Speedway Children's Charities
Speedway Children's Charities is a public charity based in Concord, North Carolina, that raises funds and makes grants to nonprofit organizations addressing children's needs. The organization says its local chapters raise funds through events and distribute one-time grants in their communities. It was formed in 1982.
Key facts about Speedway Children's Charities
In short: Speedway Children's Charities gave $3.5M across 221 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), top state North Carolina. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-1331429
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,464,641
- Grants made (2024)
- 221
- Average grant
- $15,677
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (88 of 221, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,200,728
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The website directs applicants to choose a local chapter. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Charlotte and Nashville application periods were scheduled to close June 26, 2026; the COTA period was…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
-1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
221
-3.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+1.7% YoY
Is Speedway Children's Charities open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 88 of 221 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds and provide grants to nonprofits that meet the direct needs of children with medical, educational, or social challenges. Its website describes a broader aim of supporting children’s health, safety, education, and well-being through local partnerships.
The grants listed for 2024 illustrate the range of supported organizations. Present Age Ministries, which received $125,000, says its mission is to support teenage girls who have survived sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking. Wilkes Community Partnership, which received $115,000, says it works to ensure children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. Atrium Health Foundation, which received $100,000, describes its mission as supporting health, hope, and healing. Wings of Eagles Ranch, which received $41,000, describes its work as operating a riding ranch for children with special needs and children at risk.
Grantmaking
The organization’s filing reports that it raised funds through events including auctions, dinners, golf outings, and drawings. It says it distributed over $4 million to more than 443 children’s programs in 2024, supporting an estimated 333,340 children. The itemized 2024 grant data lists 221 grants totaling $3,464,641; the median grant was $10,000, with amounts ranging from $6,000 to $125,000.
Review Cycle
The listed 2026 Charlotte and Nashville application periods were scheduled to close June 26, 2026; the COTA period was scheduled to close May 29, 2026. These deadlines have passed.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from Speedway Children's Charities
Dover Grants
Speedway Children's Charities
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Las Vegas Area Grants
Speedway Children's Charities
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
North Wilkesboro Grant Program
Speedway Children's Charities
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Speedway Children's Charities?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website lists chapters in Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, COTA, Dover, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Hampshire, North Wilkesboro, Sonoma, and Texas. Its grant pages describe local programs in the Charlotte metro area, Greater Austin, and middle Tennessee. In the 2024 itemized grants, recipient locations were concentrated in North Carolina (47% of grant dollars), followed by Tennessee (22%), Nevada (11%), Virginia (9%), and Texas (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 221 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $901K (2020) to $3.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 221 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Present Age Ministries Inc ($125K). Together the top 10 received $802K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
878 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 853 grants of 878 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Present Age Ministries Inc Concord, NC | Program Support | $125,000 |
| Wilkes Community Partnership for Children North Wilkesboro, NC | Program Support | $115,000 |
| Atrium Health Foundation Charlotte, NC | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation Charlotte, NC | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Safe House Project Inc Charlotte, NC | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Piedmont Residential Development Center Kannapolis, NC | Program Support | $75,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $50,000 |
| Power Cross Statesville, NC | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Austin, TX | Program Support | $50,000 |
| NC Baptist State Conventionwilkes Ministry of Hope North Wilkesboro, NC | Program Support | $45,866 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Itemized grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,200,728 | $5,405,320 | $5,434,950 | $3,464,641 |
| 2023 | $1,214,200 | $5,525,470 | $5,792,267 | $3,544,318 |
| 2022 | $1,470,639 | $4,860,135 | $4,046,818 | $2,385,624 |
The organization’s filing reports that gross income from fundraising and gaming events was $1,935,609 in 2024. It says grant funds are monitored through site visits and grant evaluation forms completed by recipients.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,200,728 | $1,214,200 | $1,470,639 |
| Revenue | $5,405,320 | $5,525,470 | $4,860,135 |
| Expenses | $5,434,950 | $5,792,267 | $4,046,818 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marcus Smith as chairman and Jerry Caldwell, Mark Faber, Matt Greci, Brian Flynn, Brandon Hutchison, David McGrath, Chris Powell, Mike Tatoian, and Greg Walter as directors.
Speedway Children's Charities is led by Lisa Starnes, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lisa Starnes
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $13K (2024)
Marcus Smith
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Vice Chairman - Chairman, 2022
Vice Chairman - Chairman → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Fickenscher
Managing Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Byrd
Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$55K (2023) → $57K (2024)
Chris Powell
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David McGrath
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Walter
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Caldwell
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Hutchison
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Faber
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Greci
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Tatoian
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Flynn
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corey Glass
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Jill Gregory (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: O. Bruton Smith (2019–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Conrad Clement (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Darrell Waltrip (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Don Hawk (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Eddie Gossage (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: James Greene III (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Mark Simendinger (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ray Evernham (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Steve Page (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Rob Ramage (2021) — Director
- Former: Carla Weston (2019) — Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
- Former: Charles Swannack Jr. (2019) — Executive Director
- Former: Ed Clark (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $57K, to Claudia Byrd (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 5555 Concord Parkway South 302, Concord, NC 28027
Phone: (704) 455-4426
Website: https://speedwaycharities.org
Frequently asked questions about Speedway Children's Charities
How much does Speedway Children's Charities give each year?
Speedway Children's Charities gave $3.5M across 221 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 230 grants.
What is Speedway Children's Charities's typical grant size?
Speedway Children's Charities's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,677, across 221 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Speedway Children's Charities that year got $15K on average.
Where does Speedway Children's Charities give grants?
Speedway Children's Charities's top state is North Carolina, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Tennessee (22%) and Nevada (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (31 grants), Las Vegas, NV (30 grants), Johnson City, TN (14 grants) and Kingsport, TN (12 grants).
Does Speedway Children's Charities give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 221 grants with a stated purpose on Speedway Children's Charities's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (221 grants).
Who are Speedway Children's Charities's largest grantees?
Speedway Children's Charities's largest 2024 grantees include Present Age Ministries Inc ($125,000), Wilkes Community Partnership for Children ($115,000) and Atrium Health Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Speedway Children's Charities?
Speedway Children's Charities reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.
What does Speedway Children's Charities fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds and provide grants to nonprofits that meet the direct needs of children with medical, educational, or social challenges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Speedway Children's Charities?
The website directs applicants to choose a local chapter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Speedway Children's Charities's EIN?
Speedway Children's Charities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1331429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Speedway Children's Charities by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Speedway Children's Charities's focus areas in our free grants database
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