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John William Pope Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.7M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

John William Pope Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15,686,414 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $131.5 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $100,000 (Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants); median $25,000 (Annual Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: North Carolina (statewide for public policy/education; Wake and Vance Counties for arts/human services)
  • Number of Grants: 269 annually

Contact Details

Address: Landmark Center South, 4601 Six Forks Rd, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27609

Website: https://jwpf.org/

Phone: (919) 871-3329

Email: grants@jwpf.org

Online Application Portal: Required for all applications

Overview

Founded in 1986 by John William Pope, the John William Pope Foundation is a private family foundation that has distributed more than $250 million to over 500 nonprofits across North Carolina. Currently chaired by Art Pope and led by President John Hood (since 2015), the foundation makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing the ideas of limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities. With total assets of $131.5 million and annual giving of approximately $15.7 million through 269 grants, the foundation focuses its support on four priority areas: public policy, education, human services, and the arts. The foundation operates with a streamlined approach, requiring no pre-application meetings and accepting proposals exclusively through their online portal.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grants (Two Cycles)

  • Spring Cycle (February deadline): Public policy and higher education
  • Fall Cycle (August deadline): Human services, K-12 education, and arts
  • Grants issued twice annually with no specified minimum or maximum
  • Median grant amount: $25,000
  • Applications accepted through online portal only

Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Program (July 1 - September 1)

  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $100,000
  • Separate funds for arts and human services
  • Each fund offers up to $100,000 in total grants annually
  • Project-specific funding only (must be completable within one year)
  • Since 2015, has awarded more than $1.7 million to nonprofits across North Carolina

Future of Freedom Initiative

  • Invite-only program (as of 2024)
  • Focuses on projects that refresh, rebuild, and revitalize American conservatism
  • Example grants: $150,000 to The Fund for American Studies

Priority Areas

Public Policy

  • Organizations that advance limited government, free enterprise, and personal economic freedom
  • State and national policy research and advocacy organizations

Education

  • Higher education student development and institutional support
  • K-12 educational excellence initiatives
  • Programs promoting educational choice and innovation

Human Services

  • Humanitarian organizations serving Wake and Vance Counties
  • Food banks and emergency assistance programs
  • Foster care and family support services
  • Community development initiatives

The Arts

  • Cultural and artistic organizations in Wake and Vance Counties
  • Theater, music, and heritage preservation
  • Programs that broadly share North Carolina's artistic achievements

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating support (Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants only; Annual Grants may support operations)
  • Endowments
  • Debt relief
  • Crisis funding
  • Organizations outside North Carolina (except for national policy organizations)
  • Organizations not registered as IRS-compliant nonprofits (unless formal fiscal sponsorship is in place)
  • Human services and arts work outside Wake and Vance Counties (for these specific priority areas)

Governance and Leadership

Board Members

  • James Arthur 'Art' Pope - Chairman
  • John Hood - President (since 2015)
  • Amanda Pope
  • Earle Pope
  • Joyce L. Pope
  • Michael McKnight
  • Mike Smith
  • David Stover
  • Valerie Pencook
  • Iris Turner
  • Kimberly Neptune
  • Jacob Chace

Key Leadership Perspective

John Hood (President since 2015) stated upon his appointment: "I was honored and delighted by the opportunity to lead the Pope Foundation, which has made such a difference in the lives of so many people for nearly three decades. As a native North Carolinian and longtime friend of the Pope family, I share their vision for a stronger, more prosperous state in which economic opportunities are broadly shared, private charity plays a broader role in serving community needs, and our greatest educational, cultural, and artistic achievements are broadly appreciated."

Hood previously served as president of the John Locke Foundation for more than two decades and has authored seven nonfiction books on business, public policy, and political history. He has written a syndicated column on politics and public policy appearing in more than 50 North Carolina newspapers since 1986.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

No Pre-Application Contact Required:

  • The foundation does not respond to letters of inquiry
  • No meetings or phone conversations required before or after applying
  • Apply directly through the online portal without advance work

Application Requirements:

  • IRS determination letter (first-time applicants)
  • Most recent IRS Form 990
  • Most recent annual audit or financial statements
  • Current board of directors list
  • Written narrative detailing the request (no page limit)
  • Project budget (for project-specific requests)

Multiple Requests: Organizations may request funding for more than one need in a single proposal. Condense multiple requests into one proposal package and detail them in the narrative section.

Online Portal: All applications must be submitted through the foundation's online portal at jwpf.org

Decision Timeline

Annual Grants:

  • Spring Cycle: February deadline → Decisions by late May (3-4 months)
  • Fall Cycle: August deadline → Decisions by late November (3-4 months)

Upcoming Deadlines:

  • February 2, 2026: Public Policy/Higher Education
  • August 3, 2026: Human Services/Arts/K-12 Education

Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants:

  • July 1 - September 1: Application period
  • January: Grant awards announced (approximately 4 months)

Notification: Decisions communicated via email

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not limit the number of times an organization can apply, even if a previous proposal was declined. Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in future cycles without any waiting period or restrictions.

Post-Award Reporting

  • Simple reporting requirements for all grants
  • Narrative progress report required for project-specific grants
  • Financial statements and annual report requested

Application Success Factors

Mission Alignment is Critical

The foundation seeks grant partners who share their vision of advancing individual freedom and personal responsibility. According to their guidance: "The Foundation makes grants to improve the well-being of North Carolinians by advancing the ideas of limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities."

For Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants - Three Key Evaluation Questions:

  1. Mission Consistency: Is the project consistent with the mission and values of the Pope Foundation?

  2. Innovation and Impact: Does the proposed project create something new, do something better, or do something differently?

  3. Quantifiable Outcomes: Does the proposal detail the need and explain the quantifiable gain for the organization and its clients?

Strong Applications Demonstrate:

  • Viable funding plan for ongoing costs beyond the grant period
  • Practical and necessary budget that reflects realistic project needs
  • Organizational best practices in governance and operations
  • Organizational qualifications to successfully execute the project
  • Clear articulation of how the project advances the foundation's values

Recent Grant Recipients as Examples:

2024 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants in Human Services:

  • Family Room Foster Care Resource Center (Guilford County): $20,000
  • H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem (Forsyth County): $40,000
  • Turning Point Community Development (Vance County): $40,000

2024 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in Arts:

  • Hart Square Village (Catawba County): $100,000

Other Recent Recipients:

  • Raleigh Little Theatre: $100,000
  • University of Mount Olive: $100,000

Application Tips from the Foundation:

  • Review alignment first: "Review the focus areas and policies before submitting to ensure your request is aligned with their guidelines"
  • Be thorough: No page limit on narratives allows for comprehensive detail
  • Be specific: Detail exactly what the quantifiable gain will be for your organization and clients
  • Show innovation: Demonstrate how your project creates something new or improves upon existing approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No pre-application hurdles: The foundation's streamlined process requires no letters of inquiry or pre-application meetings—just apply directly through the online portal
  • Mission alignment is paramount: Organizations must clearly demonstrate how their work advances limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and strong communities
  • Geographic specificity matters: Public policy and education grants are statewide, but human services and arts grants are restricted to Wake and Vance Counties
  • Timing is strategic: Choose your application cycle based on your priority area (public policy/higher education in February; human services/K-12/arts in August)
  • Reapplication is welcome: There are no limits on reapplying after a declined proposal—unsuccessful applicants can apply again immediately
  • Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants offer competitive funding: For one-time projects up to $100,000, this annual program provides significant funding opportunities for arts and human services organizations statewide
  • Innovation and outcomes matter: Applications should clearly articulate what's new, different, or better about the proposed project and provide quantifiable impact measures
  • The foundation values efficiency: Simple reporting requirements and no mandatory meetings reflect a respect for nonprofit capacity and time

References

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