated track records in the county.
The foundation's theory of change centers on upstream health interventions — preventing chronic disease rather than treating it, expanding food access rather than managing hunger, and promoting active lifestyles rather than addressing obesity after the fact. Proposals that demonstrate preventive impact and measurable health outcomes will resonate most strongly.
The foundation also values sustainability. Applications must include a sustainability plan beyond grant funding, signaling that the foundation views its grants as catalytic investments rather than ongoing operational support. Organizations that can show how grant dollars will create lasting infrastructure, build capacity, or generate self-sustaining programs will have an advantage.
Since 2014, the foundation has distributed over $17.2 million in grants and committed $13.5 million to the Legacy Soccer Park, demonstrating significant community investment capacity.
## Funding Patterns and Grant Distribution
The RHI Legacy Foundation operates on an annual grant cycle, typically opening applications in June with a July 31 deadline. Decisions are announced mid-September and funds distributed in early October.
Recent grant activity: - 2025: $1,712,562 across 42 grants (including $1M to Isothermal Community College Foundation for the Health and Sciences Center) - 2024: $780,922 across 34 grants (65% approval rate from 50+ applications) - Cumulative since 2014: $17,232,654
Grant size ranges: - Typical grants: $2,000 to $175,000 - Exceptional capital grants: up to $1,000,000 (rare, for transformative projects like the Isothermal Community College Health Center) - Median grant: approximately $15,000-$25,000
Distribution by focus area (2025): - Healthy Eating: 23 grants, $353,150 (largest category by count) - Chronic Disease: 9 grants, $198,812 - Active Living: 9 grants, $160,600
Healthy Eating consistently receives the most grants, reflecting the significant food insecurity challenges in rural Rutherford County. The foundation funds a wide variety of organizations from churches running food pantries to municipal governments building recreational facilities.
Major capital commitment: The $13.5 million Legacy Soccer Park investment (2024-2025) temporarily reduced availability for large project grants, though the standard grant cycle continued. This signals willingness to make transformative, multi-million dollar investments when aligned with active living goals.
## Peer Comparison
The RHI Legacy Foundation is one of several North Carolina health legacy foundations created from hospital conversions. Here is how it compares to regional peers:
| Foundation | Assets | Annual Giving | Focus | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHI Legacy Foundation | $43M | $780K-$1.7M | Chronic disease, healthy eating, active living | Rutherford County, NC |
| HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County | ~$30M | ~$800K | Community health, wellness | Cleveland County, NC |
| Haywood Healthcare Foundation | ~$20M | ~$500K | Health education, scholarships, community health | Haywood County, NC |
| Community Foundation of WNC | ~$300M | ~$20M | Broad: education, health, arts, environment | 18 WNC counties |
| NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation | ~$50M | ~$2M | Science education, health, child health | Statewide NC |
| NC Community Foundation | ~$350M | ~$25M | Community needs via 53 local affiliates | Statewide NC |
The RHI Legacy Foundation is distinctive among its peers for several reasons. First, its exclusive focus on health and wellness (rather than broad community needs) gives it unusual thematic clarity. Second, its $13.5M investment in Legacy Soccer Park demonstrates willingness to make transformative capital bets that smaller health foundations typically avoid. Third, its hospital-conversion origin provides a stable endowment and institutional credibility in the health space.
Compared to county-level peers like Cleveland County and Haywood County health foundations, RHI Legacy has larger assets and more ambitious capital projects. However, its single-county geographic restriction limits its reach compared to regional and statewide foundations.
## Recent Activity and Strategic Direction
The most significant recent development is the Legacy Soccer Park, a 57-acre destination soccer complex in Forest City that represents a $17 million total investment. The RHI Legacy Foundation committed $13.5 million, with additional funding from the Rutherford County TDA ($1.36M) and the State of North Carolina ($2.5M). The park features a championship-grade artificial turf field, five natural turf fields, two mini urban soccer pitches, and associated amenities. Construction was underway as of January 2026, with completion expected by late 2025 or early 2026.
This investment reflects the foundation's expanded interpretation of "active living" — moving beyond small program grants to transformative infrastructure that could reshape the county's recreational landscape and generate sports tourism revenue. The park will serve the Rutherford County Soccer Association's 600+ youth participants and host regional tournaments.
In 2025, the foundation awarded its largest single grant of $1,000,000 to the Isothermal Community College Foundation for the Dr. Bobby F. England Health and Sciences Center, signaling continued investment in health education infrastructure.
Leadership includes Board Chair Kerry Giles and former Executive Director Terry Hines, with Jill Miracle serving as the primary contact. The board includes healthcare executive Cindy Buck (former Rutherford Regional Health System CEO), educator Jacqueline Hampton, and Rutherfordton Mayor Jimmy Dancy, reflecting a mix of healthcare expertise, education, and civic leadership.
The foundation's 2026 grant cycle was expected to be announced in spring 2026, with the Rutherford County Endowment grant program also opening for applications.
## Application Tips for the RHI Legacy Foundation
1. Align Tightly with One of Three Focus Areas: Every successful proposal must address chronic disease, healthy eating, or active living. Do not try to fit an unrelated program into these categories — the foundation has a clear mandate and reviewers know the difference. Healthy eating proposals have the highest volume and funding, suggesting strong board interest in food security.
2. Demonstrate Rutherford County Impact: This foundation funds exclusively within Rutherford County. Your proposal must clearly quantify how many Rutherford County residents will benefit and how you will measure those outcomes. Include specific data about the county's health challenges (obesity rates, food desert designations, chronic disease prevalence) to show you understand the local context.
3. Include a Credible Sustainability Plan: The application explicitly requires a sustainability plan beyond grant funding. Show how your program will continue after the grant period — through earned revenue, other funding sources, volunteer capacity, or institutional integration. The foundation wants catalytic investments, not recurring obligations.
4. Apply Through Wells Fargo's Portal: Applications are submitted online through wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/rhi-legacy-foundation. The system allows saving and resuming. For those without computer access, call 828-202-4630 for assistance.
5. Meet All Documentation Requirements: Submit recent financial statements, governing body approval documentation, measurable outcome projections, and the sustainability plan. Former grantees who have not completed required progress and final reports are ineligible for new funding — this is strictly enforced.
6. Respect the Timeline: Applications open in June, close July 31, decisions come mid-September, funds arrive early October. Mark these dates and submit well before the deadline. With a 65% approval rate (2024), competition is real but not prohibitive.
7. Consider Grant Size Expectations: Most grants fall in the $5,000-$50,000 range. Exceptional capital requests up to $1M are possible but rare (e.g., the Isothermal Community College grant). The foundation noted in 2024 that large project funding was reduced due to the Soccer Park investment, so calibrate your ask to what the foundation can realistically support.
8. Leverage Existing Grantee Networks: Many recipients are churches, municipal governments, and well-established nonprofits. If you are new to the foundation, consider partnerships with past grantees to build credibility.
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The foundation makes charitable contributions and grants to various nonprofits and government service organizations in rutherford county, north carolina.
Expenses: $2.4M
Prevention programs, early screening services, and health improvement initiatives targeting chronic disease in Rutherford County.
Projects increasing access to sufficient, nutritious foods including food pantries, soup kitchens, meal delivery, and nutrition education.
Programs encouraging active lifestyles including recreational facilities, youth sports, and community fitness initiatives.
Major $13.5 million investment in a 57-acre destination soccer complex in Forest City to promote active living and sports tourism.
## Funding Patterns and Grant Distribution The RHI Legacy Foundation operates on an annual grant cycle, typically opening applications in June with a July 31 deadline. Decisions are announced mid-September and funds distributed in early October.
Rhi Legacy Foundation Inc. has distributed a total of $6.9M across 193 grants. The median grant size is $15K, with an average of $36K. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $550K.
## How to Approach the RHI Legacy Foundation The RHI Legacy Foundation is a health-focused community foundation in Rutherford County, North Carolina, with approximately $43 million in assets. It evolved from the former Rutherford Hospital Foundation after a 2014 joint venture between Rutherford Hospital, Inc. and Duke LifePoint Healthcare. The foundation's entire grantmaking strategy revolves around three focus areas: chronic disease prevention, healthy eating, and active living.
Rhi Legacy Foundation Inc. is headquartered in RUTHERFORDTON, NC. While based in NC, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 2 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry W Hines | EXEC DIRECTO | $111K | $0 | $111K |
| Jill Miracle | CMNTY IMPACT | $76K | $0 | $76K |
| Joan King | TRUSTEE THRU | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| David Eaker | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Paul Deck | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jacqueline Hampton | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Maggie Bell | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Dan Hegeman | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Kerry Giles | VICE CHAIR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Beth Miller | TRUSTEE THRU | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jimmy Dancy | SEC/TREAS | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| John Condrey | CHAIR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Judy Bond | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Matt Bright | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Shirley Koone | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$43.2M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$43.2M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
193
Total Giving
$6.9M
Average Grant
$36K
Median Grant
$15K
Unique Recipients
85
Most Common Grant
$5K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town Of EllenboroACTIVE LIVING | Ellenboro, NC | $284K | 2023 |
| Town Of Lake LureACTIVE LIVING | Lake Lure, NC | $100K | 2023 |
| Town Of RutherfordtonACTIVE LIVING | Rutherfordton, NC | $89K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Co Schools Edu FndHEALTHY EATING | Forest City, NC | $70K | 2023 |
| Kidsenses IncHEALTHY EATING | Rutherfordton, NC | $50K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Co SchoolsACTIVE LIVING | Bostic, NC | $50K | 2023 |
| Rutherford County Senior CenterHEALTHY EATING | Spindale, NC | $40K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Outdoor CoalitionACTIVE LIVING | Rutherfordton, NC | $36K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Life Services IncHEALTHY EATING | Spindale, NC | $30K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Co School Forrest W HuntACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $27K | 2023 |
| Neighbors PantryHEALTHY EATING | Rutherfordton, NC | $25K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Housing Partnership IncCHRONIC DISEASE | Rutherfordton, NC | $25K | 2023 |
| County Of Rutherford Finance OfficeCHRONIC DISEASE | Spindale, NC | $25K | 2023 |
| Basics Christian Ministries IncHEALTHY EATING | Cliffside, NC | $25K | 2023 |
| Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach LlcHEALTHY EATING | Lake Lure, NC | $21K | 2023 |
| Pisgah Legal ServicesCHRONIC DISEASE | Asheville, NC | $20K | 2023 |
| Friends Of Lake Lure Flowering BridACTIVE LIVING | Lake Lure, NC | $20K | 2023 |
| Blue Ridge HopeCHRONIC DISEASE | Rutherfordton, NC | $20K | 2023 |
| Washburn Community Outreach CenterHEALTHY EATING | Bostic, NC | $20K | 2023 |
| South Mountain Christian CampACTIVE LIVING | Bostic, NC | $19K | 2023 |
| New Beginnings Soup KitchenHEALTHY EATING | Union Mills, NC | $18K | 2023 |
| Chimney Rock Village & Town Of LakeACTIVE LIVING | Chimney Rock, NC | $15K | 2023 |
| Community Health Council Of RutherCHRONIC DISEASE | Spindale, NC | $15K | 2023 |
| Safe Kids Of Rutherford County IncACTIVE LIVING | Spindale, NC | $11K | 2023 |
| United Way Of Rutherford County IncCHRONIC DISEASE | Forest City, NC | $10K | 2023 |
| Union Mills Learning Center IncACTIVE LIVING | Union Mills, NC | $10K | 2023 |
| Wells Spring UmcHEALTHY EATING | Forest City, NC | $8K | 2023 |
| Grahamtown TeamHEALTHY EATING | Forest City, NC | $8K | 2023 |
| Lake Lure Classical AcademyHEALTHY EATING | Lake Lure, NC | $6K | 2023 |
| Isothermal Community College FoundaACTIVE LIVING | Spindale, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| Gilkey School Community CenterHEALTHY EATING | Rutherfordton, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| St Gabriels Episcopal ChurchHEALTHY EATING | Rutherfordton, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| Lake Lure OlympiadACTIVE LIVING | Lake Lure, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| Adaville Baptist Church Food PantryACTIVE LIVING | Spindale, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| Isothermal Community CollegeACTIVE LIVING | Spindale, NC | $5K | 2023 |
| Thomas Hefferson Classical AcademyHEALTHY LIVING | Forest City, NC | $4K | 2023 |
| Liberty Baptist Food PantryHEALTHY EATING | Ellenboro, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Co Schools Educ FndACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Mcl Detachment 1221ACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Town Of SpindaleACTIVE LIVING | Spindale, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Artifacturing LlcACTIVE LIVING | Rutherfordton, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Chase Youth Sports IncACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Co American Legion PostACTIVE LIVING | Rutherfordton, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Housing PartnershipACTIVE LIVING | Rutherfordton, NC | $3K | 2023 |
| Rutherford Opportunity CenterACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $2K | 2023 |
| National Fire Safety CouncilACTIVE LIVING | Michigan Ctr, MI | $2K | 2023 |
| Teal DivaACTIVE LIVING | Matthews, NC | $1K | 2023 |
| Family Resources Of Rutherford CoACTIVE LIVING | Forest City, NC | $1K | 2023 |
| Ellenboro Community RestorationACTIVE LIVING | Ellenboro, NC | $1K | 2023 |