Foundations that fund organizations in Wilmington, North Carolina
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Wilmington nonprofits
307 private foundations gave $22M to Wilmington organizations in their latest filings; 42 of the 99 that say either way accept applications.
883 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Wilmington around $25K. 48 of these funders are based in North Carolina; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 307
- Accept applications
- 42
- of 99 that state a policy
- Dollars to Wilmington
- $22M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 883
- Typical median grant
- $25K
- Based in NC
- 48%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Wilmington organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Water Fund | Louisville, KY | 4 | $2.2M | $563K | Preselected only | General contribution |
| Gates Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $2.0M | $2.0M | Yes | U.s. economic mobility & opportunity |
| Cape Fear Memorial Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 23 | $1.9M | $60K | Yes | General operating support; General operating support & social emotional wellness suppo…; Pharmacy services support |
| Carina Initiatives Inc | Torrance, CA | 2 | $1.3M | $632K | Preselected only | General operating support; General operating supportnon cash grantdate: 5/5/2024cost b… |
| Champion McDowell Davis Charitable Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 9 | $1.1M | $20K | Yes | Charitable Support; Operating support |
| Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 2 | $750K | $375K | Preselected only | In support of the phycological society of america 2024 annu…; In support of continued seahawk-1 satellite operations to e… |
| Gregg and Freddy Goldenberg Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $625K | $313K | Preselected only | Operational and mission driven needs of Beacon Education; Pay It Forward Fund |
| The Duke Endowment | Charlotte, NC | 4 | $530K | $115K | Yes | To support a home repair ministry.; To test a regional medical director model to increase acces…; To expand a community network of care for the low-income, u… |
| The Leon Levine Foundation | Charlotte, NC | 11 | $530K | $50K | Yes | General Support; Community Engagement Program |
| Anonymous Trust U/A Dated 2-4-2008 | Raleigh, NC | 4 | $509K | $92K | Yes | Grant for general operating support; Outright grant - advise nc; Challenge grant for general operating support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Nc Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 1 | $509K | $509K | Preselected only | Exclusively for the support of boys & girls clubs of southe… |
| The Kendeda Fund | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $500K | $500K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Isabel James Lehto Foundation Inc | Wrightsville Beach, NC | 8 | $378K | $43K | Preselected only | General support |
| State Employees Credit Union Foundation | Raleigh, NC | 2 | $360K | $180K | Yes | Capital grant; Intership program |
| Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation | Rahway, NJ | 1 | $350K | $350K | Yes | Contribution provided |
| The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation | The Woodlands, TX | 42 | $350K | $5,000 | Yes | To have our community come together and support our youth t…; To establish an outstanding historical garden with cultural…; For the Cape Fear chapter |
| The Rudisill Family Foundation | Wrightsville Beach, NC | 17 | $342K | $6,000 | Preselected only | General fund; General |
| Perspective Media Initiatives Inc | New York, NY | 3 | $340K | $120K | Preselected only | General operating support; Impact kickstart 2024; Org effectiveness strategic planning & retreats |
| John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | Chicago, IL | 3 | $320K | $100K | Preselected only | In support of general operations; In support of the documentary accountability working group; In support of the indie media arts south 2024 convenings |
| Elizabeth L Carter Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 1 | $314K | $314K | Yes | Support the museum and its developmentsupport the museum an… |
| Edwin and Jeanette May Foundation | Birmingham, MI | 2 | $300K | $150K | Yes | Charitable activities |
| Directed Balloun Family Foundation | Henderson, NV | 21 | $270K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating |
| Dan Cameron Family Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 53 | $254K | $1,000 | Yes | General Operating Fund; GLOW Academy; Preservation of HistoricHomes and Gardensand Education |
| Kh Simpson Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 5 | $251K | $50K | Preselected only | General operations; Capital campaign pledge; Endowment |
| William Randolph Hearst Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | To support girls leadership programs at GLOWS Academy |
| The Nussdorf Family Foundation Inc | West Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Fall 2025 - education & career focused student organizations |
| The True North Foundation Co Amy Brown North | Currie, NC | 22 | $200K | $5,239 | Preselected only | General fund; General; Colon cancer |
| Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc | Winstonsalem, NC | 5 | $185K | $30K | Preselected only | For its progress fund project; Leandro plan campaign project; 2024 non-profit internship program (intern - ben bocklage/u… |
| The Catherine Kennedy Home Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 23 | $158K | $3,000 | Yes | To fund purchases of food and occupancy costs.; To support elderly pharmacy needs; To support educational opportunities for adult learners |
| Pepper Whiston Foundation | West Hartford, CT | 1 | $130K | $130K | Preselected only | For benefit of animals |
| Publix Super Markets Charities Inc | Lakeland, FL | 9 | $126K | $6,250 | Yes | Organization's charitable purpose |
| Ge Aerospace Foundation | Norwalk, CT | 22 | $124K | $508 | Yes | Matching gift |
| Mika Foundation Inc | Wake Forest, NC | 1 | $106K | $106K | Preselected only | Rescuing and rehoming homeless pets. |
| Seby B Jones Family Foundation | Raleigh, NC | 13 | $103K | $5,000 | Yes | General support; Community support; Education |
| Americas Foundation Inc | San Diego, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Philanthropic/educational purpose |
| The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General support |
| The Eshelman Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 8 | $94K | $10K | Preselected only | Music is Life Program; For nutritious meals for the youth in the shelter; Baby Steps young parent support program |
| Dhs Charitable Trust Uad May 21 1965 | Wilmington, NC | 12 | $93K | $1,000 | Preselected only | To support their capital campaign and their annual fund; To feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and foster transi…; To provide the highest level of quality end-of-life care in… |
| Daniel a and Sheila M Saklad Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 10 | $91K | $2,000 | Preselected only | To support the scholarship fund and programs of the communi…; To support the ongoing operations of the chapel; To support the services and programs for the hungry and hom… |
| The Myrtle and Rt Sinclair Jr Charitable Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 7 | $90K | $10K | Preselected only | To create a culture of confidence for youth and teens, thro…; To feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and foster transi…; To build success one kid at at time. |
| 1772 Foundation Inc | Morristown, NJ | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Affordable housing revolving fund |
| Dogwood Health Trust | Asheville, NC | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Launch of wnc local news program as part of statewide news… |
| R a Bryan Foundation Inc | Goldsboro, NC | 2 | $70K | $35K | Preselected only | Human services; Religious |
| Beane Wright Foundation | Wrightsville Beach, NC | 6 | $68K | $10K | Preselected only | Donation |
| All Points North Foundation | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1 | $67K | $67K | Preselected only | Rooftop solar installations on 12 tiny homes, providing lon… |
| Simmons Family Foundation | Westlake, TX | 3 | $66K | $21K | Preselected only | Civic |
| Stein Family Charitable Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 11 | $64K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Frederick Loewe Foundation Inc C/O Baker Tilly | New York, NY | 1 | $61K | $61K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Research Corporation Dba Research Corporation for Science Advancement | Tucson, AZ | 1 | $60K | $60K | Yes | Quantitative Approach to Peptide-Lipid Interactions in Memb… |
| J Tylee Wilson Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 6 | $60K | $10K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; School Supply Fund; Pine Valley Building Fund |
| The Robert P Holding Foundation Inc | Smithfield, NC | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | General support |
| Nc Idea | Durham, NC | 5 | $55K | $7,500 | Yes | Micro grants; Engage grants; Rural impact |
| Ags Charitable Trust Uad May 21 1965 | Wilmington, NC | 8 | $52K | $7,500 | Preselected only | To inspire and enable all young people, to reach their full…; To engage and educate visitors of colonial life in north ca…; To provide the cape fear region with accessible, quality ed… |
| Tractor Supply Company Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 2 | $51K | $25K | Yes | General support; Hometown heroes donation |
| Fm Kirby Foundation Inc | Morristown, NJ | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | In support of 501c3 purpose |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Thrive Lab |
| The Yeargan Foundation Charitable Trust | Garner, NC | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Train Service Canines for Veterans |
| Oreilly Automotive Foundation Inc | Springfield, MO | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Safe Homes for Rural Communities |
| The Weil Foundation | Wilmington, NC | 12 | $48K | $1,802 | Preselected only | To support the organization and its purpose; Wildlife services; Community wellness |
| The Babies Hospital Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 4 | $43K | $6,250 | Preselected only | Operating support |
| The Oaklawn Foundationinc | Wilton, CT | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Scholarship fund and gpac |
| The Mansfield Family Foundation | East Lansing, MI | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | General operations |
| Tw Ben and Amelia Solomon Fund | St Louis, MO | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Rosenbaum Family Foundation Inc | Chevy Chase, MD | 1 | $39K | $39K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The John R and M Margrite Davis Foundation | Bloomfield Hills, MI | 1 | $38K | $38K | Yes | General charitable |
| Summer Rest Foundation | Raleigh, NC | 2 | $35K | $18K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Kenan Family Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Owen g. kenan fellowship endowment |
| Randleigh Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $35K | $18K | Preselected only | Designated for chapel concerts; Creative writing department |
| The Collins Foundation | Portland, OR | 1 | $34K | $34K | Yes | Bem grant to support food justice, black farmers, and land… |
| International Paper Company Foundation | Memphis, TN | 15 | $33K | $2,500 | Yes | Tree steward program - alliance for cape fear trees; Project learn; Mary's art explorers |
| Margaret T Petrie Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Support spaying and neutering programs |
| Southern Bank Foundation | Mount Olive, NC | 2 | $30K | $15K | Yes | Public Benefit |
| Hattie M Strong Foundation | Springfield, VA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Six (6) $5000 scholarships |
| Saxer Family Foundation | St Louis, MO | 2 | $30K | $15K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Powell Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Designated Grant: General operating and support |
| The Tingley Family Foundation | Jefferson, OR | 1 | $30K | $30K | Not stated | Charitable support for mission work |
| Clannad Foundation | Bloomfield Hills, MI | 9 | $28K | $3,000 | Yes | Human services; Humanities; Environment |
| The Thomas S Kenan III Foundation | Chapel Hill, NC | 4 | $28K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Uncsa music student concerts; Undesignated; Support production of 1776 musical |
| The Lagomarsino Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 18 | $28K | $1,500 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; The Sister Isaac Center |
| The Promise Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Provide food & advance long term solutionsfor hunger relief; Provide affordablehousing for teachers |
| Fox Charitable Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 6 | $26K | $4,500 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Samuel Ernest Douglass Jr Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | 10 | $25K | $2,551 | Preselected only | General Support |
| Timothy and Sheila Patton Family Charitable Trust | Ann Arbor, MI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable - general operating |
| The Greg and India Keith Foundation | Charlotte, NC | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Contributions |
| Louis Dejoy & Aldona Z Wos Family Foundation Inc | Greensboro, NC | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General Operations |
| The Chris and Melody Malachowsky Family Foundation | Campbell, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Rk Mellon Family Foundation | Ligonier, PA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Marketing & professional video |
| The Neeb Family Foundation | Pelham, AL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Harold H Bate Foundation Inc | New Bern, NC | 2 | $25K | $13K | Yes | General donation; Oak grove partnership |
| Cameron Charitable Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General operating |
| Drew Foundation | Menlo Park, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose |
| The Monford D and Lucy L Custer Foundation | Leland, NC | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General support |
| Ernest Christian Klipstein Foundation | Oldwick, NJ | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Medical |
| The Edward M Armfield Sr Foundation I | Greensboro, NC | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Scholarship |
| The Angel Family Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $21K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| Filotimo Foundation | Raleigh, NC | 7 | $20K | $1,350 | Yes | Charitable |
| Rcc Foundation | Greensboro, NC | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General |
| The Troon Foundation | Elon, NC | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | To fund homlessness program. |
| C D Spangler Foundation Inc | Charlotte, NC | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | To assist in educational opportunities |
| Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc | Auburn, NY | 2 | $20K | $10K | Yes | Unrestricted or for capital needs; Unrestricted |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Wilmington, North Carolina?
Salt Water Fund, Gates Foundation, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, Carina Initiatives Inc, Champion McDowell Davis Charitable Foundation Inc and 95 others reported grants to Wilmington organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Wilmington. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.