Cornwell Foundation

CHARLOTTE, NC EIN: 47-5509025

Cornwell Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHARLOTTE, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 18 grants totaling $181K. Net investment income was $137K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.1M

+6.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$181K

+2.6% YoY

Grant Count

18

+20.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

-14.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Cornwell Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Cornwell Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHARLOTTE, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 18 grants totaling $181K. Net investment income was $137K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

BooneChapel HillCharlotteEvanstonRomeWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$573K$1M$2M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$4,097,032$3,861,355$3,761,959
Revenue$171,149$130,597$110,750
Expenses$223,546$218,192$123,696
Qualifying Distributions$188,262$183,592$89,486
Net Investment Income$136,700$95,132$78,703
Distributable Amount$195,640$182,518$192,107

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$45K$90K$135K$181K11 grants202010 grants202111 grants202215 grants202318 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

DARLINGTON SCHOOL$25KCHARLOTTE FAMILY HOUSING$20KCRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY$20KMYERS PARK UNITED METHOD…$15KSALVATION ARMY OF GREATE…$15KCHILDREN'S THEATRE$10KNORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY$10KQUEENS UNIVERSITY CATO S…$10KROOF ABOVE$10KUNIVERSITY OF NORTH CARO…$10K

Grant Size Distribution

65 grants across all recorded years

65<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Darlington School ($25,000), Charlotte Family Housing ($20,000), Crisis Assistance Ministry ($20,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE FUND$7,500
CHARLOTTE FAMILY HOUSING CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT HOUSING IN CHARLOTTE$20,000
CHILDREN'S THEATRE CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE ARTS$10,000
CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS$20,000
DARLINGTON SCHOOL ROME, GATO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND$25,000
MYERS PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND.$15,000
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, ILTO SUPPORT THE KELLOGG SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND$10,000
QUEENS UNIVERSITY CATO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND$10,000
ROOF ABOVE CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT HOUSING IN CHARLOTTE.$10,000
SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, NCTO SUPPORT THE CENTER OF HOPE$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
WILLIAM D CORNWELL JRPRESIDENT AND TREASURER
MELISSA W CORNWELLVICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETA
SARA CATHERINE CORNWELL PHILPOTTVICE PRESIDENT AND ASST. SECRETA

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cornwell Foundation?

Cornwell Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHARLOTTE, NC. It holds $4.1M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Cornwell Foundation?

As of 2024, Cornwell Foundation holds $4.1M in total assets with $171K in annual revenue. It awarded 18 grants totaling $181K in 2024.

Where does Cornwell Foundation operate?

Cornwell Foundation has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina.

What size grants does Cornwell Foundation award?

In 2024, Cornwell Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $181K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Cornwell Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cornwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Cornwell Foundation's EIN?

Cornwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5509025. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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