Goodnight Educational Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,490,000 (2024)
• Total Assets: $145 million (2024)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $5,000,000
• Average Grant: $233,816
• Number of Grants: 34 grants in 2024
• Geographic Focus: North Carolina (primarily Cary, Chapel Hill, Coats, Cullowhee, Durham, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, and Siler City)
• Application Process: Invitation only - preselected organizations

Contact Details

Phone: (919) 531-6803
Location: Cary, North Carolina
EIN: 56-6533546

Note: The foundation does not have a public website. Information is available through nonprofit databases (GuideStar, ProPublica, Charity Navigator) and through beneficiary institutions.

Overview

The Goodnight Educational Foundation was established in 2005 by Dr. James H. Goodnight, founder and CEO of SAS Institute (the international analytics software company), and his wife Ann Goodnight. With assets of approximately $145 million and annual giving of $8.5 million, the foundation focuses on education, arts and culture, and human services throughout North Carolina. The foundation takes a strategic approach to grantmaking, emphasizing education reform, literacy, STEM education, and supporting students from middle- and low-income families. Dr. Goodnight, whose net worth was estimated at $18.5 billion as of 2025, has been a strong champion of education and channels much of his philanthropic work through this foundation. The Goodnights have a particularly close relationship with NC State University (where both are alumni) and have impacted more than 1,000 students through their endowed scholarship programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports three primary areas:

Education (Primary Focus)

• Literacy Initiatives: Major support for early literacy and Science of Reading implementation
  • Western Carolina University: $1.5 million endowed professorship in early literacy (2023)
  • North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU): $1 million over two years for Science of Reading initiative
• Higher Education Support: Scholarships, fellowships, and institutional support at NC universities
  • Goodnight Scholars Program at NC State University (ongoing since 2008)
  • Goodnight Transfer Scholars Program at NC State (ongoing since 2017)
  • Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship at NC State
• K-12 Education: Including support for pre-K through secondary education initiatives

Arts and Culture

• Support for museums and cultural institutions in North Carolina
• Focus on educational programming within cultural organizations

Human Services

• Community organizations serving North Carolina residents
• Programs aligned with education and family support

Priority Areas

• STEM Education: Strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
• Teacher Preparation: Supporting educator training and professional development, particularly in literacy
• Access to Higher Education: Scholarships for middle- and low-income North Carolina families
• Early Childhood Education: Pre-K programs and third-grade reading proficiency
• Education Reform: Initiatives that demonstrate innovative approaches to improving educational outcomes

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited applications
• Does not fund organizations outside North Carolina
• Focuses primarily on education rather than other charitable sectors

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

• James H. Goodnight - Co-founder, Founder and CEO of SAS Institute, NC State alumnus ('65)
• Ann Baggett Goodnight - Co-founder, Director of Community Relations at SAS, NC State alumna ('68), served 16 years on UNC Board of Trustees and 8 years on UNC Board of Governors
• Leah A. Goodnight - Family member
• James A. Goodnight - Family member
• Susan G. Ellis - Family member
• Donald R. Parker - Advisor

Leadership Philosophy: Dr. Goodnight has been an advocate for increased funding for STEM education to prevent brain-drain and outsourcing of research jobs. He spearheaded a national Business Roundtable report calling on business leaders to support early learning and third-grade reading proficiency. As he has stated, "Innovation is the key to success in this business, and creativity fuels innovation."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Goodnight Educational Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors, who identify organizations aligned with the foundation's strategic priorities. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with giving directed by the Goodnight family's philanthropic interests.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests several pathways through which organizations become known to the foundation:

NC State University Connection: The strongest predictor of foundation support is a connection to NC State University, where both Dr. and Mrs. Goodnight are alumni and have maintained deep engagement. Organizations partnering with NC State or serving NC State students may have better visibility.

UNC System Institutions: Mrs. Ann Goodnight's extensive service on UNC boards (16 years on Board of Trustees, 8 years on Board of Governors) suggests that UNC System institutions have access to foundation leadership.

Statewide Education Initiatives: The foundation's support for NCICU's Science of Reading initiative demonstrates interest in statewide collaborative efforts that align with their education reform priorities.

CEO and Business Roundtable Networks: Dr. Goodnight's participation in Business Roundtable education initiatives and his rallying of North Carolina CEOs around early childhood education suggests that organizations involved in these networks may gain visibility.

SAS Corporate Connections: Ann Goodnight serves as Senior Director of Community Relations at SAS, and the company has its own substantial corporate philanthropy program. Organizations that have relationships with SAS's community relations office may be positioned for consideration.

Geographic Focus Cities: The foundation consistently supports organizations in Cary (SAS headquarters), Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle area, suggesting local visibility matters.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, there is no formal application cycle or published decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations do not apply directly.

Application Success Factors

While organizations cannot apply directly, understanding the foundation's funding patterns reveals what they value:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

• Literacy Focus: Recent grantmaking shows strong emphasis on early literacy and Science of Reading implementation. The foundation funded both Western Carolina University's endowed professorship and NCICU's system-wide initiative, demonstrating commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction.
• STEM and STEM Education: Dr. Goodnight has stated he wants to support students in "STEM and STEM education fields," indicating dual interest in technical fields and in training the teachers who will inspire the next generation.

Demonstrated Impact on North Carolina Students

• The foundation's grants consistently benefit North Carolina students, particularly those from middle- and low-income families
• Projects that can show direct impact on educational access and outcomes align with the foundation's mission

Systemic Change Approach

• The NCICU Science of Reading grant ($1 million across 31 educator preparation programs) shows interest in initiatives that create systems change rather than one-off programs
• Dr. Goodnight's advocacy for education reform through Business Roundtable indicates preference for scalable solutions

Innovation and Excellence

• Dr. Goodnight has emphasized that "innovation is the key to success" and "creativity fuels innovation"
• The foundation's support for Cary Academy (which emphasizes technology integration and STEM curriculum) suggests appreciation for innovative educational models

Multi-Year Sustainability

• Major grants often include endowment components (Western Carolina's $1.5 million professorship) or multi-year commitments (NCICU's two-year grant)
• This suggests preference for sustainable, long-term impact over short-term projects

Connection to Institutional Excellence

• The foundation has supported institutions and programs demonstrating high standards and measurable outcomes
• Projects that advance educational excellence, not just access, align with the foundation's values

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - do not submit grant proposals unless specifically invited
• North Carolina focus is absolute - all grants support NC-based organizations or programs serving NC residents
• Education, particularly literacy and STEM, dominates the portfolio - the foundation's strategic priorities are clear and focused
• NC State connection is the strongest pathway - the Goodnights' deep commitment to their alma mater creates opportunities for NC State partnerships
• Think systemic change, not small programs - recent grants average over $230,000 and often involve statewide initiatives or endowed positions
• Multi-year and endowment support indicates long-term thinking - demonstrate sustainability and lasting impact in any potential conversation
• UNC System and statewide higher education initiatives align with board member expertise - Mrs. Goodnight's governance experience suggests receptivity to system-level improvements
• Relationship-building through appropriate channels matters - connections through SAS community relations, NC State development, or education reform networks may provide appropriate introductions
• If you receive an invitation to apply, emphasize: evidence-based approaches (like Science of Reading), measurable outcomes for NC students, innovation, and sustainability

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Goodnight Educational Foundation (EIN 56-6533546), accessed February 8, 2026, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/566533546

2. Instrumentl - Goodnight Educational Foundation 990 Report, accessed February 8, 2026, https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/goodnight-educational-foundation

3. Grantmakers.io - Goodnight Educational Foundation Profile, accessed February 8, 2026, https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/566533546-goodnight-educational-foundation/

4. Foundation Directory by Candid - The Goodnight Educational Foundation, accessed February 8, 2026, https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GOOD205

5. North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), "Goodnight Foundation Supports NCICU's Science of Reading Initiative," December 3, 2021, https://ncicu.org/2021/12/03/goodnight-foundation-supports-ncicus-science-of-reading-initiative/

6. Western Carolina University, "New professorship in early literacy established with $1.5M from Goodnight Foundation," accessed February 8, 2026, https://www.wcu.edu/stories/posts/new-professorship-in-early-literacy-established-with-15m-from-goodnight-foundation.aspx

7. NC State University College of Education, "'I Don't Know of Another State That's Done This:' Goodnight Distinguished Professors in Early Literacy and Spangler Distinguished Professors of Early Child Literacy Gather at NC State," January 17, 2025, https://ced.ncsu.edu/news/2025/01/17/i-dont-know-of-another-state-thats-done-this-goodnight-distinguished-professors-in-early-literacy-and-spangler-distinguished-professors-of-early-child-literacy-gather-at-nc-stat/

8. NC State University, Goodnight Scholarships - About Us, accessed February 8, 2026, https://goodnight.ncsu.edu/about/

9. NC State University Graduate School, Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship, accessed February 8, 2026, https://grad.ncsu.edu/goodnight-doctoral-fellowship/

10. Inside Philanthropy, "James Goodnight," accessed February 8, 2026, https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/james-goodnight

11. Wikipedia, "James Goodnight," accessed February 8, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Goodnight

12. NC State Engineering News, "Transformational gift," May 20, 2022, https://engr.ncsu.edu/news/2022/05/20/transformational-gift/