William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $40 million (FY 2025)
Total Assets: $900 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Invitation-only, timeline varies
Grant Range: $500,000+ (based on recent awards)
Geographic Focus: North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Florida
Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Website: www.kenancharitabletrust.org
Email: grantsadmin@kenancharitabletrust.org
Phone: (919) 391-7222
Address: PO Box 3858, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515

Overview

The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust was established in 1965 following the death of William R. Kenan Jr., with initial assets of approximately $95 million. Today, the Trust has assets of approximately $900 million and has awarded more than 2,100 grants totaling nearly $826 million since its inception. The Trust's mission is to "empower human potential through education and whole community investment," guided by the founder's belief that "a good education is the most cherished gift an individual can receive." Led by Executive Director Dr. Nancy J. Cable since January 2023, the Trust underwent a strategic transformation in June 2024 when Trustees approved its first-ever five-year strategic plan, defining two core program areas: Education and Human Thriving. The Trust distributed nearly $40 million in new grants during FY 2025, focusing on projects across its four-state geographic footprint.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kenan Professorships: The Trust's flagship program, established in 1966 with a $5 million investment to create 25 professorships at UNC-Chapel Hill. Between 1966 and 2023, the Trust established 61 endowed positions at 59 colleges and universities across 20 states, with total investments exceeding $49.5 million.

Education Grants: Project-specific grants across eight focus areas, reaching people of all ages and in various settings. Recent awards include $500,000 grants to PBS North Carolina (Rootle Ambassador Program) and Elon University (HealthEU Center and Nursing Fellows scholarships).

Human Thriving Grants: Newer program area launched in 2024, supporting economic mobility and fundamental community needs.

Emergency Response: The Trust demonstrated flexibility in responding to Hurricane Helene, awarding $1 million to MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) and partnering with YMCA of Western NC, Manna Food Bank, and Community Foundation of Western NC.

Priority Areas

Education Focus Areas (FY25):

Access and Persistence to Degree
Literacy (including early childhood literacy programs)
Arts Education
Financial Literacy
Healthcare Workforce Development
Educational Quality and Innovation
Leadership Development

Human Thriving Focus Areas:

Economic mobility initiatives
Access to healthcare
Basic needs support for individuals, families, and communities
Community resilience and collective progress

Geographic Scope

Approximately 80% of annual funding supports organizations in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Florida—states where William R. Kenan Jr. had personal connections. Specific locations of historical interest include Chapel Hill area, St. Augustine (Florida), Kentucky, and Lockport (New York).

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly disclosed. The primary restriction is that the Trust does not accept unsolicited grant proposals—all grants are awarded through an invitation-only process determined by the Trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Thomas S. Kenan III: Philanthropist and business leader from Chapel Hill; trustee since 1984 (40+ years of service). Active champion for education quality and serves on numerous educational and philanthropic boards.
Lawrence L. Gray: Appointed 2020
Mary G. Campbell: JPMorgan; 30+ years of service
Robert P. Baynard: JPMorgan; 20 years of service

Executive Leadership

Dr. Nancy J. Cable, Executive Director (began January 2, 2023): Former Chancellor of UNC Asheville and former President of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Under her leadership, the Trust completed its first strategic plan and defined the Human Thriving program area.

Quote from Dr. Cable: "One of the highest priorities for our trustees is to make grants to support healthcare workforce development in all four of the states we support, including North Carolina, Virginia, New York and Florida."

Staff

Annie Bryan, Senior Grant Officer (joined September 2023)
Robby Russell, Grant Officer (joined September 2023)
IT Operations Manager
Grants Management Consultant

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust does not have a public application process. Grants are by invitation only and are awarded by the Trustees. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals.

The Trust identifies potential grantees through:

Trustee discretion and existing relationships
Strategic alignment with the Trust's focus areas
Geographic connections to the four focus states
Established track record in education or community development

Getting on Their Radar

According to available research, networking with board trustees or past grantees is essential for potential applicants. The Trust's website states that prospective organizations should:

Thoroughly review the Program Overview pages to understand funded project types
Consult the Grant Calendar and FAQ for current funding cycles
Ensure alignment with one of the four focus states
Contact grantsadmin@kenancharitabletrust.org only if questions cannot be answered through website resources

Note: The Trust has demonstrated responsiveness to emergent community needs, as evidenced by its rapid Hurricane Helene response, suggesting that trustees maintain active connections with community stakeholders who can surface urgent needs.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust operates on a grant cycle outlined in a Grant Calendar (specific dates not publicly available). Given the invitation-only model, timeline likely varies by project type and trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are by invitation, there is no formal reapplication process for unsolicited proposals.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only model, organizations that receive grants typically demonstrate:

1. Strong Geographic Ties: Projects must operate in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, or Florida. The Trust has deep historical connections to specific localities including Chapel Hill, St. Augustine, and Lockport.

2. Education-Centered Impact: The founder's belief that education is "the most cherished gift an individual can receive" remains central. Even Human Thriving grants connect to educational opportunity and community capacity-building.

3. Strategic Alignment with Current Priorities: Dr. Cable noted that trustees prioritize healthcare workforce development across all four states. FY25 focused specifically on Access and Persistence to Degree, Literacy, Arts Education, and Educational Quality.

4. Institutional Excellence: The Kenan Professorships program targeted "distinguished colleges and universities" and "accomplished scholars and professors who are committed to teaching and undergraduate learning."

5. Community-Wide Benefits: The Trust emphasizes "whole community investment" and "collective progress," suggesting preference for projects with broad reach rather than narrow impact.

6. Responsiveness to Urgent Needs: The Hurricane Helene response demonstrates trustees' willingness to act quickly when community crises arise, partnering with established organizations like MAHEC, YMCA, food banks, and community foundations.

7. Innovation and Quality: Education grants specifically seek innovation and quality improvements, not just access or basic services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only means relationship-building is paramount: Without a public application process, connections to trustees, past grantees, or recognized community leaders in the four focus states are essential.
Healthcare workforce development is a stated priority: Dr. Cable explicitly identified this as a top trustee priority across all four states—a specific, actionable focus area.
Geography is non-negotiable: Projects outside NC, VA, NY, or FL will not be considered. Within those states, historical Kenan family connections may matter.
Think "whole community investment": The Trust favors projects with broad impact that build community capacity, not narrow programs serving limited populations.
Education remains the core: Even with the new Human Thriving program area, education's transformative power remains central to the Trust's philosophy.
Substantial grant sizes: Recent publicly announced grants have been $500,000 to $1 million, suggesting the Trust makes significant investments in selected projects rather than spreading funds thinly.
The Trust can move quickly for emergencies: The Hurricane Helene response shows trustees can act decisively outside normal grant cycles when community needs are urgent and partnerships are in place.

References

Date Accessed: December 18, 2025