John William Pope Foundation
The John William Pope Foundation is a private foundation based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians, with giving directed to public policy, education, human services, and the arts.
John William Pope Foundation at a glance
In short: John William Pope Foundation gave $15.2M across 259 grants in 2025 (avg $59K), mostly in North Carolina. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,231,748
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 259
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $58,810
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $120,726,649
- -6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (41 of 194, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (68% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John William Pope Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. The Foundation says applicants may apply without advance work and that it does not respond to letters of inquiry. Applicants should prepare a written narrative describing the request, their most recent annual audit and IRS Form 990; organizations without an audit should provide a signed balance sheet and income and expense statement. First-time applicants should also be prepared to provide their IRS determination letter. The Foundation supports IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities and universities organized and operated in the United States; it does not consider requests from individuals, foreign organizations, or for-profit entities. Grant funds may not be used for overhead costs, lobbying, or political activities, and recipients must act in accordance with the principle of equality for all.
- Review Cycle
- The Foundation’s website describes spring proposals for public policy and higher education and fall proposals for human services, K–12 education, and the arts. Its listed 2026 dates—February 2 for public policy and higher education and August 3 for human services and the arts—have passed. The Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant application period listed as July 1–September 1 is also past for 2026.
- Deadline
- The Foundation’s website describes spring proposals for public policy and higher education and fall proposals for…
- Contact
Application contact: John M Hood
Mailing address: 4601 Six Forks Road Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: (919) 861-6445
Website: https://www.jwpf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from John William Pope Foundation
Annual Grants: Higher Education Requests
John William Pope Foundation
Amount
Up to US $212,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Annual Grants: Human Services & Arts Requests
John William Pope Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Annual Grants: Public Policy Requests
John William Pope Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who John William Pope Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was John Locke Foundation ($3.9M across 12 grants). Together the top 10 received $7.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,223 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 814 grants of 1,223 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For public policy and education, the Foundation funds work that benefits North Carolina and may consider organizations based elsewhere if their work clearly benefits the state and its residents. For human services and the arts, its stated focus is work benefiting Wake and Vance Counties, including work by organizations based elsewhere. The Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant program considers organizations anywhere in North Carolina.
In 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 11% to Virginia, and 10% to the District of Columbia. New York received 2% and California 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 259 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John William Pope Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 41 of 194 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $49K; repeat grants $86K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 179% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $12.2M (2021) to $15.7M (2023). In 2025 it made 259 grants totaling $15.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville School Asheville, NC | Restricted - Humanities & Economics Program | $500,000 |
| Economic Policy Innovation Center Arlington, VA | Unrestricted Grant | $500,000 |
| NC Zoological Society Inc Asheboro, NC | Restricted - 50TH Anniversary Campaign | $500,000 |
| Raleigh Rescue Mission Inc Raleigh, NC | Restricted - Women's Facility Capital Campaign | $500,000 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
| John Locke Foundation Raleigh, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $328,250 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $120,726,649 | $8,369,994 | $16,376,927 | $15,231,748 | 259 | $16,103,379 | $8,136,885 | $8,971,444 |
| 2024 | $128,705,915 | $13,979,879 | $16,733,957 | $15,333,477 | 236 | $16,192,443 | $13,710,933 | $8,374,441 |
| 2023 | $131,459,944 | $5,809,394 | $16,958,498 | $15,686,414 | 269 | $16,521,162 | $5,447,299 | $8,379,917 |
| 2022 | $142,608,657 | $4,289,615 | $16,043,333 | $14,673,717 | 233 | $15,539,572 | $3,830,396 | $9,538,511 |
| 2021 | $154,362,375 | $13,295,527 | $13,546,572 | $12,204,263 | 226 | — | $12,942,255 | $9,301,007 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John William Pope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities. Its four grant priorities are public policy, education, human services, and the arts. It considers general operating and project-specific requests.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its giving. Asheville School received support for a humanities and economics program; the school describes its mission as preparing students for college and life in a small, diverse community. Raleigh Rescue Mission received support for a women’s facility capital campaign; the mission describes its work as equipping people to make a positive impact through the love of Jesus Christ. The John Locke Foundation, which received grants listed at $328,250 each, describes its work as research and public education on individual liberty, free-market exchange, and limited government, with priority for North Carolina public policy issues.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 259 grants totaling $15,231,748. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $500,000, with a median of $25,000. Its filing statement says it distributed that same total to 194 organizations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
The largest listed grants were $500,000 each to Asheville School for a restricted humanities and economics program, Economic Policy Innovation Center as an unrestricted grant, NC Zoological Society for a restricted 50th anniversary campaign, and Raleigh Rescue Mission for a restricted women’s facility capital campaign. The filing also lists grants of $328,250 each to the John Locke Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James Arthur Pope as chairman, Amanda J. Pope as vice chairman, and John M. Hood as president. It lists Joyce L. Pope and Iris Turner as assistant secretaries/treasurers, and David M. Stover, Earle Pope, Michael Smith, and Michael McKnight as board members.
John William Pope Foundation is led by John M. Hood, President on every filing since 2021; 5 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John M. Hood
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$257K (2021) → $298K (2025)
James Arthur Pope
Chairman
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M. Stover
Board Member
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $25K (2025)
Iris Turner
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
31 hrs/week
$41K (2021) → $70K (2025)
Michael Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$25K (2021) → $25K (2025)
Michael McKnight
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$25K (2022) → $25K (2025)
Amanda J. Pope
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Earle Pope
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce L. Pope
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
Board Member → Assistant Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lindsay Hollandsworth (2024) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $298K, to John M Hood (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John William Pope Foundation
How much does John William Pope Foundation give each year?
John William Pope Foundation gave $15.2M across 259 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15.3M across 236 grants.
What is John William Pope Foundation's typical grant size?
John William Pope Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $58,810, across 259 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John William Pope Foundation that year got $49K on average.
Where does John William Pope Foundation give grants?
John William Pope Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (11%) and District of Columbia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (98 grants), Washington, DC (26 grants), Arlington, VA (15 grants) and Henderson, NC (13 grants).
Does John William Pope Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of John William Pope Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (167 of 259) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Restricted - Hurricane Helene Relief in NC" (18 grants) and "Restricted - Future of Freedom Initiative" (10 grants).
Who are John William Pope Foundation's largest grantees?
John William Pope Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include John Locke Foundation ($3,939,000 across 12 grants), Raleigh Rescue Mission Inc ($575,000 across 2 grants) and Asheville School ($550,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John William Pope Foundation?
John William Pope Foundation reported $120.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John William Pope Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities. Its four grant priorities are public policy, education, human services, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John William Pope Foundation?
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John William Pope Foundation's EIN?
John William Pope Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1691765. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John William Pope Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John William Pope Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-william-pope-foundation-morg_cfc1bb08c253439ea04b35dff0b6eb21
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581691765_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John William Pope Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-william-pope-foundation-morg_cfc1bb08c253439ea04b35dff0b6eb21},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 John William Pope 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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