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David R Hayworth Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.7M
Grant Range
Up to $2.5M00
00

David R Hayworth Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,740,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $47,200,000 (2024)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly - from smaller grants to multi-million dollar gifts
  • Geographic Focus: North Carolina (Charlotte, Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem)
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: One West Fourth Street, Suite 1200, Winston Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 721-3621
EIN: 58-1705607

Leadership:

  • Elizabeth L. Quick, President
  • Linwood L. Davis, Vice President
  • Deborah Hayworth, Director

Overview

The David R Hayworth Foundation was established in February 1987 as a private foundation in North Carolina. With total assets of $47.2 million and annual charitable giving of approximately $2.74 million (as of 2024), the foundation honors the legacy of Dr. David R. Hayworth, a retired furniture executive from High Point and noted philanthropist who passed away in recent years. The foundation focuses its funding efforts within North Carolina, particularly in cities such as Charlotte, Greensboro, High Point, and Winston Salem. The foundation's mission centers on supporting organizations that benefit children, with a demonstrated commitment to education, museums, and children's services. Dr. Hayworth was recognized as one of the North Carolina Museum of History Foundation's 2022 Foundation Philanthropists of the Year for his generosity and support of children's programs across the state.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The David R Hayworth Foundation primarily supports:

  • Children's Education: Major support for education initiatives, including the Say Yes to Education program
  • Museums and Cultural Institutions: Particularly children's museums and educational exhibits
  • Children's Services: Programs that enhance quality of life for children in North Carolina communities
  • Youth Development: Support for youth endowments and programs serving children in need
  • Historic Preservation: Support for chapel renovations and building improvements
  • Community Development: Unrestricted support for preselected organizations

Notable Recent Grants

  • $2.5 million to North Carolina Museum of History Foundation to create the Dr. David R. Hayworth Children's Discovery Gallery - the largest single gift for the museum's renovation and expansion campaign
  • $1 million to the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children's Museum in High Point (with the grand entrance named in Hayworth's honor)
  • $1 million to Say Yes to Education initiative in Guilford County

Previous grant descriptions have included: general support, upkeep at swimming center, unrestricted building improvements, Tiffany glass painting, Say Yes to Education fund, and chapel renovations.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a small board of officers:

  • Elizabeth L. Quick, President (compensation: $25,000 annually)
  • Linwood L. Davis, Vice President (compensation: $25,000 annually)
  • Deborah Hayworth, Director (compensation: $25,000 annually)

The foundation operates with a lean structure, with total expenses of $3.18 million in 2024, of which 86.2% ($2.74 million) went directly to charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's leadership to organizations they have already identified and selected. This is a common structure for family foundations that maintain close relationships with specific organizations aligned with the founder's philanthropic interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no public application deadlines or cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, examining their grant-making patterns reveals:

Funding Patterns:

  • Strong preference for children-focused initiatives: All major documented gifts have centered on programs serving children
  • Support for educational access and equity: Major gifts to Say Yes to Education demonstrate commitment to educational opportunity
  • Investment in hands-on learning experiences: Multiple major grants to children's museums emphasize interactive, experiential education
  • Long-term, transformational gifts: The foundation makes substantial multi-million dollar commitments rather than numerous small grants
  • Legacy naming opportunities: Several major gifts have resulted in named spaces (Dr. David R. Hayworth Children's Discovery Gallery, grand entrance at Qubein Children's Museum)

Geographic Alignment: Organizations in High Point appear to receive particular attention, reflecting Dr. Hayworth's home community, though support extends across North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - the foundation only supports preselected organizations
  • Children and education are paramount - virtually all documented major grants focus on programs serving children
  • Significant gift capacity - the foundation makes transformational multi-million dollar gifts, not small grants
  • Geographic focus - North Carolina organizations, particularly in the Piedmont Triad (High Point, Greensboro, Winston Salem, Charlotte)
  • Museums and experiential learning - demonstrated strong support for children's museums and hands-on educational exhibits
  • Educational equity matters - support for Say Yes to Education shows commitment to expanding access to educational opportunities
  • Legacy preservation - major gifts often include naming opportunities that honor Dr. Hayworth's commitment to children

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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