The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation

CHARLOTTE, NC EIN: 56-2220828 Website

The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation is a private, family-based foundation established in 2001 and located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.4M

+400.5% YoY

Grant Count

-50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$567K

+901.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $88K 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 provides giving primarily to Presbyterian organizations and churches, with additional funding directed toward the arts, education, and social services.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$2,500 to $600,000

Average Grant

amount: $68,696

Ready to take the next step with The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations in North Carolina, Maryland, and Massachusetts, with particular activity in North Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

North Carolina $6.4M (82%)

Massachusetts $1.3M (16%)

Maryland $100K (1%)

Delaware $10K (0%)

States

Delaware Massachusetts Maryland North Carolina

Cities

BostonCharlotteDavidsonLinvilleMiddletownMontreatTowsonWilliamstown

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $2.17 million
Total Giving: $680,000
Total Revenue: $16,321
Total Expenses: $740,472
Total Liabilities: $0

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

59 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Foundation for the Carolinas ($1,422,675), Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($1,255,892), Myers Park Presbyterian Church ($600,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
GOOD FELLOWS CHARLOTTE, NC	ANNUAL FUND	$10,000
MYERS PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CHARLOTTE, NC	ANNUAL FUND	$600,000
VIA HEALTH PARTNERS CHARLOTTE, NC	ANNUAL FUND	$15,000
FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS CHARLOTTE, NC	ANNUAL FUND	$1,422,675
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND BOSTON, MA	CHARITABLE FUND	$1,255,892
NATIONAL STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION LLC TOWSON, MD	ANNUAL FUND	$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is led by a board of directors and key officers:

Katherine Belk Morris – President/Director
John R. Belk – Treasurer/Director
Thomas M. Belk Jr. – Vice President/Director
Katherine M. Belk – Secretary/Director
H.W. McKay Belk – Vice President/Director
Edward M. Lazar – Assistant Secretary

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
THOMAS M BELK JR	VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	0.2	—
KATHERINE M BELK	SECRETARY/DIRECTOR	0.2	—
KATHERINE BELK MORRIS	PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	0.5	—
HW MCKAY BELK	VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	0.2	—
JOHN R BELK	TREASURER/DIRECTOR	0.2	—
EDWARD M LAZAR	ASSISTANT SECRETARY	0.2	—

Contact Information

Address: 2701 Coltsgate Road, Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28211-3594

Phone: (980) 256-4002

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation fund?

The foundation provides giving primarily to Presbyterian organizations and churches, with additional funding directed toward the arts, education, and social services.

How do I apply for a grant from The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation?

**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Grant range: $2,500 to $600,000 • Median grant amount: $253,348 • Average grant amount: $68,696 • Recent grant activity shows 12-17 grants awarded annually **Grant Programs:** • **Annual Fund**: Averaging $68,696 per award across 16 recipients (last awarded in 2023) • **Carolina Theatre Project Fund**: $438,000 average award to arts and culture/theater recipients (last awarded in 2022) **Giving Rate:** Approximately 26.9% of assets distributed annually

Where does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations in North Carolina, Maryland, and Massachusetts, with particular activity in North Carolina.

What size grants does The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation award?

In 2024, The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $567K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation 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 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's EIN?

The Katherine and Thomas Belk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2220828. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.