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.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
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).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE FUND | $7,500 |
| CHARLOTTE FAMILY HOUSING CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT HOUSING IN CHARLOTTE | $20,000 |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS | $10,000 |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS | $20,000 |
| DARLINGTON SCHOOL ROME, GA | TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND | $25,000 |
| MYERS PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND. | $15,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, IL | TO SUPPORT THE KELLOGG SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | $10,000 |
| QUEENS UNIVERSITY CATO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ROOF ABOVE CHARLOTTE, NC | TO SUPPORT HOUSING IN CHARLOTTE. | $10,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, NC | TO 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
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM D CORNWELL JR | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | — | — |
| MELISSA W CORNWELL | VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETA | — | — |
| SARA CATHERINE CORNWELL PHILPOTT | VICE 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cornwell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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