John William Pope Foundation
The John William Pope Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Established in 1986, the foundation makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing the ideas of limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities. The foundation has distributed over $240 million to more than 460 nonprofits since its inception.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$128.7M
-2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.3M
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
236
-12.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$65K
+11.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John William Pope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The John William Pope Foundation makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing the ideas of limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities.
Core Philosophy: The foundation's approach centers on investing in people—enriching lives while strengthening the foundations of a free and prosperous society. The foundation's philanthropic vision is rooted in the values of its founder, John William Pope, who believed that "self-reliance, self-confidence, and integrity are the keys to success."
Grant Priorities: The foundation directs its giving to four core areas:
- Public Policy — Statewide focus in North Carolina
- Education — Statewide focus in North Carolina, including higher education and K-12
- Human Services — Wake and Vance Counties focus
- Arts — Wake and Vance Counties focus
The foundation considers proposals for both general operating support and project-specific support.
Grantmaking
The foundation offers two main funding opportunities:
Review Cycle
**Application Process:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Public Policy & Education: Statewide North Carolina focus. The foundation sometimes considers organizations located outside the state whose work has a clear benefit to North Carolina and its residents.
Human Services & Arts: Wake and Vance Counties focus. The foundation sometimes considers organizations whose work benefits these counties even if located elsewhere.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $128.7–$131.5 million (2024)
Annual Activity:
- Revenue: $13.9–$14 million (2024)
- Expenses: $16.1–$16.7 million (2024)
- Annual giving: $15.3–$15.7 million
Historical Giving:
- Total grants distributed since 1987: Over $240 million
- Number of nonprofits supported: 460+
Recent Grant Activity (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):
- Total distributed: $15,333,477
- Number of organizations funded: 171
- Sample grants include:
- UNC Health Foundation: $666,665
- Economic Policy Innovation Center: $500,000
- Asheville School: $500,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $128,705,915 | $131,459,944 | $142,608,657 |
| Revenue | $13,979,879 | $5,809,394 | $4,289,615 |
| Expenses | $16,733,957 | $16,958,498 | $16,043,333 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,192,443 | $16,521,162 | $15,539,572 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,710,933 | $5,447,299 | $3,830,396 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,374,441 | $8,379,917 | $9,538,511 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Annual Grants: Human Services & Arts Requests
JOHN WILLIAM POPE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Annual Grants: Public Policy Requests
JOHN WILLIAM POPE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Asheville School ($500,000), Advancing American Freedom Foundation ($250,000), Competitive Enterprise Institute ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 POINT 0 HENDERSON, NC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $5,000 |
| 50CAN INC DBA NORTHCAROLINA CAN GREENSBORO, NC | RESTRICTED - NORTHCAROLINACAN | $15,000 |
| ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION & LIBERTY GRAND RAPIDS, MI | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| ACTS OF VANCE COUNTY INC HENDERSON, NC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $20,000 |
| ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $250,000 |
| ALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY RALEIGH, NC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AND ALUMNI WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | RESTRICTED - FUTURE OF FREEDOM | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: John William Pope (1924–2006)
- Current Chairman: Art Pope (John William Pope's youngest son; became Chairman and CEO of Variety Wholesalers and Chairman and President of the Pope Foundation following his father's death in 2006)
- President: John Hood (since 2015)
- Vice President: David Riggs
- Staff: 4 employees
Historical Leadership: Joyce Pope, John William Pope's wife, served as the first president and Board Chair of the Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES ARTHUR POPE | CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| AMANDA J POPE | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| JOYCE L POPE | ASSISTANT SECRETARY/TREASURER | 5 | — |
| DAVID M STOVER | BOARD MEMBER | 10 | $25,000 |
| JOHN M HOOD | PRESIDENT | 40 | $285,500 |
| IRIS TURNER | ASSISTANT SECRETARY/TREASURER | 28 | $62,417 |
| EARLE POPE | BOARD MEMBER | 10 | — |
| MICHAEL SMITH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $25,000 |
| MICHAEL MCKNIGHT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $25,000 |
| LINDSAY HOLLANDSWORTH | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $100,689 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to announce winners of its competitive grant programs, including the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants program, with announcements made for both 2025 and 2026 grant cycles. The foundation maintains active engagement with its grantee community and regularly awards grants exceeding $10 million annually to nonprofits across its priority areas.
John William Pope Foundation Announces 2026 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants |Frequently Asked Questions
What does John William Pope Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The John William Pope Foundation makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing the ideas of limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities. **Core Philosophy:** The foundation's approach centers on investing in people—enriching lives while strengthening the foundations of a free and prosperous society. The foundation's philanthropic vision is rooted in the values of its founder, John William Pope, who bel…
How do I apply for a grant from John William Pope Foundation?
**Grant Programs:** The foundation offers two main funding opportunities: • **Annual Grants** — Issued twice yearly (spring and fall cycles) • Spring cycle: Public policy and higher education • Fall cycle: Human services, K-12 education, and arts • Median grant amount: $25,000 • Typical award range: $20,000–$100,000 (Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants) • Approximately 269 grants issued annually • **Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Program** — Competitive grant program with specific deadlines **Application P…
Where does John William Pope Foundation make grants?
**Public Policy & Education:** Statewide North Carolina focus. The foundation sometimes considers organizations located outside the state whose work has a clear benefit to North Carolina and its residents. **Human Services & Arts:** Wake and Vance Counties focus. The foundation sometimes considers organizations whose work benefits these counties even if located elsewhere.
What size grants does John William Pope Foundation award?
In 2024, John William Pope Foundation awarded 236 grants totaling $15.3M — an average of about $65K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John William Pope Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John William Pope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John William Pope Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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