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
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
Ready to take the next step with John M Belk Endowment?
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Hillbrook Gkp Iii Foundation Inc
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$32K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Rotary Club of Salisbury Charities
SALISBURY, NC
Assets
$39K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Ihope Foundation
GREENSBORO, NC
Assets
$10K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Orange County Partnership for Young
HILLSBOROUGH, NC
Assets
$477K
Grants
18
Total Given
$2.1M
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
WINSTONSALEM, NC
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
17
Total Given
$634K
The Anne Shuford Mcbryde
ASHEVILLE, NC
Assets
$970K
Grants
19
Total Given
$49K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with John M Belk Endowment on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities