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ChildTrust Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.6M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,557,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 1 month
  • Grant Range: Varies (median $35,000)
  • Geographic Focus: North Carolina (Wake County and eastern NC for program grants; statewide for policy/advocacy)

Contact Details

Primary Contact: Cyndi Soter O'Neil, Director of Strategic Philanthropy
Email: coneil@investorsmanagement.com
Phone: (919) 653-7499
Address: c/o Investors Management Corporation, 801 N. West St., Raleigh, NC 27603

Note: Organizations should contact Cyndi Soter O'Neil to start a conversation and ensure the organization is a good fit before submitting a proposal.

Overview

ChildTrust Foundation was founded in 2003 as the charitable arm of Investors Management Corporation (IMC), which was established in 1971 by James Maynard and became the parent company of Golden Corral restaurants. The foundation has been tax-exempt since August 2006 and currently holds assets of approximately $21 million. ChildTrust Foundation is dedicated to promoting education and literacy in North Carolina, with a laser focus on children from birth through age eight. The foundation's mission centers on ensuring all North Carolina children can read proficiently by the end of third grade, with particular attention to those impacted by racial and economic injustice. Their approach goes beyond financial grants to include collaboration, networking, and capacity building to ensure greater success for grantees. The foundation is a member of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and has partnered with major initiatives like the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

ChildTrust Foundation awards grants on a rolling basis throughout the year without fixed application deadlines or specific grant cycles. Recent data shows:

  • Annual Distribution: $1,557,500 (2023) across 29 grants
  • Median Grant Size: $35,000
  • Grant History: Consistently awards 29-34 grants annually

The foundation provides both program grants and general operating support to qualifying organizations.

Priority Areas

ChildTrust Foundation's grantmaking focuses on critical success factors from birth to age eight that contribute to children's ability to read on grade level by the end of third grade. Specific funding priorities include:

  • Home visiting and parenting education programs that support families
  • Literacy interventions during and outside of school hours
  • Support for early care and elementary educators, including professional development for teachers and administrators
  • Early childhood policy research and advocacy at the state level
  • Social-emotional health and resilience programs for young children
  • Equity-focused initiatives addressing systemic barriers for children from underserved families

Geographic Priorities:

  • Statewide: Policy and advocacy work supporting early childhood education and literacy across North Carolina
  • Regional Program Work: Wake County and eastern North Carolina (Raleigh to the coast)

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct funding to individual schools
  • Organizations outside North Carolina
  • Projects not focused on birth-to-age-8 populations
  • Organizations not aligned with IMC's non-discrimination policy

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

  • James H. Maynard, President
  • Easter A. Maynard, Vice President
  • Richard A. Urquhart III, Treasurer
  • Ronald M. Barbee, Secretary
  • Theodore M. Fowler, Director

Staff:

  • Cyndi Soter O'Neil, Director of Strategic Philanthropy at Investors Management Corporation (manages ChildTrust Foundation grantmaking)

The foundation is managed through Investors Management Corporation, providing professional oversight and administrative support. The Maynard family's leadership reflects their long-standing commitment to North Carolina communities, stemming from James Maynard's 1971 founding of IMC in his hometown of Raleigh.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: ChildTrust Foundation indicates on their IRS Form 990-PF that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." However, the foundation does maintain a contact process for organizations to explore potential partnerships.

Application Steps:

  1. Initial Contact: Reach out to Cyndi Soter O'Neil at coneil@investorsmanagement.com or (919) 653-7499 to start a conversation and ensure your organization is a good fit
  2. Proposal Submission (if invited): Submit a short proposal outlining:
    • The proposed work
    • Anticipated outcomes
    • Basic financial documentation (budget, recent financial statements)

The foundation awards grants on a rolling basis throughout the year without specific application deadlines or grant cycles.

Decision Timeline

  • Typical Timeline: Approximately one month from proposal submission to decision
  • Notification Method: Direct communication from foundation staff

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly disclosed. The foundation awards approximately 29-34 grants annually from their pool of preselected and relationship-based prospects.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have previously received funding or been in contact with the foundation may continue to apply for future grants. The foundation's relationship-based approach suggests ongoing partnerships are valued.

Application Success Factors

ChildTrust Foundation operates on a relationship-based model, so alignment with their specific priorities is critical:

Key Alignment Factors:

  • Age Focus: Programs must serve children from birth to age eight, with clear connections to third-grade reading proficiency
  • Equity Lens: Strong emphasis on serving children, families, and communities impacted by racial and economic injustice
  • Geographic Fit: For program grants, work must occur in Wake County or eastern North Carolina; for policy/advocacy grants, statewide NC focus
  • Systems Approach: The foundation values work that addresses critical success factors holistically (health, family support, quality learning environments)
  • Measurable Outcomes: Proposals should clearly articulate anticipated outcomes related to early literacy and child development

Strategic Priorities to Highlight:

  • Evidence-based approaches to early literacy
  • Professional development for early childhood educators
  • Parent engagement and family strengthening
  • Policy changes that benefit North Carolina's youngest children
  • Collaborative approaches that build capacity across the sector

Foundation's Values:

  • Collaboration over siloed work
  • Systemic change over short-term fixes
  • Equity and access for historically underserved populations
  • Results that contribute to children reading on grade level by third grade

The foundation's investment philosophy extends beyond financial support to include networking, collaboration, and capacity building, suggesting they value grantees who are open to partnership and continuous improvement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship is paramount: This foundation operates on a preselected/invitation model. Contact Cyndi Soter O'Neil early to explore fit before investing significant time in a proposal.
  • Birth-to-age-8 focus is non-negotiable: All work must clearly connect to early childhood development and third-grade reading proficiency.
  • Equity must be explicit: Demonstrate how your work addresses racial and economic disparities in early childhood outcomes.
  • Geographic boundaries matter: Program grants are for Wake County and eastern NC only; policy work must be statewide in North Carolina.
  • Think systems, not silos: The foundation values collaborative approaches and capacity building, not isolated programs.
  • Be outcome-focused: Clearly articulate measurable results related to early literacy and child development.
  • Rolling timeline works in your favor: No fixed deadlines means you can time your approach strategically when you have a strong case for partnership.

References

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