The Dale Jr Foundation
The Dale Jr Foundation is a public charity based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Founded in 2007, it supports underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, through grants and other charitable contributions intended to help build confidence, support education, and create opportunities.
The Dale Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dale Jr Foundation gave $768K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in North Carolina. 52% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $768,337
- -44.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +17.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,457
- -52.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $935,274
- +24.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (14 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Dale Jr Foundation
- How to Apply
Organizations may request a monetary or in-kind donation by completing the foundation’s request form and submitting it with a letter on professional letterhead signed by the organization’s executive director or…
Organizations may request a monetary or in-kind donation by completing the foundation’s request form and submitting it with a letter on professional letterhead signed by the organization’s executive director or president. Applicants must include their tax ID and a copy of their 501(c)(3) determination letter. Requests should be submitted 12–16 weeks before an event; the foundation asks applicants to allow 8–12 weeks for processing. Only one donation may be requested annually, and multiple requests for the same event should not be submitted. The foundation also asks recipients to provide an update six months after funding on how the funds were used.
- Review Cycle
- Grant donation requests must be submitted by October 31.
- Deadline
- Grant donation requests must be submitted by October 31.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 330, Mooresville, NC 28115
Phone: (704) 264-5224
Website: https://thedalejrfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Dale Jr Foundation
Who The Dale Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ($150K). Together the top 10 received $504K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 104 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its support as national and local. In filing year 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (55%), Tennessee (20%), Kentucky (16%), Ohio (6%), and Minnesota (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Dale Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 27 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $23K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $345K (2019) to $1.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $768K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | EOY Giving | $150,000 |
| Blessings in a Backpack Louisville, KY | EOY Giving | $124,425 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $100,000 |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation Columbus, OH | EOY Giving | $49,367 |
| Feednc Mooresville, NC | EOY Giving | $30,500 |
| Make-a-Wish Central and Western NC Charlotte, NC | EOY Giving | $30,000 |
| Children's Hope Alliance Barium Springs, NC | EOY Giving | $27,500 |
| Dovehouse Children's Advocacy Center Statesville, NC | EOY Giving | $25,000 |
| The Kindness Closet Mooresville, NC | EOY Giving | $25,000 |
| Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center Charlotte, NC | EOY Giving | $22,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Dale Jr Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $935,274 | $1,718,132 | $1,239,230 | $768,337 | 27 | $23,313 |
| 2024 | $751,759 | $909,228 | $1,725,551 | $1,382,435 | 23 | $11,503 |
| 2023 | $852,190 | $1,099,291 | $883,796 | $465,429 | 20 | $9,946 |
| 2022 | $676,599 | $1,063,800 | $961,758 | $619,964 | 21 | $1,393 |
| 2021 | $560,643 | $916,200 | $870,477 | $514,300 | 13 | $1,277 |
| 2020 | $756,901 | $886,691 | $852,650 | $557,842 | 24 | $3,646 |
| 2019 | $754,128 | $919,143 | $652,518 | $345,325 | 16 | $4,780 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to give underprivileged individuals, especially youth, resources to improve their confidence and education and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. Its five areas of giving encompass support for safe homes, educational resources, holistic care, healthy food, and positive connections.
The foundation provides grants to organizations for activities benefiting youth. Examples among its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of work supported: Blessings in a Backpack describes its mission as providing weekend food for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry; Children’s Hope Alliance says it works to find and support safe family settings for children; and HealthReach Community Clinic says it provides free medical care and medications to low-income, uninsured residents of Iredell County. The foundation also awards annual scholarships to children of JR Motorsports employees for post-secondary education; these are for the employees’ children, not grants for outside applicants.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $768,337. Grant amounts ranged from $5,337 to $150,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $150,000 to Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, $124,425 to Blessings in a Backpack, and $100,000 to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County. Each was listed for “EOY GIVING.” Other sizable awards included $49,367 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, $30,500 to FeedNC, and $30,000 to Make-A-Wish Central and Western NC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dale Earnhardt Jr. as president; Kelley Earnhardt Miller as vice president; Jenni Leibee as secretary; and Denise Somers as treasurer. Directors listed are Stokely G. Caldwell Jr., Chris Nichols, Cathy Earnhardt Watkins, and Jackie Keller.
The Dale Jr Foundation is led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., President on every filing since 2019; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Cathy Earnhardt Watkins
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Nichols
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stokely G. Caldwell Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Keller
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Somers
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelley Earnhardt Miller
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenni Leibee
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Regina Smith (2019–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Dale Jr Foundation
How much does The Dale Jr Foundation give each year?
The Dale Jr Foundation gave $768K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 23 grants.
What is The Dale Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dale Jr Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $28,457, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dale Jr Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does The Dale Jr Foundation give grants?
The Dale Jr Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (20%) and Kentucky (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (6 grants), Mooresville, NC (4 grants), Statesville, NC (3 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does The Dale Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The Dale Jr Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "EOY Giving" (27 grants).
Who are The Dale Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dale Jr Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ($150,000), Blessings in a Backpack ($124,425) and Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation ($49,367), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Dale Jr Foundation?
The Dale Jr Foundation reported $935K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What does The Dale Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to give underprivileged individuals, especially youth, resources to improve their confidence and education and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dale Jr Foundation?
Organizations may request a monetary or in-kind donation by completing the foundation’s request form and submitting it with a letter on professional letterhead signed by the organization’s executive director or… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dale Jr Foundation's EIN?
The Dale Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8353637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 6, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dale Jr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
United Way of Iredell County Inc
Statesville, NC
United Way of Iredell County funds local nonprofits and initiatives addressing health, education, financial stability, housing, and human-service needs in Iredell County, North Carolina. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,975 to $131,908, with a median of $30,918. It accepts requests through its agency portal when application opportunities are listed.
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
19
Total Given
$685K
Cecile G Ebert Charitable Foundation
Mooresville, NC
The foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of charitable organizations, with 95% of grant dollars going to North Carolina. Grants ranged from $500 to $166,000, with a median of $5,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
30
Total Given
$392K
Speedway Children's Charities
Concord, NC
Speedway Children’s Charities funds nonprofits serving children with medical, educational, safety, and social needs in communities served by its local chapters. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $125,000, with a median of $10,000. The profile describes chapter application processes but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
221
Total Given
$3.5M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dale Jr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dale-jr-foundation-morg_015672ad6c5a41f6af2cc220e1838051
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208353637_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dale Jr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dale-jr-foundation-morg_015672ad6c5a41f6af2cc220e1838051},
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 The Dale Jr 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.
The Dale Jr Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?