The Dickson Foundation Inc

CHARLOTTE, NC EIN: 56-6022339

The Dickson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Incorporated in 1944, the foundation has been tax-exempt since May 1952. The organization provides philanthropic support primarily to local charities and nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$65.4M

+5.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.8M

+10.0% YoY

Grant Count

165

-1.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

+11.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dickson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's giving focuses primarily on local charities in the following areas:

  • Health
  • Human Services
  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Science and STEM Education

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $625,000.

How to Apply

details are available in the verified sources.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia

Grant Distribution by State

18states
+10 more states

Cities

AlexandriaArlingtonAsheboroAshevilleAtlantaBanner ElkBell BuckleBelmontBoiling SpringsBooneBostonBuies CreekBurlingtonCaryChapel HillCharlestonCharlotteCharlottesvilleChattanoogaChevy Chase

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $65,381,354 (as of 2024)

Total Annual Giving: $3,756,830 (2024)

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$5M$7M$9M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$65,381,354$61,712,107$62,298,949
Revenue$8,362,549$3,587,400$5,208,156
Expenses$4,693,302$4,174,242$4,481,332
Qualifying Distributions$4,205,948$3,776,884$3,992,930
Net Investment Income$5,448,917$1,785,103$4,630,908
Distributable Amount$4,214,471$3,851,258$3,977,352

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M1 grants2020217 grants2021187 grants2022167 grants2023165 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

COALITION FOR LIBERTY$125KCENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNI…$103KCROSSNORE COMMUNITIES FO…$102KAPPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEA…$101KDILWORTH CENTER$101KCHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG LI…$100KCHRIST CHURCH CHARLOTTE$100KCHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHE…$51KCAROLINA YOUTH COALITION$50KCHARLOTTE NEUROSCIENCE F…$50K

Grant Size Distribution

201 grants across all recorded years

138<$50K21$50–100K38$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Coalition for Liberty ($125,000), Central Piedmont Community College Foundation ($103,000), Crossnore Communities for Children ($102,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALEXANDER YOUTH NETWORK CHARLOTTE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,500
ALL SAINTS MISSION LINVILLE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
ALLEGRO FOUNDATION CHARLOTTE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$10,000
ALLIANCE FOR CHRISTIAN MEDIA ATLANTA, GAGENERAL SUPPORT$1,200
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHARLOTTE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$1,500
AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$2,500
AMERICAN SKIN ASSOC NEW YORK, NYGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE FDN BOONE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$101,000
ATRIUM HEALTH FDN-LEVINE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE, NCGENERAL SUPPORT$2,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
R STUART DICKSON DECEASED 0524DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT1
RUSH S DICKSON IIIDIRECTOR,VICE PRESIDENT1
THOMAS W DICKSONDIRECTOR,VICE PRESIDENT1
SUSAN W PATTERSONOFFICER,SEC & TREASURER32
JANE W MARLEYDIRECTOR1
ALISON M SCOTTDIRECTOR1
CHRISTIAN O AVERYDIRECTOR1
CHASE A WOODDIRECTOR1
HARRISON H WILLIAMSON JRDIRECTOR1
JOHN A DICKSONDIRECTOR1

Contact Information

Address: 200 S College Street, Suite 1800, Charlotte, NC 28202-2020

Telephone: 704-372-5404

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Dickson Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's giving focuses primarily on local charities in the following areas: • Health • Human Services • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Science and STEM Education

How do I apply for a grant from The Dickson Foundation Inc?

**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $625,000. **Annual Giving:** Total giving of $3,756,830 based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Application Information:** No specific application process details are available in the verified sources.

Where does The Dickson Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • North Carolina • South Carolina • Virginia

What size grants does The Dickson Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Dickson Foundation Inc awarded 165 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Dickson Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Dickson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Dickson Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Dickson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6022339. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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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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