Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation
The Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In its 2024 filing, it reported 12 grants totaling $378,500 to charitable organizations. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $515,458.
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation gave $515K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $515,458
- +36.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +83.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,430
- -25.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,721,869
- +9.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9325 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Phone: (704) 444-0109
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Claflin University ($110K). Together the top 10 received $445K.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 75 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were reported by recipient state as North Carolina 38%, South Carolina 30%, Tennessee 15%, Texas 11%, and Missouri 5%. The listed 2024 grants also included Talladega College in Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation gives
- 18% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2020) to $662K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $515K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Claflin University Orangeburg, SC | Operations | $110,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of America Atlanta, GA | Operations | $100,000 |
| The John Crosland School Charlotte, NC | Operations | $69,458 |
| UNCF Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Operations | $58,500 |
| Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis, IN | Operations | $25,000 |
| CMS Foundation Charlotte, NC | Operations | $25,000 |
| Chappell Memorial Baptist (Charlotte) Charlotte, NC | Operations | $25,000 |
| Gaston Christian School Gastonia, NC | Operations | $12,500 |
| Brookstone School Charlotte, NC | Operations | $10,000 |
| Carolina Youth Coalition Charlotte, NC | Operations | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,721,869 | $1,298,071 | $556,073 | $515,458 | 22 | $535,765 | $265,076 | $410,679 |
| 2024 | $7,983,104 | $1,305,143 | $416,937 | $378,500 | 12 | $397,718 | $420,924 | $382,943 |
| 2023 | $7,176,079 | $6,204,963 | $686,036 | $661,500 | 17 | $673,768 | $121,676 | $189,182 |
| 2022 | $1,657,150 | $1,128,710 | $547,400 | $546,000 | 14 | $546,700 | $5,658 | $62,926 |
| 2021 | $1,075,840 | $709,267 | $55,760 | $55,000 | 10 | $55,000 | $2,267 | $37,330 |
| 2020 | $422,333 | $279,767 | $41,000 | $41,000 | 3 | — | $1,794 | $14,400 |
| 2019 | $183,566 | $183,566 | — | — | — | — | $5 | $2,634 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $411K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including universities, schools, a housing organization, a healthcare leadership institute, a classroom-resource provider, churches, and community foundations.
Grantees describe their work in varied terms. Claflin University says it is committed to teaching, research, and creative expression, while Classroom Central says it provides teachers and students with free resources to foster equity in education. Habitat for Humanity describes its work as partnering with people in need to build decent, affordable housing. The Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute says it develops undergraduates with leadership potential and encourages interest in healthcare leadership roles.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $378,500 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $115,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest awards were $115,000 to Claflin University, $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity, and $55,000 to Christian Brothers University. Each was listed for operations. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $515,458.
Other 2024 grants included $25,000 to St John Baptist Church; $20,000 to the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute; $15,000 each to Classroom Central and Prayer Temple COGIC; $12,500 to Gaston Christian School; $6,000 to Talladega College; and $5,000 each to Southminster Church, Shallow Ford Foundation, and Brookstone Schools. These grants were also listed for operations.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation is led by Melanie T. Winton, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melanie T. Winton
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aileen Thomas
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles D. Winton
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation
How much does Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation give each year?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation gave $515K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $379K across 12 grants.
What is Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,430, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation give grants?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (21%) and South Carolina (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (10 grants) and Statesville, NC (2 grants).
Does Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (22 grants).
Who are Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's largest grantees?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Claflin University ($110,000), Boys and Girls Club of America ($100,000) and The John Crosland School ($69,458), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $536K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $411K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including universities, schools, a housing organization, a healthcare leadership institute, a classroom-resource provider, churches, and community foundations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's EIN?
Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2231964. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 5, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/charles-and-melanie-winton-foundation-morg_06e6fd3ad73e4f2a9f8565aa57b9dc52
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832231964_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/charles-and-melanie-winton-foundation-morg_06e6fd3ad73e4f2a9f8565aa57b9dc52},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-03. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Charles and Melanie Winton Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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