The James W Davis Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Statesville, NC EIN: 58-1528127

The James W Davis Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Statesville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $430K. Net investment income was $413K.

The James W Davis Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The James W Davis Foundation Inc gave $430K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$430,000
+3.6% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
8
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$53,750
+3.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$9,012,429
+6.0% vs 2024
Primary geography
North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who The James W Davis Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2025

Gardner Webb University: $160KGardner Webb University$160KMitchell Community College: $160KMitchell Community College$160KFifth Street Ministries: $35KFifth Street Ministries$35KPower Cross: $30KPower Cross$30KIredell Christian Ministries: $20KIredell Christian Ministries$20KBoys and Girls Club: $15KBoys and Girls Club$15KPurple Heart Homes: $5KPurple Heart Homes$5KGoodwill Workforce Development Ctr: $5KGoodwill Workforce DevelopmentCtr$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Gardner Webb University ($160K). Together the top 8 received $430K.

Grant Size Distribution

37 grants across all recorded years

27<$50K$50–100K10$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 37 (73%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.

Cities

StatesvilleBoiling SpringsCharlotte

How The James W Davis Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K7 grants2021 7 grants2022 7 grants2023 8 grants2024 8 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $365K (2023) to $430K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $430K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Gardner Webb University Boiling Springs, NCNursing Education$160,000
Mitchell Community College Statesville, NCNursing Education$160,000
Fifth Street Ministries Statesville, NCHelp Needy$35,000
Power Cross Statesville, NCProvides Programs for Teens$30,000
Iredell Christian Ministries Statesville, NCHelp Needy$20,000
Boys and Girls Club Statesville, NCHelp Needy Children$15,000
Purple Heart Homes Statesville, NCProvide Housing Solutions for Vets$5,000
Goodwill Workforce Development Ctr Statesville, NCTo Fund Employment and Training Prog$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$9,012,429$432,255$459,404$430,0008$434,509$413,360$441,883
2024$8,504,899$393,539$456,020$415,1508$421,659$262,420$414,481
2023$8,048,647$155,177$410,573$365,0007$381,305$278,963$390,893
2022$7,702,594$673,699$422,046$380,0007$393,106$379,656$430,105
2021$8,976,648$655,366$440,609$400,0007—$250,165$407,413

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James W Davis Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $442K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The James W Davis Foundation Inc is led by Ralph Bentley, Chairman since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Ralph Bentley

    Chairman

    Director → Chairman, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Nate McElwee

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Scarlett Chapman

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • Thom Kincaid

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • W. Sloan Goforth

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • William A. Long Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • William A. Long

    Foundation M

    Chairman → Foundation M, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    $6K (2024) → $6K (2025)

  • John N. Gilbert

    Vice Chairman

    Director → Vice Chairman, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret Willhide

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Doug Hendrix (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jane Cartner (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: John S. Steele (2021–2023) — Vice Chairman
  • Former: William Troutman (2021–2023) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

William a Long — Foundation M: $6KWilliam a LongFoundation M$6K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to William a Long (Foundation M).

Frequently asked questions about The James W Davis Foundation Inc

How much does The James W Davis Foundation Inc give each year?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc gave $430K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $415K across 8 grants.

What is The James W Davis Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $53,750, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The James W Davis Foundation Inc give grants?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Statesville, NC (7 grants).

Does The James W Davis Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The James W Davis Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are The James W Davis Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Gardner Webb University ($160,000), Mitchell Community College ($160,000) and Fifth Street Ministries ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The James W Davis Foundation Inc?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $435K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $442K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is The James W Davis Foundation Inc's EIN?

The James W Davis Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1528127. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The James W Davis Foundation Inc'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.

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