The David Belk Cannon Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The David Belk Cannon Foundation only accepts preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so it is not one you can approach with a cold proposal, and its filings give no application steps.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its grants have mainly gone to North Carolina and Virginia.
- Half of its 124 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, with a typical range of $7,900 to $335,000, so a request of that kind of size fits its usual pattern; its largest grant, $1,500,000, went to Gaston Community Foundation, which it funds every year.
- A large majority of its grant dollars, 83%, went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder that favours established recipients, and its board focuses much of its grant-making on larger projects that may need multi-year funding and oversight.
- Recipients must be 501(c)(3) organisations, and because contributions are limited to preselected charities and unsolicited requests are not accepted, charities without an existing relationship or invitation should not expect to apply directly.
Overview
The David Belk Cannon Foundation is a US private foundation based in Gastonia, NC.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (taxnotes.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation has described its role as supporting the Community Foundation and its mission to make Gaston County and North Carolina better places to live and work. It says its board focuses much of its grant-making on larger projects that may require multi-year funding and oversight. The filings show grants to educational institutions for school construction, career development and scholarships; community-service organisations for housing, relief and operating support; health organisations; and museums, churches, gardens and conservation organisations. Recorded uses also include wildlife management and local community projects. Most recorded organisation grants went to North Carolina, with a smaller share in Virginia. Contributions are limited to preselected charities, and recipients must be 501(c)(3) organisations.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in North Carolina and Virginia.
How to apply
The filing says contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it gives no submission steps for prospective recipients.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 124 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Its board focuses much of its grant-making on larger projects that may require multi-year funding commitments and oversight. (as reported in other published sources)
- Recipient organisations must be 501(c)(3) organisations.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations The David Belk Cannon Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 35% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 40 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $52,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Gaston Community Foundation · New Hope Business District$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Gaston Day School · Board Directed, Construction of new upper school building$892,0002024 tax year
- Gaston Community Foundation · DBC Donor Advised Fund, Rankin Fund, Strategic Planning$543,6002024 tax year
- Conservation Fund · Conservation Fund's Carolina Farms Fund Project$500,0002024 tax year
- Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden · Support Phase 1 projects in DSBG's strategic plan$300,0002024 tax year
- Covenant Village · Outdoor Pavillion & Driveway/Parking Lot Improvements$250,0002024 tax year
- Christ Church Charlotte · Transforming Hearts, Changing Lives campaign$250,0002024 tax year
- Gaston County Family YMCA · Capital Campaign$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tamara Burrell — Executive Director
- Dr Richard E Rankin Jr — Director
- Mary M Vaughn — Secretary
- Ben F Matthews III — Vice Chairman
- Eugene R Matthews II — Chair & CEO
- Annabelle Kelly — Assistant Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,306,364 | $5,928,379 | $117,648,711 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,148,207 | $5,587,871 | $126,273,476 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,050,872 | $6,156,099 | $132,530,612 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The David Belk Cannon Foundation?
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Contact
- Gastonia, NC
Applying to The David Belk Cannon Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Gastonia, NC