William R Kenan Jr Fund For The Arts

Quick Stats

• EIN: 58-1976597
• Annual Giving: $2,128,929 (FY 2025)
• Total Assets: $33.4 million
• Geographic Focus: North Carolina (primarily Chapel Hill/Winston-Salem)
• Application Process: No public application process - invitation only
• Primary Beneficiary: University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)

Contact Details

Address: 100 Europa Drive, Suite 525, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-2389

Related Organization: William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

• Website: https://kenancharitabletrust.org/
• The Trust oversees four separate funds including this Fund for the Arts

Note: This fund does not accept unsolicited grant applications or provide direct contact information for funding inquiries.

Overview

The William R Kenan Jr Fund For The Arts was established in 1983 as one of four private foundations created with grants from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust. Founded to honor the legacy of chemist and industrialist William R. Kenan Jr. (UNC class of 1894), the fund holds approximately $33.4 million in assets and distributes over $2 million annually in charitable grants. The fund operates in coordination with three sister funds focusing on engineering/technology/science, ethics, and private enterprise. Unlike its parent Trust, which makes grants across four states (North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and New York), the Fund for the Arts primarily supports a single institution: the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem, NC. The fund's mission aligns with the broader Kenan family commitment to "empower human potential through education and whole community investment," with particular emphasis on strengthening performing and visual arts education through endowed scholarships, fellowships, and institutional support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Fund for the Arts does not operate traditional grant programs with application cycles. Instead, it provides ongoing institutional support primarily to UNCSA through:

Endowed Scholarship Programs (administered via the Fund and the Charitable Trust):

• Kenan Excellence Scholarship Program: Established 2005, endowed with $6 million (2011) plus $5 million (2019). Provides full tuition, required fees, room and board for up to five incoming UNCSA students annually, renewable for four years of undergraduate education.
• Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship of Excellence: Full tuition, fees, room, board, plus $3,700 stipend for related expenses
• Frank H. Kenan Scholarship: Covers educational expenses and required fees for UNCSA high school students from North Carolina studying dance or music who continue to UNCSA as college degree-seeking students

Fellowship Programs:

• William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowships at Lincoln Center: Since 2006, provides seven-month fellowships (July-June) for six UNCSA graduates from Schools of Dance, Drama, and Music. Fellows work 29 hours/week with Lincoln Center Education in New York City.
• William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowships at The Kennedy Center: For UNCSA graduates from Schools of Drama and Design & Production. Fellows receive $800/week salary plus moving expense reimbursement (up to $500 each way). Places fellows with professional theater companies in Washington, D.C. and nationwide.
• Posse Arts Program Support: $2.28 million pledge (2023) to expand the UNCSA Posse Arts Program

Institutional Support:

• Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at UNCSA (established 1993)
• Various program and operational support for UNCSA arts education initiatives

Priority Areas

The Fund for the Arts focuses exclusively on:

• Arts Education Excellence: Supporting outstanding performing and visual arts students at UNCSA
• Professional Development: Bridging academic training with professional arts careers through prestigious fellowships
• Access and Equity: Removing financial barriers to arts education through full-cost scholarships
• Artistic Innovation: Supporting the development of new ideas within arts education settings

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the UNCSA ecosystem
• Individual artists not affiliated with UNCSA
• General operating support for arts organizations
• Capital campaigns unrelated to UNCSA
• Projects in states other than North Carolina
• Unsolicited proposals from any source

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Thomas S. Kenan III - Chairman/Director

• Philanthropist and business leader from Chapel Hill
• Over 40 years of service with Kenan organizations
• Serves as trustee across all four Kenan funds
• Active champion for education quality and the arts
• Also serves on UNCSA Board of Trustees

Daniel W. Drake - President/Director

• Oversees fund operations and grant disbursements

Governance Structure: The Fund for the Arts operates as an independent 501(c)(3) private foundation but coordinates its charitable activities closely with the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the three sister funds (for engineering/technology/science, ethics, and private enterprise). All board members serve without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The William R Kenan Jr Fund For The Arts does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. All grants are made by trustee discretion and through invitation only.

The fund operates with a predetermined institutional focus on UNCSA. Organizations and individuals cannot apply directly to this fund for support.

For UNCSA Students

While the Fund for the Arts itself doesn't accept applications, UNCSA students can access Kenan-supported opportunities through UNCSA's internal processes:

Kenan Excellence Scholarship: UNCSA admissions office selects up to five incoming students annually based on artistic merit and potential. No separate application required beyond UNCSA admission.

Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center Fellowships: Current UNCSA students and recent graduates apply through UNCSA's Office of Student Affairs in partnership with the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts. Application portals typically open in February with announcements by May.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the Fund for the Arts has a single institutional beneficiary (UNCSA), organizations seeking support must work through UNCSA partnerships. The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at UNCSA serves as an "incubator" for new ideas and may facilitate connections for collaborative projects that advance arts education excellence.

Application Success Factors

Given this fund's exclusive focus on UNCSA, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations interested in Kenan family arts funding should:

• Consider partnerships with UNCSA that advance mutual goals
• Explore opportunities with the broader William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust (also invitation-only but with wider geographic and thematic scope)
• Focus on demonstrable impact in arts education, particularly for underserved populations
• Build sector recognition for excellence that may attract trustee attention

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a fundable opportunity for most organizations - The Fund exclusively supports UNCSA
• No public application process exists - All grants are by trustee invitation only
• Partnership with UNCSA may create indirect opportunities for arts organizations
• The broader Kenan Charitable Trust (parent organization) makes additional arts grants but also operates by invitation only
• Focus on arts education excellence and equity aligns with Kenan priorities
• Multi-year, transformational commitments are typical of Kenan funding
• Geographic specificity matters - North Carolina focus with emphasis on Chapel Hill/Winston-Salem

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - William R Kenan Jr Fund for the Arts (EIN 58-1976597). Accessed February 11, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/581976597

2. Charity Navigator - William R Kenan Jr Fund for the Arts Profile. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/581976597

3. William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust - About Us. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://kenancharitabletrust.org/about-us/

4. NCpedia - William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.ncpedia.org/william-r-kenan-jr-charitable-trust

5. UNCSA - Kenan Excellence Scholarship. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.uncsa.edu/current-students/academics/fellowship-grants-awards/kenan-scholarship/index.aspx

6. UNCSA - Fellowships at The Kennedy Center. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.uncsa.edu/current-students/academics/fellowship-grants-awards/fellowships-internships/kennedy-center-fellowship.aspx

7. UNCSA - Fellowships at Lincoln Center Education. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.uncsa.edu/current-students/academics/fellowship-grants-awards/fellowships-internships/lincoln-center-education.aspx

8. UNCSA News - UNCSA receives $2.28M gift from William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust (February 15, 2023). Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.uncsa.edu/news/20230215-posse-arts-scholarship-gift.aspx

9. Broadway World - Working Theater, UNCSA, and Kenan Institute Form Partnership (September 4, 2024). Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.broadwayworld.com/industry/article/Working-Theater-UNCSA-and-Kenan-Institute-For-The-Arts-Form-Partnership-20240904