EA Morris Charitable Foundation
EA Morris Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including education and public-policy groups, Christian organizations, and healthcare and cultural institutions.
EA Morris Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: EA Morris Charitable Foundation gave $421K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $421,000
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,158
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $11,452,686
- +1.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to EA Morris Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing says applications should be submitted in letter form, lists no restrictions on awards, and names no application deadline.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Mr John S Thomas
Mailing address: 3802 Swarthmore Road, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: (919) 403-9498
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who EA Morris Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Jesse Helms Center Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $375K.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 111 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 17% to Virginia, and 5% to Tennessee. The filing also lists a 0% share for the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is EA Morris Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 18 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 68% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $421K (2022) to $456K (2021). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $421K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Jesse Helms Center Foundation Wingate, NC | General Support | $100,000 |
| National Taxpayers Union Foundation Alexandria, VA | General Support | $50,000 |
| The John Lock Foundation Raleigh, NC | Ea Morris Fellowship Program | $50,000 |
| The John Lock Foundation Raleigh, NC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Samaritans Purse Boone, NC | General Support | $25,000 |
| Amistad Mission Nashville, TN | General Support | $20,000 |
| Cone Health Greensboro, NC | E a Morris Fund | $20,000 |
| Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center Durham, NC | Comprehensive Cancer Center | $20,000 |
| National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Springfield, VA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Leadership Edge Incorporated Durham, NC | General Support | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,452,686 | $933,098 | $810,497 | $421,000 | 19 | $513,127 | $848,930 | $757,929 |
| 2023 | $11,330,085 | $400,354 | $762,510 | $426,000 | 21 | $615,425 | $326,147 | $560,631 |
| 2022 | $11,692,241 | $781,199 | $773,870 | $421,000 | 21 | $586,422 | $685,447 | $500,473 |
| 2021 | $11,684,912 | $1,183,613 | $802,335 | $456,000 | 25 | $610,348 | $1,098,702 | $601,757 |
| 2020 | $11,303,634 | $384,092 | $779,371 | $453,500 | 25 | — | $309,607 | $557,888 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, EA Morris Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $758K for 2024 — 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. The Jesse Helms Center Foundation says it promotes traditional American values and the principles Senator Jesse Helms advanced through education, public-policy promotion, and historical preservation. Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people in need. Amistad Mission says it supports vulnerable Bolivian children and families in crisis through Christian family environments and family-strengthening services. Leadership Edge Incorporated describes its work as leadership training and mentoring for next-generation leaders.
Other 2024 recipients included the John Lock Foundation, Cone Health, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $421,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $100,000 to the Jesse Helms Center Foundation for general support; two grants of $50,000 each to the John Lock Foundation, one for general support and one for its EA Morris Fellowship Program; and $50,000 to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation for general support. Other notable awards included $25,000 to Samaritan’s Purse and $20,000 each to Amistad Mission, Cone Health, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John S. Thomas as president. It lists Katharine Thomas, E. Jack Walker, Edwin Thomas, Charles Fuller, and Kenneth B. Morgan as directors; E. Jack Walker is also listed as secretary, and Kenneth B. Morgan as treasurer.
EA Morris Charitable Foundation is led by John S. Thomas, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John S. Thomas
President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$171K (2020) → $89K (2024)
Edwin Thomas
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
$91K (2024)
Kenneth B. Morgan
Director & Treasurer
Director, Vice President & Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $58K (2024)
Charles Fuller
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
E. Jack Walker
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Thomas
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $91K, to Edwin Thomas (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about EA Morris Charitable Foundation
How much does EA Morris Charitable Foundation give each year?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation gave $421K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $426K across 21 grants.
What is EA Morris Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $22,158, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does EA Morris Charitable Foundation give grants?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (6 grants), Raleigh, NC (3 grants) and Charlotte, NC (2 grants).
Does EA Morris Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of EA Morris Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are EA Morris Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Jesse Helms Center Foundation ($100,000), The John Lock Foundation ($100,000 across 2 grants) and National Taxpayers Union Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is EA Morris Charitable Foundation?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $513K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $758K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does EA Morris Charitable Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from EA Morris Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is EA Morris Charitable Foundation's EIN?
EA Morris Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1413060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does EA Morris Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). EA Morris Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ea-morris-charitable-foundation-morg_7e13933a331441e18a76ea0d0762c303
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581413060_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{EA Morris Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ea-morris-charitable-foundation-morg_7e13933a331441e18a76ea0d0762c303},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 EA Morris Charitable 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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