The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return: it states that by December 31, 2024, all assets had been redeemed, liquidated, and donated to qualified charitable organizations. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Key facts about The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc
In short: The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc gave $3.4M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $567K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 56-2220828
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,403,567
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- Average grant
- $567,261
- Median grant
- $350,000
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website’s listed spring and fall cycles—applications due in March and September, with decisions in May and…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+400.5% YoY
Grant Count
6
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$567K
+901.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $88K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 188% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Belk Foundation’s stated mission is to invest in public education, with particular attention to K–3 achievement and excellent teachers and leaders. Its website says its education work is focused locally in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and at the state level in North Carolina.
The 2024 filing lists grants to Foundation For The Carolinas, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, National Stewardship Foundation LLC, Via Health Partners, Good Fellows, and Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund. Foundation For The Carolinas describes its own mission as bringing people, ideas, and resources together to create impact across a 13-county Carolinas region, and as managing charitable funds and advancing community change.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported six grants totaling $3,403,567. The grants ranged from $10,000 to $1,422,675, with a median of $350,000. The largest were $1,422,675 to Foundation For The Carolinas, $1,255,892 to Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, and $600,000 to Myers Park Presbyterian Church. The filing identifies the first and third as annual fund grants and the Fidelity grant as a charitable fund grant.
Review Cycle
The website’s listed spring and fall cycles—applications due in March and September, with decisions in May and November/December—are not current application opportunities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its education work as focused in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and across North Carolina. In 2024, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 37% to Massachusetts, and 3% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $680K (2023) to $3.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Foundation for the Carolinas ($1.4M). Together the top 6 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 59 (80%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation for the Carolinas Charlotte, NC | Annual Fund | $1,422,675 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | Charitable Fund | $1,255,892 |
| Myers Park Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NC | Annual Fund | $600,000 |
| National Stewardship Foundation LLC Towson, MD | Annual Fund | $100,000 |
| Via Health Partners Charlotte, NC | Annual Fund | $15,000 |
| Good Fellows Charlotte, NC | Annual Fund | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $1,305,276 | $3,473,471 | $3,403,567 (6 grants) |
| 2023 | $2,167,774 | $16,321 | $740,472 | $680,000 (12 grants) |
| 2022 | $2,891,946 | $45,666 | $1,400,304 | $1,338,000 (12 grants) |
The 2024 filing states that all assets held by the foundation had been redeemed, liquidated, and donated to qualified charitable organizations by December 31, 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $2,167,774 | $2,891,946 |
| Revenue | $1,305,276 | $16,321 | $45,666 |
| Expenses | $3,473,471 | $740,472 | $1,400,304 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,403,567 | $680,000 | $1,338,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,235,474 | $6,372 | $13,085 |
| Distributable Amount | $88,104 | $171,815 | $212,078 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas M Belk Jr, Katherine M Belk, Katherine Belk Morris, HW McKay Belk, and John R Belk as directors, with roles of vice president, secretary, president, vice president, and treasurer, respectively. Edward M Lazar is listed as assistant secretary.
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc is led by Katherine Belk Morris, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine Belk Morris
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hw McKay Belk
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Belk
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine M. Belk
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Belk Jr.
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward M. Lazar
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 2701 Coltsgate Road 102, Charlotte, NC 28211-3594
Phone: (980) 256-4002
Website: https://belkfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc
How much does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc give each year?
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc gave $3.4M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $680K across 12 grants.
What is The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $350,000, and its average grant was $567,261, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc give grants?
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (37%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (4 grants).
Does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 83% of The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Foundation for the Carolinas ($1,422,675), Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($1,255,892) and Myers Park Presbyterian Church ($600,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc fund?
The Belk Foundation’s stated mission is to invest in public education, with particular attention to K–3 achievement and excellent teachers and leaders. Its website says its education work is focused locally in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and at the state level in North Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $88K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2220828. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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