John M. Belk Endowment

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $14,707,092 (2023)
Total Assets: $383.3 million (2022)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: 90 days from Letter of Inquiry submission
Grant Range: No minimum or maximum (requires sound rationale)
Geographic Focus: North Carolina (all 100 counties)

Contact Details

Address: 4201 Congress St Ste 470, Charlotte, NC

Organizations are welcome to contact the Endowment via the website contact page to introduce themselves, though the grant process is invitation-only.

Overview

The John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE) was established in 1995 by John M. Belk and operates as a private independent foundation. With assets of $383.3 million and annual giving of approximately $14.7 million (2023), JMBE's mission is to transform postsecondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina's evolving workforce needs. The foundation operates exclusively in North Carolina, serving all 100 counties, with a particular focus on underrepresented students. Recent strategic initiatives include the NC Reconnect program targeting adult learners and a $25 million, 10-year commitment to the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State. In 2024, JMBE responded to Hurricane Helene with $3.2 million in support for Western North Carolina community colleges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

JMBE operates through invitation-only grantmaking with awards typically made twice yearly (late Spring and late Fall). The foundation made 27 grants in 2023, with no set minimum or maximum amounts—funding levels are determined based on organizational capacity, total funding needed, additional funding secured, and sustainability.

Notable recent grants include:

College Advising Corps: $10 million to improve access to college for rural NC high school students
Single Stop: $7.75 million for college completion program connecting students with community resources
NC Community Colleges: $3.2 million for Hurricane Helene recovery and strategic investments (2024)
NC State Belk Center: $25 million commitment over 10 years

Priority Areas

JMBE funds through three strategic pillars:

1. Access to Postsecondary Education Supporting organizations that remove barriers and provide opportunities for all students to access postsecondary education. Example partners: Year Up, College Advising Corps.

2. Completion Increasing the number of underrepresented students who complete postsecondary education with credentials relevant to market demands. Example partners: Single Stop, Finish First.

3. Workforce Relevance (Systems Change) Supporting enabling conditions and strategic opportunities needed to transform postsecondary education in North Carolina, including collaboration between stakeholders to open pathways aligned with workforce needs leading to living-wage employment. Example partners: myFutureNC, NC Community College System, Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research.

What They Don't Fund

Fundraising events or sponsorships providing tangible benefits
Athletic or sports-related events, league or team sponsorships
School-affiliated orchestra, band, choir, student trips or tours
Political campaigns
Labor, fraternal or civic clubs
Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin

Governance and Leadership

MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair, leads the endowment's strategic direction focused on increasing access to and completion of postsecondary education for North Carolinians. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and communications from Roanoke College, spent twelve years in retail management for Belk, and five years with The Belk Foundation. She currently serves as Chair of The John M. Belk Scholarship Advisory Board at Davidson College.

Key Staff:

Chuck Kaylor, Chief of Staff (joined October 2017) - Provides high-level support on implementation of the President and Board Chair's goals
Michelle Sorrells, Impact Officer
John D. Denning, Senior Advisor
Mike Krause, Senior Advisor

The organization employs 1-10 staff members and operates from Charlotte, NC.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The John M. Belk Endowment does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates by invitation only, making contributions solely to preselected charitable organizations.

Organizations are welcome to contact JMBE via their website contact page to introduce themselves. While this does not guarantee an invitation to apply, the foundation values relationship-building with organizations aligned with their mission.

If invited, qualifying organizations may be asked to complete an online Letter of Inquiry outlining a proposal aligned with one of JMBE's three strategies (Access, Completion, or Workforce Relevance).

Decision Timeline

JMBE will contact the nonprofit within 90 days of submission regarding the status of its Letter of Inquiry and potential next steps.

Grants are typically awarded twice yearly in late Spring and late Fall.

Success Rates

The foundation made 27 awards in 2023, 28 awards in 2022, and 31 awards in 2021. Specific application-to-award success rates are not publicly available due to the invitation-only process.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Given the invitation-only nature of the grant process, organizations should maintain ongoing communication with foundation staff.

Application Success Factors

Based on JMBE's stated funding criteria, successful applicants demonstrate:

Strong Alignment with JMBE's Three Pillars: Proposals must clearly align with Access, Completion, and/or Workforce Relevance strategies. The foundation prioritizes programs that transform postsecondary educational opportunities in North Carolina.

Focus on Underrepresented Populations: JMBE emphasizes impact on underrepresented students, including low-income, first-generation college, and adult learners (particularly ages 25-44 with some college but no degree).

Demonstrated Organizational Capacity: The foundation assesses organizational capacity to execute proposed programs, requiring evidence of ability to manage requested funding levels effectively.

Clear Impact, Scope, and Sustainability: Proposals should demonstrate measurable impact, appropriate scope, and long-term sustainability beyond the grant period. Scalability is also valued.

Market-Relevant Credentials: Programs should lead to credentials aligned with North Carolina's workforce needs and living-wage employment opportunities.

Evidence of Additional Funding: JMBE considers total funding needed and additional funding already secured, indicating other stakeholder support.

Collaboration and Systems Thinking: Recent initiatives like NC Reconnect demonstrate JMBE's interest in collaborative approaches involving multiple stakeholders (community colleges, state systems, support organizations).

Geographic Reach Across North Carolina: While the foundation serves all 100 counties, recent grants show particular attention to rural areas and regions with significant barriers to postsecondary access.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Instead, introduce your organization via the website contact page and build relationships with foundation staff over time.
North Carolina focus is absolute: All programs must serve North Carolina communities; out-of-state organizations are eligible only if running programs in NC.
Think systems-level change: JMBE increasingly invests in collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiatives that transform postsecondary education systems, not just individual programs.
Demonstrate workforce alignment: Show clear pathways from your program to labor market needs and living-wage employment in North Carolina.
Target underrepresented populations: Explicitly address how your program serves low-income, first-generation, adult learners, or other underrepresented students.
Multi-year partnerships matter: Major grants like the $25M Belk Center commitment and $10M College Advising Corps award show JMBE values long-term strategic partnerships.
Be patient with timeline: Allow 90 days for Letter of Inquiry responses, and understand that relationship-building may precede formal invitation to apply.

References

All sources accessed December 23, 2025.