Kerry And Simone Vickar Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,636,580 (2023)
• Average Grant Size: $45,461
• Total Assets: $12.6 million (2024)
• Number of Grants: 36 (2023)
• Grant Range: Varies from smaller operational grants to major commitments up to $2 million
• Geographic Focus: National, with concentrations in North Carolina, Florida, California, and other major U.S. cities

Contact Details

Address: 201 S. College St., Suite 1540, Charlotte, NC 28244-0002
Phone: (704) 910-8376
Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Note: This foundation does not have a public application process or website.

Overview

The Kerry And Simone Vickar Family Foundation was established in 2003 as a private family foundation in North Carolina. With total assets of approximately $12.6 million and annual giving of over $1.6 million, the foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across healthcare, arts and culture, community development, and youth services. Founded by Kerry Vickar, a Canadian-born entrepreneur who co-founded VSTH Group (an investment banking and private equity firm) and Simone Vickar, the foundation operates on the principle of "forward momentum" and focuses on "maximizing impact." The foundation made its largest single commitment of $2 million to Levine Cancer Institute in 2017 to establish an endowed chair in hematologic oncology. In 2024, Simone D. Vickar serves as President of the foundation, which maintains operations in downtown Charlotte.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with designated applications. Instead, it makes grants based on trustee discretion and established relationships. Recent grant examples include:

• Major Healthcare Commitments: $2 million to Levine Cancer Institute (2017)
• Operational Support Grants: $100,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
• Operational Support Grants: $100,000 to Crossnore Communities for Children
• Operational Support Grants: $40,000 to Gods Pit Crew

The foundation made 36 grants in 2023, up from 27 in 2022, indicating growing grantmaking activity.

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns:

• Healthcare and Medical Research: Major focus on cancer research, hematologic oncology, and healthcare institutions (Levine Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, Atrium Health Foundation)
• Arts and Culture: Support for art programs in Aspen, West Palm Beach, and Los Angeles
• Youth Development: Boys and Girls Clubs and similar youth-serving organizations
• Community Development: Community centers and facilities, particularly in founder's hometown connections
• Operational Support: The foundation primarily provides unrestricted operational support to organizations

Geographic Focus

While based in Charlotte, NC, the foundation supports organizations across the United States, including:

• North Carolina (particularly Charlotte region)
• Florida (Palm Beach, Jupiter)
• California (Los Angeles)
• Major metropolitan areas: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.
• Multiple states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia
• International: Saskatchewan, Canada (founder's hometown of Melfort)

What They Don't Fund

Information about explicit exclusions is not publicly available.

Governance and Leadership

Simone D. Vickar - President
Simone serves as President of the foundation and received $70,584 in compensation (2024 filing). Together with Kerry, she has carried forward family traditions of philanthropy, supporting causes that create lasting community impact.

Kerry Vickar - Co-Founder
A native of Canada who moved to Charlotte in 1991, Kerry founded CorrFlex Graphics (later sold to Sonoco Products Company) and co-founded VSTH Group, LLC, an investment banking and private equity firm. He also founded The Vickar Group, a family office headquartered in downtown Charlotte, and serves as Chairman and CEO of May Heavy Equipment. Kerry made a $1 million contribution to create the Kerry Vickar Centre in his hometown of Melfort, Saskatchewan, which opened in 2009.

On Their Philanthropic Approach:
Kerry Vickar stated: "We are focused on maximizing impact," noting that their support of institutions with wide reach multiplies their effectiveness. The foundation's approach is characterized by "forward momentum," seeking to support organizations and initiatives that drive tangible progress in their communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and established relationships. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications through a formal portal or published guidelines.

Grant decisions appear to be made based on:

• Personal connections and relationships with the Vickar family
• Organizations already known to the trustees
• Strategic initiatives that align with the founders' interests in healthcare, arts, and community development
• Geographic areas where the Vickars have personal or professional ties

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate on a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Strategic Alignment with Founder Values:

• The foundation's giving reflects Kerry Vickar's statement: "We are focused on maximizing impact"
• Organizations with broad reach and multiplier effects appear favored (e.g., Levine Cancer Institute's network reach was cited as a factor)
• "Forward momentum" is a cornerstone of their philanthropy - they seek organizations creating tangible progress

Documented Funding Patterns:

• Operational Support Focus: The foundation "primarily funds operational support," providing flexible funding rather than project-specific grants
• Healthcare institutions with research components: Major gifts to cancer research and hematologic oncology
• Arts organizations in specific cities: Aspen, West Palm Beach, Los Angeles
• Youth-serving organizations: Boys and Girls Clubs and children's services
• Community infrastructure: Facilities and centers that serve broad populations

Geographic Connections:

• Charlotte, NC area (where the Vickars are based)
• Florida (where they appear to have connections)
• California (Los Angeles area)
• Saskatchewan, Canada (Kerry's hometown)

Grant Size Patterns:

• Average grant: $45,461
• Range from smaller operational grants ($40,000) to major commitments ($2 million for endowed chairs)
• Capacity for both ongoing operational support and transformational gifts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This foundation awards grants based on trustee discretion and existing relationships, not through open calls for proposals
• Relationship-driven grantmaking - Grants appear to flow from personal or professional connections with the Vickar family and their business networks
• Operational support preference - When grants are made, they prioritize unrestricted operational funding over project-specific support
• Impact and reach matter - The foundation's stated focus on "maximizing impact" suggests they favor organizations with broad reach and measurable community benefit
• Healthcare and medical research - This is the area of largest financial commitment, particularly cancer-related research and treatment
• Geographic patterns - Strong presence in Charlotte area, Florida, California, and founder's Canadian hometown; national scope but selective
• Growth trajectory - Grantmaking has increased from 27 grants (2022) to 36 grants (2023), suggesting expanding philanthropic activity
• For organizations seeking support - Focus on building authentic relationships within Charlotte's business and philanthropic community, particularly connections to investment banking, private equity, and healthcare sectors where Kerry Vickar has professional ties

References

• Cause IQ: Kerry & Simone Vickar Family Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/kerry-and-simone-vickar-family-foundation,341974937/ (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Kerry And Simone Vickar Family Foundation (EIN: 34-1974937). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/341974937 (Accessed January 2026)
• Atrium Health Foundation: "The Kerry and Simone Vickar Family Foundation Commits $2 Million for Levine Cancer Institute Hematologic Oncology Chair." https://www.atriumhealthfoundation.org/vickar-family-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• PR Newswire: "The Kerry and Simone Vickar Family Foundation Commits $2 Million for Levine Cancer Institute Hematologic Oncology Chair," January 2017. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-kerry-and-simone-vickar-family-foundation-commits-2-million-for-levine-cancer-institute-hematologic-oncology-chair-300392889.html (Accessed January 2026)
• Kerry Vickar Centre: "Meet Kerry Vickar." https://kerryvickarcentre.ca/meet-kerry-vickar/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantable.co: Kerry & Simone Vickar Family Foundation Profile. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/kerry-simone-vickar-family-foundation-us-foundation-341974937 (Accessed January 2026)