C. D. Spangler Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $24.5 million (2023)
Total Assets: $637.6 million (2024)
Grant Range: $100 - $10,000,000
Median Grant: $30,000
Number of Grants: 109 (2023)
Geographic Focus: Primarily North Carolina; also New York and California
Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Phone: 704-372-4500
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 36007, Charlotte, NC 28236-6007
Website: None available
EIN: 56-6061548

Overview

The C. D. Spangler Foundation was established in 1956 and is a family foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded by Clemmie Dixon Spangler Jr. (1932-2018), a billionaire businessman who owned National Gypsum Company and served as president of the University of North Carolina from 1986 to 1997, the foundation has grown substantially over the decades. With total assets exceeding $637 million and annual giving of approximately $24.5 million, it is one of North Carolina's most significant private foundations.

The foundation has dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars to improving public education in North Carolina, including funding over 120 distinguished professorships aimed at improving instruction across the UNC System. The late President Spangler believed that literacy was the key to economic and social progress for all North Carolinians. The Spangler Center at Harvard Business School is named in recognition of the family's significant philanthropic contributions to that institution.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, grants are made at the discretion of family trustees based on their philanthropic interests and relationships.

Recent Notable Grants (2023):

National Multiple Sclerosis Society: $5,000,000 (health and human services)
UCSF Foundation: $5,000,000 (program support)
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: $2,600,000 (program support)
Darlington School: $2,100,000 (educational opportunities)
Harvard Business School: $1,000,000 (educational opportunities)
Mayo Clinic: $1,000,000 (health and human services)

Signature Initiatives:

$26.9 million in challenge grants for up to 96 distinguished professorships across 16 UNC campuses
$8 million for four Spangler Distinguished Professorships in Early Child Literacy at Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, NC A&T State University, and UNC Charlotte
$10 million to Atrium Health for women's and maternal health programs
$10 million to Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's endowment campaign

Priority Areas

Education: Higher education, K-12 literacy, teacher preparation, distinguished professorships
Health and Human Services: Women's health, maternal care, health workforce training
Arts and Culture: Major arts organizations, particularly in Charlotte
Community Response: Demonstrated responsiveness to community crises (e.g., $1 million COVID-19 Response Fund contribution)

What They Don't Fund

Based on grant patterns, the foundation generally does not fund:

Organizations without pre-existing relationships or connections to the Spangler family
Small or new organizations seeking unsolicited funding
Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (primarily NC, with selective national giving to institutions connected to the family)

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Directors

Role	Name
Chairman	Meredith R. Spangler
Director and President	Dr. Abigail R. Spangler
Vice President and Director	Anna Spangler Nelson
VP/Secretary/Treasurer/Director	W.D. Cornwell Jr.
Assistant VP/Secretary	Cindy L. Marr
Assistant VP/Secretary	Meghan G. Ellis

Note: All key personnel serve without compensation.

Leadership Background

Meredith Riggs Spangler (Chairman) is the wife of the late C.D. Spangler Jr. She has served as a trustee at several higher education institutions, including her alma mater Wellesley College.

Anna Spangler Nelson (VP/Director) is Chair of Spangler Companies, Inc., a partner at the venture capital firm Wakefield Group, and serves on the board of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She and her husband Thomas C. Nelson served as chairs of the HBS Fund from 2021.

Dr. Abigail R. Spangler (Director/President) is also known as a founder of Protest Easy Guns, a national social movement to reduce gun violence.

Leadership Quote

Anna Spangler Nelson, regarding the foundation's literacy initiative: "North Carolina's reading proficiency levels, already disturbingly low, have declined further over the pandemic. Our investment seeks to elevate early child literacy importance across the state."

Anna Spangler Nelson, regarding COVID-19 relief: "Our family felt it was very important for the C.D. Spangler Foundation to commit to this humanitarian effort... we are grateful that so many in our community are coming together in support of one another."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation has stated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of the family trustees based on their personal philanthropic interests, relationships, and strategic priorities. There is no website, no application portal, and no formal request process.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grant patterns reveal specific pathways for organizations that may align with their interests:

University of North Carolina System Connections: The foundation has deep ties to the UNC System given C.D. Spangler Jr.'s tenure as president. Initiatives aligned with UNC educational priorities, particularly in early literacy and teacher preparation, have received substantial support.
Charlotte-Based Arts Organizations: Major Charlotte cultural institutions such as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Ballet, and YMCA of Greater Charlotte have received significant support. Organizations that are well-established in the Charlotte arts community may benefit from relationship building with the family.
Harvard Business School Network: Given the family's strong HBS connections (the Spangler Center is named for them, and Anna and Tom Nelson served as HBS Fund chairs), organizations with HBS alumni involvement may have networking pathways.
Knight Foundation Connections: Anna Spangler Nelson serves on the Knight Foundation board, potentially creating intersection points for organizations also connected to Knight's priorities.
Challenge Grant Model: The foundation tends to favor challenge grant programs involving multi-million-dollar commitments. Organizations that can structure major matching gift opportunities may be more attractive.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable as there is no public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable as there is no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of funded organizations reveals common characteristics:

Organizations That Have Received Funding Typically:

Have Personal Connections to the Spangler Family: Past grantees are "primarily organizations that have a connection to the Spangler family," including major universities where family members attended or served.
Align with Family Educational Priorities: The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to:
- Early childhood literacy
- Teacher preparation and professional development
- Distinguished professorships at universities
- Educational institutions connected to family members
Are Well-Established Major Institutions: Recipients include Harvard Business School, Mayo Clinic, UCSF, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra—all large, established organizations with proven track records.
Can Execute Multi-Million Dollar Initiatives: The foundation favors "challenge grant programs that involve multi-million-dollar commitments." They prefer transformative investments over small operational grants.
Address Women's and Maternal Health (Recent Priority): The 2022 $10 million gift to Atrium Health for women's care signals an emerging focus area, addressing North Carolina's poor maternal health outcomes.

What Inside Philanthropy Observes: "This foundation is a prominent grantmaker in North Carolina, but not a particularly accessible one for small and new organizations that are not personally connected to the Spangler family."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists. The foundation only funds pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Personal connections are essential. Grant recipients consistently demonstrate direct ties to the Spangler family through educational institutions, board memberships, or business relationships.
Focus on transformative scale. The foundation prefers multi-million dollar challenge grants and endowed positions over smaller operational funding.
Education—particularly literacy—is the signature priority. Organizations working in early childhood literacy, teacher preparation, and higher education have the strongest alignment.
Charlotte is the geographic center. While the foundation supports national institutions with family connections, local Charlotte organizations in arts, education, and human services have benefited significantly.
Health equity is emerging as a focus. The major Atrium Health gift for women's and maternal care suggests growing interest in addressing health disparities, particularly in North Carolina.
Relationship building is the only pathway. Organizations seeking future consideration should focus on authentic engagement with community priorities shared by the Spangler family rather than direct solicitation.

References

Information compiled December 2025