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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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—
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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