East North Street Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: At least $2 million documented (based on known grants)
• Success Rate: Unknown (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Unknown
• Grant Range: $1,000,000+ (based on documented grants)
• Geographic Focus: Arkansas

Contact Details

No public contact information available. The foundation does not maintain a public website, phone number, or email address.

Overview

The East North Street Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2023 by brothers David and Doug Hendrix of Bryant, Arkansas, following their $225.7 million sale of Big Red Stores to Canadian firm Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (Circle K). Named after East North Street in Benton, Arkansas, where the brothers grew up, the foundation has quickly emerged as a significant philanthropic force in Arkansas. With documented grants of $1 million each to Central Baptist College and Arkansas Children's Hospital, the foundation demonstrates substantial capacity for large-scale giving. The foundation operates with a philosophy aligned with the brothers' business ethos of "Arkansans serving Arkansans," focusing primarily on education and healthcare initiatives within the state.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Education/Scholarship Support: $1,000,000+ (multi-year commitments for student scholarships)
• Healthcare Infrastructure: $1,000,000+ (support for hospital expansion projects)

Priority Areas

• Education, particularly scholarships for Arkansas students
• Children's healthcare and welfare
• Arkansas-based organizations
• Organizations in Central Arkansas/Little Rock region

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions documented, but all known grants have been to Arkansas-based organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Founders: David Hendrix and Doug Hendrix (brothers from Bryant, Arkansas)

The foundation was established using proceeds from the sale of Big Red Stores, the convenience store chain the brothers founded in 1997. The Hendrix brothers built their business with a strong community service component as an integral part of their business plan.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded through direct relationships with recipient organizations and at the discretion of the foundation's leadership.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grant history, organizations have successfully engaged with the foundation through:

• Direct relationships with the Hendrix brothers or their business network in Central Arkansas
• Organizations where the foundation has been described as a "long-time supporter" (as with Arkansas Children's Hospital), suggesting the importance of building relationships over time
• Institutions serving Arkansas students and communities, particularly in the Bryant/Benton/Little Rock area where the founders have deep roots

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented.

Success Rates

Unknown - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns:

• The foundation has supported organizations with clear missions serving Arkansas communities
• Both documented recipients (Central Baptist College and Arkansas Children's Hospital) are well-established institutions with strong reputations in Arkansas
• The foundation's scholarship support at Central Baptist College specifically targets "full-time, degree-seeking students who further the college's mission," showing alignment with institutional values is important
• Multi-year commitments (the CBC gift is structured over four years) suggest the foundation values sustained partnerships
• The foundation appears to support capital campaigns and capacity-building initiatives (hospital expansion, scholarship endowments) rather than general operating support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The East North Street Foundation is a major new player in Arkansas philanthropy, established in 2023 with significant capacity ($1M+ grants)
• Without a public application process, relationship-building and networking within Arkansas business and philanthropic circles is essential
• Focus on demonstrating clear benefit to Arkansas communities, particularly in education and children's welfare
• The foundation's roots in Central Arkansas (Bryant/Benton area) may provide connection opportunities for organizations in that region
• Large, transformative gifts appear to be the foundation's preference rather than smaller program grants
• Organizations should emphasize how they serve Arkansans and align with the "Arkansans serving Arkansans" philosophy

References

• Arkansas Business. "East North Street Foundation Donates $1M for Arkansas Children's Hospital Expansion." July 10, 2024. https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/east-north-street-foundation-donates-1m-for-arkansas-childrens-hospital-expansion/
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "East North Street Foundation donates $1 million for Arkansas Children's Hospital expansion." July 10, 2024. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/jul/10/east-north-street-foundation-donates-1-million/
• Central Baptist College. "Central Baptist College Announces Million Dollar Scholarship." December 2023. https://www.cbc.edu/cbcnews/central-baptist-college-announces-million-dollar-scholarship
• 501 LIFE Magazine. "Central Baptist College announces million-dollar scholarship." December 2023. https://501lifemag.com/central-baptist-college-announces-million-dollar-scholarship/
• CauseIQ. "Little Rock Private Foundations Directory." Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/directory/private-foundations-list/little-rock-north-little-rock-conway-ar-metro/
• Arkansas Children's Hospital. "East North Street Foundation Gift Announcement." July 2024. https://www.archildrens.org/news/releases/2024/east-north-street-foundation-gift-announcement
• Arkansas Money & Politics. "Canadian Firm to Acquire All Big Red Stores Across Arkansas." April 2023. https://armoneyandpolitics.com/canadian-big-red-arkansas/