The Belk Foundation is a private, family foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established as a trust in 1928, it was designated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2009. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on strengthening public education through strategic partnerships and hands-on engagement with schools and educational organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.9M
-10.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-12.5% YoY
Grant Count
33
-23.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+14.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Belk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Belk Foundation's mission is to invest in schools and organizations that work to ensure all students graduate from high school and continue on an intentional path toward college, career, and life.
The foundation invests deeply in public education with specific emphasis on:
- K-3 Achievement: Supporting programs that increase the number of children and youth who are at or above grade level in core subjects
- Teacher Excellence: Investing in excellent teachers and leaders as critical building blocks for successful education
- Educational Leadership: Supporting administrators and school systems that have demonstrated measurable achievement
Primary funding focus areas include Education, Human Services, and Philanthropy/Voluntarism & Grantmaking.
Grantmaking
The Belk Foundation invests over $2 million annually to strengthen public education through a competitive grantmaking process.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and school systems in North Carolina, with some activity in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $42,914,986
- Total Revenue: -$2,631,563
- Total Expenses: $2,535,845
- Total Giving: $1,936,493
- Total Liabilities: $223
- Staff: 2–4 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,914,986 | $48,083,192 | $49,450,570 |
| Revenue | $-2,631,563 | $1,516,079 | $5,020,592 |
| Expenses | $2,535,845 | $2,886,918 | $3,096,290 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,310,499 | $2,563,546 | $2,806,452 |
| Net Investment Income | $525,479 | $1,979,335 | $6,908,895 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,521,079 | $2,339,176 | $2,521,735 |
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
192 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Belk Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Foundation for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Inc (tutoring) ($166,192), Foundation for the Carolinas ($150,000), Augustine Literacy Project - Charlotte ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AUGUSTINE LITERACY PROJECT - CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE TUTORING TO ASPIRING 1ST - 3RD GRADE READERS WHO ARE BEHIND IN READING. ALSO ADDITIONAL FUNDING AWARDED TO LAUNCH A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION TO SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH OF THEIR TUTORING PROGRAM. | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN EDUCATION CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT BUILD CAPACITY AND KNOWLEDGE FOR TEACHERS TO INCREASE TEACHER RETENTION. | $25,000 |
| CHARLOTTE SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER INC CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR CLINICIANS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO EMERGING READERS IN K-3RD GRADES TO BUILD VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE EXPRESSION. | $17,500 |
| CMS FOUNDATION (TEACHER INNOVATION) CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COACHING AND PROJECT PLANNING FOR SCHOOLS AND TEACHER-LED TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE CMS FOUNDATION INNOVATION CENTER. | $50,000 |
| CMS FOUNDATION (TEACHER RESIDENCY) CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE CMS TEACHING RESIDENCY, WITH A GOAL OF INCREASING THE LICENSING OF NON-TRADITIONAL TEACHERS. | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG INC CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND INCREASE ATTENDANCE FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. | $40,000 |
| EDUCATIONNC RALEIGH, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO EDNC'S WORK TO REPORT ON POLICY MAKERS AND LEVERS INFLUENCING SYSTEMS CHANGE IN EDUCATION. | $30,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS CHARLOTTE, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR READ CHARLOTTE, A COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-WIDE MOVEMENT DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE % OF THIRD GRADERS READING ON GRADE LEVEL. | $150,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS (SUMMER PROGRAM) CHARLOTTE, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR A COLLECTIVE OF 6 LOCAL NON-PROFIT PARTNERS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO SUMMER PROGRAMS ACROSS CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS. | $50,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE INC (TUTORING) CHARLOTTE, NC | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES TO HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE BY TUTORING K-5 GRADE CMS STUDENTS IN FOUNDATIONAL READING. | $166,192 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Johanna Anderson: Principal Officer
- Jevelyn Bonner-Reed: Executive Director
- John R. Belk: Chairman
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEVELYN D BONNER-REED | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $171,204 |
| JOHN R BELK | CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 10 | — |
| THOMAS M BELK JR | VICE CHAIR, TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JAMES WILLIAMS | SECRETARY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| ROBERT BELK | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| MARY CLAUDIA BELK PILON | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| ANN CLARK | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE B MORRIS | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| ALISON WELCHER | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| BRANDY NELSON | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Belk Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to East Carolina University to support teacher research focused on addressing teacher burnout. This grant reflects the foundation's continued emphasis on supporting excellent teachers and educational leaders.
Belk Foundation awards ECU $250k teacher research grant | WNCTThe foundation announced $2.4 million in grants in spring 2024, continuing its commitment to K-3 literacy and teacher excellence initiatives across North Carolina.
Belk Foundation awards ECU $250k teacher research grant | WNCTSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Belk Foundation fund?
The Belk Foundation's mission is to invest in schools and organizations that work to ensure all students graduate from high school and continue on an intentional path toward college, career, and life. The foundation invests deeply in public education with specific emphasis on: • **K-3 Achievement**: Supporting programs that increase the number of children and youth who are at or above grade level in core subjects • **Teacher Excellence**: Investing in excellent teachers and leaders as critical …
How do I apply for a grant from The Belk Foundation?
The Belk Foundation invests over $2 million annually to strengthen public education through a competitive grantmaking process. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $250,000–$300,000 • Recent grants have included amounts of $100,000–$150,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Foundation for the Carolinas: $150,000 for Read Charlotte (awarded twice) • Augustine Literacy Project - Charlotte: $100,000 for intensive tutoring support for 1st-3rd grade readers **Approach:** The foundatio…
Where does The Belk Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and school systems in North Carolina, with some activity in the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Belk Foundation award?
In 2024, The Belk Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Belk Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Belk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Belk Foundation's EIN?
The Belk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0237197. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Belk 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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