The John M Belk Endowment is a private independent foundation established in 1996 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation focused on transforming postsecondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina's evolving workforce needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$379.0M
+4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.7M
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
86
+218.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$171K
-68.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M Belk Endowment reported a distributable amount of $19.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Transforming postsecondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina's evolving workforce needs.
The Endowment's work centers on increasing access to education and enabling completion for underrepresented students. The foundation defines underrepresented populations as groups with demonstrable gaps in educational attainment, including low-income, rural, first-generation, and minority students, as well as military veterans.
The foundation's strategic focus areas include:
- Access: Improving access to postsecondary education for underrepresented students
- Completion: Supporting student pathways toward completing postsecondary education
- Workforce Relevance: Ensuring educational attainment leads to gainful employment
The Endowment supports nonprofit organizations and institutions that are outcome-driven and build stronger student pathways, with particular emphasis on serving non-traditional students in a changing economy.
Grantmaking
The Endowment awards grants to qualified nonprofit organizations that address access, completion, and workforce relevance issues across North Carolina. The foundation cultivates strong, collaborative partnerships with organizations that share its commitment to education as a pathway to productive careers and a stronger workforce.
Grant Range
$300,000-$446,389
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Endowment's grantmaking is concentrated in North Carolina, with 97% of all grants supporting organizations within the state. The foundation reaches organizations across six states, with additional grantmaking activity in Oregon and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total Assets: $379 million
- Annual Revenue: $39.5 million to $115.3 million (depending on reporting source)
- Annual Expenses: $23.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $169,000
- Giving Rate: 5.0%
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $7.3 million in 2011 to $379 million in 2024.
Contact Information:
- Address: 4201 Congress Street, Suite 470, Charlotte, NC 28209-4682
- Phone: 980-381-4122
- Website: jmbe.org
- EIN: 56-1954114
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $378,973,142 | $362,403,473 | $383,291,233 |
| Revenue | $39,544,209 | $2,550,432 | $11,349,973 |
| Expenses | $23,144,997 | $23,424,176 | $25,024,843 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,721,864 | $18,674,762 | $21,009,437 |
| Net Investment Income | $36,064,936 | $1,679,865 | $7,801,652 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,889,456 | $19,456,208 | $18,654,128 |
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
155 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include College Advising Corps ($2,880,000), Foundation For The Carolinas ($2,738,000), James B Hunt Jr Institute For Educational Leadership And Policy ($1,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alamance Community College Graham, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Beaufort County Community College Washington, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Bladen Community College Dublin, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Brunswick Community College Supply, NC | NC Reconnect | $50,000 |
| Brunswick Community College Supply, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute Hudson, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Carteret Community College Morehead City, NC | JMBE Next NC Acceleration Grant | $5,000 |
| Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NC | NC Reconnect | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Claudia Belk Pilon – Board Chair and President
- J Keith Benedict – Board Member
- Virginia M Esposito – Board Member
- Michael Thomas Krause – Senior Advisor
- Mark Earl Reed – Managing Director
- Charles W Kaylor – Chief of Staff
- Calvin Dwight Miller – Impact Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Claudia Belk Pilon | Board Chair | 40 | $39,728 |
| J Keith Benedict | Board Member | 24 | $308,458 |
| Virginia M Esposito | Board Member | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Endowment has demonstrated significant recent grantmaking activity:
Awarded $10 million to College Advising Corps to improve access to college for rural North Carolina high school students
Western Piedmont Community College Awarded Next NC Grant from John M. BelkCommitted $3.2 million in Hurricane Helene relief and recovery support for North Carolina community colleges, including an additional $1.2 million commitment
North Carolina Community College System, John M. Belk Endowment Partner toPartnered with the North Carolina Community College System to provide $2 million in Hurricane Helene relief for Western North Carolina colleges
Western Piedmont Community College Awarded Next NC Grant from John M. BelkAwarded grants to Western Piedmont Community College and other institutions as part of ongoing NC Reconnect and strategic initiatives
Western Piedmont Community College Awarded Next NC Grant from John M. BelkSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John M Belk Endowment fund?
**Mission:** Transforming postsecondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina's evolving workforce needs. The Endowment's work centers on increasing access to education and enabling completion for underrepresented students. The foundation defines underrepresented populations as groups with demonstrable gaps in educational attainment, including low-income, rural, first-generation, and minority students, as well as military veterans. The foundation's strategic focus areas include: • **…
How do I apply for a grant from John M Belk Endowment?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants awarded: 86-105 grants (depending on reporting period) • Total grant distribution: $64.3 million across all grants • Annual distribution: Between $14.7 million and $23.1 million annually • Median grant size: $300,000-$446,389 • Grant range: $1,500 to $4.5 million • Average award: $613,000 **Grant Programs:** • General Operating Support (average $781,501; 23 recipients) • Support for NC Reconnect (average $192,087; 7 recipients) • FAFSA Strong Initiative (avera…
Where does John M Belk Endowment make grants?
The Endowment's grantmaking is concentrated in North Carolina, with 97% of all grants supporting organizations within the state. The foundation reaches organizations across six states, with additional grantmaking activity in Oregon and Massachusetts.
What size grants does John M Belk Endowment award?
In 2024, John M Belk Endowment awarded 86 grants totaling $14.7M — an average of about $171K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John M Belk Endowment required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John M Belk Endowment reported a distributable amount of $19.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John M Belk Endowment's EIN?
John M Belk Endowment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1954114. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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