Philip L. Van Every Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,272,810 (2023)
• Total Assets: $41 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4 weeks after quarterly board meetings
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $300,000 (typical grants up to $50,000)
• Geographic Focus: North Carolina and South Carolina
• Number of Grants: 47 awards (2023)
• Median Grant: $25,000

Contact Details

Philip L. Van Every Foundation 310 Arlington Ave. #331 Charlotte, NC 28203

Phone: 704.595.3418

Website: www.vaneveryfoundation.org

Mailing Address (registered): 2751 Centerville Rd Ste 400 Wilmington, DE 19808-1641

Application Portal: Online grants portal available through website

Overview

Founded in 1961, the Philip L. Van Every Foundation is one of North Carolina's most prominent family foundations and ranks among the top 100 grant-making foundations in the state. To date, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in North and South Carolina communities. With total assets of $41 million, the foundation awarded $2,272,810 through 47 grants in 2023.

The foundation was established by Philip Lance Van Every, who served as CEO of Lance, Inc. (1943-1973) and as a two-term Charlotte mayor (1953-1957). Mr. Van Every was the grandson and son of the founders of Lance Packing Company. The foundation's mission is to enrich the lives of North and South Carolinians through generous support of worthy nonprofit organisations working to strengthen their communities.

The foundation focuses on four primary areas: Human and Community Service, Education, Healthcare and Rehabilitation, and Arts, Culture and History. These four focus areas receive more than 90 percent of the foundation's funding. The foundation emphasises supporting established organisations that demonstrate fiscal responsibility, exhibit strength in leadership, and have a proven track record of success.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

General Grantmaking Programme: $5,000 - $300,000 (typical grants up to $50,000)

• Rolling application process through online portal
• Two-step process: Letter of Inquiry followed by invitation for full proposal
• Applications accepted once per 12-month cycle

Priority Areas

The foundation supports qualified 501(c)(3) organisations in North and South Carolina in the following focus areas:

• Human and Community Service: Organisations strengthening communities and providing vital services
• Education: Educational institutions and programmes
• Healthcare and Rehabilitation: Healthcare facilities and rehabilitation programmes
• Arts, Culture and History: Cultural institutions and arts organisations

The foundation's preference is to provide funding for special projects and capital needs rather than operating expenses.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Political organisations
• Conferences, meetings, or fellowships
• Operating funds, including salaries
• Grants to organisations via fiscal agents
• Organisations outside North and South Carolina
• Non-501(c)(3) organisations

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair: Quincy White

Executive Director: Crystal Thomann

The foundation operates with a board of directors that meets quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions. Philip L. Van Every, the foundation's namesake, understood the importance of education, quality healthcare, rehabilitation, community service, and the cultural arts based on his extensive civic leadership experience.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation uses a two-step application process through an online grants portal:

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

• Submit through the online grants portal at www.vaneveryfoundation.org
• Each organisation may submit only one LOI per 12-month cycle
• Complete the form in its entirety
• After review, applicants are notified if the foundation believes the organisation is a good match for funding
• Initial interest does not guarantee an invitation to apply

Step 2: Full Grant Proposal (by invitation only)

• Only invited organisations may submit a full proposal
• Must be completed in its entirety through the online portal
• Applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors

Important Application Rules:

• Organisations can only apply once every 12 months
• The Van Every Foundation does not make grants to organisations via fiscal agents
• Do not contact the foundation about application status

Decision Timeline

Board Meetings: The Van Every Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly during the months of March, June, September, and December to review letters of inquiry and full grant requests.

Decision Notification: Grant decisions are issued within four weeks after board meetings.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rates or the number of applications received. In 2023, the foundation made 47 awards totaling $2,272,810. The foundation uses a two-step process (letter of inquiry followed by invitation for full proposal), which helps filter applications to those most aligned with their funding priorities.

Reapplication Policy

If your organisation submitted a proposal and was denied, you must wait until the next calendar year to apply. Organisations can only submit applications once per 12-month cycle, so denied applicants must wait until the following calendar year before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published guidance and funding patterns, successful applications should demonstrate:

1. Alignment with Funding Preferences The foundation explicitly states: "The Foundation's preference is to provide funding for special projects and capital needs." Operating funds, including salaries, are outside the foundation's area of interest. Successful applications focus on specific projects or capital campaigns rather than general operating support.

2. Organisational Strength The foundation seeks organisations that "strengthen our communities, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, exhibit strength in leadership and have a proven track record of success." Applications should clearly document:

• Track record of successful programme delivery
• Strong financial management and fiscal responsibility
• Experienced and stable leadership
• Demonstrated community impact

3. Recent Successful Grant Recipients (2023) Examples of funded projects include:

• Friends of Coastal South Carolina: $300,000 (unrestricted general)
• Crossnore Communities for Children: $200,000 (unrestricted general)
• The Salvation Army: $150,000 (general operating)
• Charlotte Preparatory School Inc: $150,000 (general operating)
• Hopeway Foundation: $150,000 (unrestricted general)
• North Carolina Zoological Society: $150,000 (unrestricted general)

Note that larger grants appear to go to well-established organisations with strong track records, while typical grants up to $50,000 serve a broader range of organisations.

4. Complete Applications The foundation emphasises: "To be considered, you must complete the form in its entirety." Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

5. Geographic Focus North and South Carolina are the foundation's primary regions of interest. Organisations must be located in these states to be eligible.

6. Final Reporting Awarded organisations must submit final reports showing fund utilisation, demonstrating the foundation's emphasis on accountability and impact measurement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on special projects and capital needs - Operating expenses and salaries are explicitly outside the foundation's area of interest
• Emphasise organisational strength - Highlight fiscal responsibility, leadership stability, and proven track record of success
• One application per year - Plan carefully as you can only submit once every 12 months; denied applicants must wait until the next calendar year
• Two-step process - First submit a Letter of Inquiry; only invited organisations can submit full proposals
• Quarterly decision timeline - Board meets in March, June, September, and December; decisions issued within 4 weeks of meetings
• Complete applications thoroughly - Incomplete submissions will not be considered
• Don't contact about status - The foundation does not accept enquiries about application status
• Typical grants up to $50,000 - While the foundation can award up to $300,000, most grants fall in the $5,000-$50,000 range with a median of $25,000

References

1. Cause IQ - Philip L Van Every Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/philip-l-van-every-foundation,566039337/. Accessed December 27, 2025.

2. Instrumentl - Philip L Van Every Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/566039337. Accessed December 27, 2025.

3. Philip L. Van Every Foundation - Official Website. http://www.vaneveryfoundation.org/. Accessed December 27, 2025.

4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Philip L Van Every Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/566039337. Accessed December 27, 2025.

5. Candid Foundation Directory - Philip L Van Every Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=VANE002. Accessed December 27, 2025.

6. Instrumentl - Philip L. Van Every Foundation Grants. https://www.instrumentl.com/grants/philip-l-van-every-foundation-grants. Accessed December 27, 2025.

7. LinkedIn - Quincy White, Board Chair. https://www.linkedin.com/in/quincywhite/. Accessed December 27, 2025.

8. LinkedIn - Crystal Thomann, Executive Director. https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalthomann/. Accessed December 27, 2025.

9. Van Every Foundation - Grantseekers Page. http://www.vaneveryfoundation.org/Grantseekers.aspx. Accessed December 27, 2025.

10. NCpedia - Lance, Inc. https://www.ncpedia.org/lance-inc. Accessed December 27, 2025.

11. PBS Wisconsin - Trail of History: Lance, Inc and Philip L Van Every. https://video.pbswisconsin.org/video/lance-inc-and-philip-l-van-every-bzfjoy/. Accessed December 27, 2025.